Liverpool win Carabao Cup final vs Chelsea as Virgil van Dijk eases Jurgen Klopp concerns

Liverpool are the 2024 Carabao Cup champions after a Virgil van Dijk header sent the Reds into raptures with a last-gasp extra-time winner in a 1-0 victory over Chelsea. A feisty first half ended goalless before Van Dijk himself had a goal controversially disallowed for offside and neither team could break the deadlock, sending the tense affair to extra-time when the Reds captain stepped up again to take the glory. Here, Express Sport takes a look at the game's biggest talking points, including further injury pain for Jurgen Klopp.

Jurgen Klopp sets up perfect send-off

Klopp is now just three more trophies away from what would be the perfect end to his incredible tenure at Liverpool. Having won the first piece of silverware this season, the Reds are still in contention for the Premier League, FA Cup and Europa League. It would be the perfect way to sign off his illustrious time at Anfield.

The German boss has nearly won every trophy available to him at Liverpool during his time at Anfield, with the Europa League still evading Klopp, but Liverpool are riding an emotional wave with every player working as hard as possible to send Klopp off in style.

Liverpool rocked by another injury in title concern

Klopp was furious on the touchline as he was forced into a very early change when Moises Caicedo went in hard on Ryan Gravenberch after 25 minutes, with the Dutch midfielder leaving the pitch on a stretcher.

With 11 players already missing, Joe Gomez came on and saw Conor Bradley moved into the front three. VAR checked the tackle but did not deem it a red card offence, with Caicedo avoiding any punishment whatsoever.

But with Gravenberch unable to walk after the collision with Caicedo it appeared unlikely that he will make a quick comeback and Liverpool’s medical room is getting increasingly crowded ahead of a pivotal Premier League title run-in.

Chelsea were able to grow in confidence as the game went on with Liverpool stretched and as Mauricio Pochettino could turn to the likes of Christopher Nkunku and Mykhaylo Mudryk off the bench, Klopp's options were largely youngsters including Jayden Danns who had just two minutes of senior football in his career before the final.

Virgil van Dijk takes the spoils

Van Dijk had the ball in the back of the net a second time, but in the 118th minute this time it counted. The Dutchman rose highest from a corner and all the talk of Liverpool's brave youngsters leading the way, their veteran captain stepped up when it mattered.

Despite so many injury issues plaguing the team, Klopp knows that he has Van Dijk to rely on and against the odds in extra-time he led the Reds to victory and that belief could spur them on with three more trophies still to aim for.

Feisty Wembley encounter and 'harsh' goal ruled out

Tempers boiled over with silverware at stake inside Wembley, with Klopp furious at the referee for not punishing Caicedo further for his foul that left Gravenberch on a stretcher.

Just a few moments later Ben Chilwell and Bradley were involved in a scuffle and had to be broken up by their team-mates, though Gary Neville on commentary for Sky Sports suggested that the Chelsea captain was simply trying to use his rival's inexperience against him and force a red card.

Liverpool felt aggrieved once again in the second half when Virgil van Dijk's headed goal was ruled out for offside. The centre-back had been onside himself, but Wataru Endo was adjudged to have interfered with play as a blocker, stopping Levi Colwill from competing with Van Dijk.

Jamie Carragher felt that the decision was "harsh" and that such blocking takes place at every set piece, but nonetheless Liverpool were penalised and Klopp looked to the heavens as if the entire world was against his team.