Liverpool won the 2024 English Carabao Cup finale over Chelsea in a 1-0 win. This highly contested matchup went all the way until extra time and it was not until the 118th minute where Liverpool club captain Virgil Van Dijk towered over the Chelsea defense to head home the winner. Club legend Jurgen Klopp has added another trophy to his illustrious cabinet during his coaching time at Liverpool: two Carabao Cups, one Champions League, Premier League, FA Cup, Club World Cup, UEFA Super Cup, and Community Shield. The German coach is set to leave Merseyside at the end of the season after nine years at the club.
The first 45 minutes drew a blank with both sides testing each teams’ goalkeeper. On Chelsea’s side Raheem Sterling put the ball into the Liverpool net in the 32nd minute only for the goal to be chopped off for offsides. Shortly after, Liverpool forward Cody Gakpo hit the post, arguably the Red’s best chance in the first-half.
The second 45 was as entertaining as the first. Liverpool defender Virgil Van Dijk headed the ball into the back of the net in the 60th minute but VAR deemed Liverpool midfielder Endo to be interfering with play in an offside position, no goal. By the end of the second half, Chelsea were all over Liverpool, Conor Gallagher missed three massive chances to win the game for Chelsea, 0-0 going into extra-time.
The first-half of extra-time was fairly boring, Chelsea sat back while Liverpool attacked. With the game seemingly heading into penalties, Virgil Van Dijk ran past his marker on a corner and flicked the ball into the net with his head and stepped up to score the game’s only goal, 1-0, game over.
Because of injuries, Liverpool were forced to field a young group of players, the average age being just 24 years old. Bobby Clark, James McConnell, Jayden Danns all made their Liverpool debuts, and Conor Bradley, Harvey Elliot, and Jarell Quansah also played their part for the team.
Every story has two sides, and Chelsea’s side was one of disappointment and heartbreak. Mauricio Pochettino led the Blues to their first cup final since the Argentinian was appointed in the summer. The Blues will be disappointed with that loss considering how positive the team was throughout the game. The match came down to quality on the field and while Liverpool’s team were younger, they were also sharper and stronger.
Chelsea and Liverpool put on a show for everyone to see, Liverpool fans will be optimistic that the Carabao Cup will not be the only trophy the Reds win before Klopp throws in the towel. Pochettino and Chelsea will see this game as a step in the right direction for a Chelsea team which has fallen away from the elites of world soccer in recent years.
Freshman Golnar Jalinous is a staff writer. Her email is gjalinou@fandm.edu