Chelsea 0 Liverpool 1 – Carabao Cup final LIVE RESULT: Van Dijk scores 118th-minute header to win Wembley cracker
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CHELSEA lost the Carabao Cup final to Liverpool thanks to Virgil van Dijk's 118th-minute winner at Wembley.
Both sides had a goal ruled out by VAR; first Raheem Sterling's tap-in in the first half, and then Virgil van Dijk's header in the second period.
But Van Dijk won it late with another header to bag Jurgen Klopp's seventh major trophy at Liverpool.
- Kick-off time: 3pm GMT
- Live stream:
- TV channel: Sky Sports Main Event / Sky Sports Football
- Chelsea starting XI: Petrovic, Gusto, Colwill, Disasi, Chilwell, Enzo, Gallagher, Caicedo, Palmer, Sterling, Jackson
- Liverpool starting XI: Kelleher; Bradley, Konate, Van Dijk, Robertson; Endo, Mac Allister, Gravenberch; Elliott, Gakpo, Diaz
- Explainer: Why is the game kicking off at 3pm?
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That's all from Wembley
Liverpool won a record 10th Carabao Cup trophy after a last-gasp 1-0 victory over Chelsea in a dramatic final at Wembley.
The Reds got the winner on 118 minutes thanks to Virgil van Dijk's towering header that went past the Blues' goalkeeper Dorde Petrovic.
The Merseysiders' captain met Kostas Tsimikas' crisp cross from a corner-kick down the right and sent the ball to Petrovic's bottom right corner.
Chelsea had a goal controversially chalked off in the first half after Raheem Sterling beat Liverpool goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher.
However, the referee and VAR deemed Nicolas Jackson was offside before providing the assist to Sterling.
And Liverpool also had a goal scrapped in the second half after Van Dijk's header hit the back of the net as Wataru Endo was caught offside before blocking Levi Colwill from marking the Dutchman.
Jurgen Klopp's farewell tour is in full gear and the German tactician will be targeting some more silverware in the Premier League, FA Cup and Europa League.
Thank you for following all the live action at SunSport, have a lovely night!
Credit: Alamy Caoimhin Kelleher reacts
Liverpool ace Caoimhin Kelleher put together a stunning performance that led to a dream come true.
These are the moments you dream about. It's better for the heart than penalties! Another amazing moment for me, I'm delighted.
We won't get ahead of ourselves, but this is great for momentum. We are in a good place right now.
He's [Virgil van Dijk] unbelievable, always fit, always showing up for us. He is pushing us on to win more trophies.
Caoimhin Kelleher
Credit: AFP Klopp on Gravenberch injury
Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp revealed Ryan Gravenberch has suffered "some ligament damage" but there will be further assessment to his injury.
Here were two teams fighting extremely hard and the referee didn’t have the level of the game. That’s how it is; I’m sorry for that. You can make a story of that but everybody saw it.
He didn’t even whistle for a foul! And then the fourth official said to me, ‘Yeah because of that we cannot give a card'. Oh, good idea.
I hope it’s not broken, but there is some ligament damage. It’s all bad. You asked me about it and actually I feel really bad, but everything else was brilliant.
I love this country to bits but the schedule is not made for winning a lot. We won tonight, we should cherish that.
The celebration after the game was top class, I loved it. That’s all perfect. The rest: Give me a few seconds to process how we can go forward from here.
Jurgen Klopp
Credit: PA
Mauricio Pochettino still trophyless.
Chelsea manager Mauricio Pochettino is still trophyless in England.
Pochettino made only his first ever final in a UK competition but saw his team losing 1-0 to Liverpool in the Carabao Cup.
The Argentinean tactician only managed to make the 2019 Champions League Final as Tottenham boss and lost to Jurgen Klopp's side again.
The 51-year-old has only won trophies with Paris Saint-Germain where he picked up the French Cup in 2021 and the Ligue 1 title a year later.
Credit: AP Pochettino hits back at Neville
Mauricio Pochettino hit back at Gary Neville’s “blue billion-pound bottlejobs” taunt after his megabucks Chelsea lost to Liverpool’s kids in the Carabao Cup final.
The Blues - who famously spent more than a billion quid on players in the Todd Boehly era - were undone by Virgil van Dijk’s header with two minutes of extra time to go.
That was despite Liverpool having rookies Jayden Danns, 18, Bobby Clark, 19, and James McConnell, also 19, on the pitch by the end of the game.
It led to Neville’s bottlejobs barb in commentary, which Poch branded as “unfair”.
I didn’t hear what he said, but if you compare the age of the two groups, I think it is similar. I have a good relationship with Gary and I don’t know if that’s how I can take this opinion. But I respect his opinion.
Of course, we made a few changes with [Conor] Gallagher and [Ben] Chilwell in extra time. But it is true we didn’t keep the energy of how we finished the second half.
