Liverpool secured a historic 10th EFL Cup victory by defeating Chelsea 1-0.
The decisive goal came from Reds captain Virgil Van Dijk in the 118th minute of extra time, capitalizing on a corner delivered by left-back Kostas Tsimikas.
Liverpool’s goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher and defensive midfielder Wataru Endo impressed, despite not being regular starters. Kelleher’s notable left-hand block on Cole Palmer and strategic positioning to save Conor Gallagher’s shot were highlights of the match.
Although Van Dijk scored from a set-piece, the goal was disallowed due to Endo obstructing Chelsea’s Levi Colwill during the build-up.
Conor Bradley showcased his potential as a first-choice right-back, potentially replacing the injured Trent Alexander-Arnold. Chelsea, missing Thiago Silva and Marc Cucurella due to injury, showed vulnerability in defense.
Djordje Petrovic made significant defensive contributions for Chelsea, while Cole Palmer stood out with his playmaking and shooting abilities.
Liverpool manager Jürgen Klopp celebrated another trophy win in his farewell days, with his team still in contention for the ‘Quadruple,’ having advanced in the FA Cup and Europa League.
In the Premier League, Liverpool leads with 60 points, closely followed by Manchester City with 59 points and Arsenal with 58 points, with twelve gameweeks remaining in the season.
