Jurgen Klopp’s children guided Liverpool to a stunning 1-0 League Cup final triumph over Chelsea, with Virgil van Dijk scoring in extra time two minutes from time.
The decimated Liverpool team, who were without a slew of first-choice players including Mohamed Salah and Darwin Nunez, suffered further setbacks when Ryan Gravenberch was stretchered off early on.
helsea were denied a first-half opener as Caoimhin Kelleher made a superb close-range save to deny Cole Palmer, then Raheem Sterling’s goal was ruled out for minor offside.
Liverpool also had chances, but Cody Gakpo’s header came back off the post, and Van Dijk’s goal was controversially ruled out after a VAR intervention on the hour.
Chelsea’s stronger depth appeared to pay off, and after Conor Gallagher struck the post, Kelleher denied the Blues midfielder when sent clean through.
Liverpool fielded a slew of youthful players who held their own for the duration of extra time before Van Dijk scored the first leg of a potential farewell quadruple for Klopp with a 118th-minute header from a corner.
The two teams will now focus on the FA Cup fifth round, with Chelsea visiting Leeds United and Liverpool facing Southampton on Wednesday night.