I don’t know how you can describe this situation. But for sure I feel proud. I feel proud of the players, I think they made a big effort.
We are a young team and [it is] nothing to compare with Liverpool [just] because they finished with also a few young players. I think it’s impossible [to compare the two sides].
He [Neville] knows, he knows the dynamics are completely different. I think it’s not fair to talk in this way, if he said that.
But I think we are going to keep strong and keep believing in this project and see what we can do in the future.
Mauricio Pochettino
Credit: Getty Jurgen Klopp reacts
Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp analysed his tactics that saw him introducing a raft of young players in the Carabao Cup Final.
What happened here this afternoon is absolutely insane. These things are not possible. A team, a squad, an academy full of character; it’s unbelievable what happened. I’m so proud that I could be part of that tonight. Wow!
The crazy stuff is that we deserved it. Yes, yes, we had lucky moments, they had lucky moments – it was a tough game: 120 minutes, or 150 with all the extra time. And the boys showed up. It was really cool.
I’m pretty sure when we brought on all the kids, people thought, ‘Okay, that’s it, they’ve given up, they have a game on Wednesday'. It really wasn’t the case – we needed fresh legs and the legs we had were very young. But they did the job. They did the job. What they did, it’s unbelievable.
I think it’s the environment that we’ve created together. They’ve trained with us for a while so they know exactly what they have to do. When we have time for 11 v 11 in training, they’re a pain. That’s what you have to be, and they were a pain [for Chelsea] today.
It’s not only them. How good was Harvey Elliott? [Wataru] Endo, oh my god. He walked up for the ceremony with the stiffest legs I ever saw. We’ll have to see what price we pay for this game. But you cannot do it differently. You’re in a final, you fight with all you have and then have a look who’s available for the next game. There will be a team in a Liverpool shirt.
Jurgen Klopp
Credit: Getty Virgil van Dijk reacts
Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk praised his young team-mates after the Carabao Cup Final.
It means so much. All the young boys on the pitch in extra-time, it’s incredible. I’m so proud of the team. It was an intense game, for both sides. It’s amazing: First trophy as Liverpool captain. It’s all for the fans, so let’s enjoy it.
I didn’t want to get injured, I tried to get up quickly [from the bundle after the goal]. Lsten, it’s emotion. I’m so proud of the boys. All the young boys playing their part in what we achieved, it’s incredible. Onto more.
We never take these things for granted. We’re very blessed. We could have lost today we didn’t – we did the job. I’m so proud to be part of this club, and especially proud of the boys.
Virgil van Dijk
Credit: Alamy Kostas Tsimikas shines again
Liverpool super sub Kostas Tsimikas left his prints all over another trophy triumph.
Tsimikas scored the winning penalty in a thrilling shootout back in the 2022 FA Cup Final.
And now the left-back provided the assist for Virgil van Dijk's winner with a crisp cross from a corner-kick at the Carabao Cup Final.
Us at SunSport warned you the Greece international is the real deal at Anfield.
Virgil van Dijk stands out
Liverpool star Virgil van Dijk put together a true captain's performance in the Carabao Cup Final for his departing manager Jurgen Klopp's young side.
Van Dijk was man of the match with 120 touches, two of which were in the opposition box.
The centre-back also completed 92 out of 101 passes, won seven out of 10 duels and made seven clearances.
And of course, the Netherlands international scored the winner after he netted another header that was controversially chalked off for offside.
The 32-year-old also became the fourth player to win the Alan Hardaker Trophy twice after Ben Foster, John Terry and Vincent Kompany.
Credit: Reuters
Liverpool player ratings
Caoimhin Kelleher: 8
Conor Bradley: 7
Ibrahima Konate: 6
Virgil van Dijk: 9
Andy Robertson: 8
Ryan Gravenberch: 6
Wataru Endo: 7
Alexis Mac Allister: 7
Harvey Elliott: 6
Cody Gakpo: 7
Luis Diaz: 7
Subs:
Joe Gomez: 7
Bobby Clark: 7
Kostas Tsimikas: 7
James McConnell: 7
Jayden Danns: 7
Jarell Quansah: 7
Liverpool's kids beat Chelsea's billionaires
The experienced head of Virgil Van Dijk guided Liverpool’s kids to Carabao Cup glory as Jurgen Klopp’s farewell tour gathered its first piece of silverware.
The Dutch headed home from an 118th-minute winner corner - after having an earlier effort controversially disallowed by VAR as the Reds condemned Chelsea to a sixth consecutive Wembley cup final defeat.
Klopp had sent three teenage subs into the fray but still saw his injury-ravaged side defeat Chelsea’s billionaires as they completed the first leg of a potential quadruple.
In a chaotic, VAR-infested final, Raheem Sterling had a first-half effort tuled out by a linesman’s flag.
But as Klopp’s Liverpool reign comes towards a silvery conclusion, Chelsea’s new era is no nearer to getting off the ground.
Mauricio Pochettino, still yet to win a trophy in English football, was embarrassed by his side suffering defeat against such patched-up, youthful opposition.,
With Mohamed Salah, Darwin Nunez and Dominik Szoboszlai all failing to be passed fit, the Liverpool team-sheet ought to have been heartening for Pochettino and his players.
The atmosphere on Wembley Way had been underwhelming as supporters of two elite clubs all too used to playing finals here mingled quietly.
This is not the grudge match it was in the Mourinho-Benitez era, although both fanbases exchanged songs about Steven Gerrard, who once handed in a transfer request, hoping to leave Liverpool for Chelsea.
Chelsea had lost two of those previous five finals in penalty shoot-outs against the Reds after goalless draws in 2022 - and this was heading towards a similar conclusion until Van Dijk’s late strike.
Credit: Rex 
Credit: Getty Liverpool are champions
And there it is, Liverpool have lifted their 10th Carabao Cup trophy which means they have extended their own record.
The Reds' captain Virgil van Dijk called departing manager Jurgen Klopp to lift the cup together.
What an emotional moment for the Merseysiders who pose as favourites to also win the Premier League, FA Cup and Europa League.
And what a victory despite countless absences, but Klopp's inexperienced youngsters left everything on the pitch for their manager.
Credit: Reuters 
Credit: Reuters 
Credit: Reuters Carabao Cup trophy time
Chelsea's dejected stars are making their way up the Wembley stands to pick up their silver medals.
The Blues have lost their third final out of their last three attempts against the Reds across all competitions.
And the West Londoners' players know that full well as they missed a huge opportunity against a depleted Liverpool.
The Merseysiders follow as they head up for their gold medals and the Carabao Cup trophy!
Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp is absolutely ecstatic, very emotional win for him as he did with a team full of recent academy graduates!
Credit: Getty 
Credit: Getty Liverpool vs Chelsea stats
Liverpool dominated 54 per cent of possession throughout the Carabao Cup Final.
The Reds registered a total of 24 shots, 11 of which were on target.
Chelsea, on the other hand, produced 19 shots but only nine were on target.
More below:
FT: Liverpool 1-0 Chelsea
Liverpool have won the Carabao Cup after beating Chelsea in a thrilling final at Wembley.
Virgil van Dijk scored the winner during the second half of extra-time when he met a crisp cross from a corner-kick by Kostas Tsimikas and headed the ball past the amazing Dorde Petrovic.
The Blues thought they opened the scoring in the first half when Raheem Sterling hit the back of the net but Nicolas Jackson was controversially caught offside in the build-up before his assist.
The Reds also thought they broke the deadlock in the second half when Van Dijk picked up a cross by Andy Robertson and headed it past Petrovic but Wataru Endo was offside in teh build-up.
Just two minutes before the game went on penalties, though, the Liverpool captain awarded departing manager Jurgen Klopp his final Carabao Cup trophy.
Credit: Getty 
Credit: AP
FT: Liverpool 1-0 Chelsea
Peep!
Liverpool are the Carabao Cup winners!!!
120+2 Liverpool 1-0 Chelsea
Yellow card
Chelsea ace Palmer gets booked in the final few minutes of the match.
The Blues complained for a penalty-kick earlier as they claimed Van Dijk handled the ball.
120 Liverpool 1-0 Chelsea
Three more minutes of added time.
Will this be Klopp's final Carabao Cup for Liverpool?
118 Liverpool 1-0 Chelsea
Liverpool must have won it there!
Tsimikas - the man of the hour on finals - delivers a crisp cross from a corner-kick down the right and finds Van Dijk who heads it beautifully past Petrovic!
118 Liverpool 1-0 Chelsea
Goal!
Van Dijk scores the winner!!!
118 Liverpool 0-0 Chelsea
Chance
Liverpool youngster Clark tries a long-range shot but it gets a deflection and misses the target.
117 Liverpool 0-0 Chelsea
Chance
Chelsea ace Palmer tries a long-range shot but Kelleher picks it up with ease.
116 Liverpool 0-0 Chelsea
What a chance!
How, just how?!
Liverpool come just inches away!
Tsimikas whips in a wonderful cross from the left and finds Elliott at the far post where he gets the header.
Petrovic blocks it with his right foot and Danns tries to push the ball over the line while under pressure from two Chelsea defenders.
But Petrovic gets to it right on the goalline!
114 Liverpool 0-0 Chelsea
Chance
Liverpool ace Tsimikas tries a shot with his weaker right foot from the edge of the box but Petrovic picks it up.
113 Liverpool 0-0 Chelsea
Substitution
Chelsea boss Pochettino brings on Chalobah who replaces Chilwell.
Fernandez will be the Blues' skipper for the rest of the Carabao Cup Final.