Chelsea vs Liverpool Carabao Cup Final RECAP: Reds celebrate Van Dijk winner

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Thanks for joining us tonight, keep following the Mirror Football website and social media accounts to see all the reaction as Liverpool begin their celebrations. Good night!

Liverpool lift the Carabao Cup

Van Dijk soars above Chelsea's flops

Analysis from our chief football writer John Cross:

"Van Dijk is the epitome of a big game player and once again he delivered in a final to make it a record ten League Cup wins for Liverpool.

Van Dijk was the elder statesman as Liverpool finished the game with three teenagers - Bobby Clark, Jayden Danns and James McConnell - plus 21-year-old Jarell Quansah and Harvey Elliott, 20.

But what a damning indictment for Chelsea whose £1billion pound squad could not beat injury-hit Liverpool. Todd Boehly's bottle jobs beaten by Liverpool’s kids. Whoever said you could win nothing with kids?"

Virgil van Dijk holds up the Carabao Cup trophy and the Player of the Match award

Klopp speaks on Liverpool win

Jurgen Klopp has insisted Liverpool deserved their Carabao Cup win after throwing on his youinger stars in the latter stages of the final.

"What happened here tonight is absolutely insane, these things are not possible," he told Sky Sports.

"A team full of character. I'm so proud, I couldn't be prouder of them tonight. We deserved it. Yes we had lucky moments, they had lucky moments.

"The boys showed up. I'm sure when we brought on all the kids people thought 'they've given up'. But that's not the case, we needed fresh legs."

Chelsea set unwanted record for losing finals

Chelsea have now lost their last six cup finals after their dismal Wembley record was extended with Sunday's Carabao Cup final defeat.

Everton chiefs face transfer backlash from fans after deadline day disaster

The Blues were downed late on by Virgil van Dijk's extra-time header. That means they have now lost their last six major finals at the new Wembley, including in the League Cup and FA Cup.

Away from Sunday's defeat, they have also lost in the same competition in 2019 and 2022. Meanwhile, in the FA Cup, Chelsea reached the final of in 2017, 2020, 2021 and 2022 but lost them all.

The Blues' nearest competition is Newcastle who have been defeated in their previous five appearances in major finals.

Liverpool squad join in with 'You'll Never Walk Alone'

The Liverpool squad and Jurgen Klopp's coaching staff have lined up in the box to join in with a rendition of 'You'll Never Walk Alone'. Video from Mirror Football Features Editor Mark Jones:

pic.twitter.com/lWQ1cKWydr

— Mark Jones (@Mark_Jones86) February 25, 2024

Prize money confirmed

Liverpool will earn just £100,000 in prize money after lifting the Carabao Cup trophy, with losers Chelsea taking home £50,000.

The beaten semi-finalists - Fulham and Middlesbrough - banked only £25,000 for reaching the last four, with those knocked out in the earlier rounds not making a penny in prize money.

Klopp and Van Dijk lift the trophy together

Jurgen Klopp was called up by Virgil van Dijk to lift the trophy together at the Royal Box, sending the tickertape flying! Let the celebrations begin!

Jurgen Klopp and Virgil van Dijk lift the trophy

Chelsea dejected

Chelsea look like a broken team as Liverpool celebrate. This was a trophy that was there for the taking, but they've found a way to lose and are now sprawled dejected around the pitch.

Mykhaylo Mudryk sits down in dejection

Liverpool dig deep to win it

From Mirror Sport's chief football writer John Cross:

"Liverpool looked dead on their feet at 90 minutes and yet have been much the better team in extra time. Van Dijk's header now definitely stands. Incredible spirit to win it after 118 minutes."

Van Dijk hails the Klopp kids

Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk has hailed the young members of his team as they helped Liverpool to win the Carabao Cup.

"All the young boys, it's incredible, so proud of the team. Intense game, they had chances, we had chances," he told Sky Sports.

"First trophy as Liverpool captain, let's enjoy it. It's emotional, it's everything, I'm so proud of the boys, all the young boys playing their part in what we've achieved today, it's incredible."

Liverpool jubilant

Liverpool's celebrations are just kicking off, with Klopp doing his customary fist-pump and his players running around the pitch celebrating with their fans.

Virgil van Dijk and Caoimhin Kelleher celebrate at the final whistle

FULL-TIME!

Liverpool are the Carabao Cup champions. Virgil van Dijk's goal at the death has won it for the Reds. The Jurgen Klopp farewell tour is on.

Virgil van Dijk celebrates

Van Dijk surely wins it

Just two minutes before a penalty shootout, Van Dijk rises highest at the near post to power home a winner. Liverpool fans erupt into celebration. Liverpool 1-0 Chelsea

GOAL LIVERPOOOLLLLLL

IT'S VIRGIL VAN DIJK TO WIN IT!!!!!

Scrambled off the line

Elliott heads the ball towards goal after a punt into the box, Petrovic saves and is able to smother it before Danns can poke in the rebound. Liverpool 0-0 Chelsea

Chilwell heads off

Ben Chilwell is taken off by Chelsea, Chalobah comes on to replace him. Eight minutes until penalties. Liverpool 0-0 Chelsea

Setting the stage for the future

From Mirror Online Assistant Editor and football writer Darren Lewis:

"The winning side here at Wembley really will have a victory to use as a springboard for the future. Both inexperienced sides have shown courage in adversity, a willingness to fight for the shirt and their respective causes. Terrific game. Can’t remember the last time I was this entertained by a goalless draw."

Back underway

Just a short break and we're now back underway. Quansah has come on for Konate for Liverpool. Liverpool 0-0 Chelsea

Half-time in extra time

That's half-time in extra time, game has settled down now with both teams running increasingly out of energy. Liverpool were on top in those first 15 minutes, can they make that pressure count? Liverpool 0-0 Chelsea

Gallagher goes off

Arguably Chelsea's best player Conor Gallagher is being brought off, with Noni Madueke replacing him. Liverpool 0-0 Chelsea

Danns goes close!

So close from youngster Danns, he gets up highest to head the ball at goal, but Petrovic pulls off a great save to tip it over the bar. Liverpool 0-0 Chelsea

Back underway

We're underway in extra-time, can either of these sides find a winner? Liverpool 0-0 Chelsea

The moment Kelleher saved Liverpool from defeat

Caoimhin Kelleher saves a shot from Conor Gallagher

Full-time!

We're heading to extra-time. Liverpool 0-0 Chelsea after 90 minutes.

Kelleher comes up big - AGAIN

Kelleher and Konate combine to somehow keep this game at 0-0, making a series of blocks and saves to keep their team in it. We're into six minutes added time.

Pochettino reacts

Pochettino has reacted to those changes by bringing Mudryk on in place of Jackson. Liverpool 0-0 Chelsea

Klopp throws on the kids

Tsimikas comes on for Robertson, McConnell comes on for Mac Allister and Danns replaces Gakpo. Huge decisions from Jurgen Klopp to throw on the youngsters. Liverpool 0-0 Chelsea. Three minutes left

Gallagher misses huge chance to win it

Oh my that is a huge miss. Gallagher is played through and he's all on his own as he charges through on goal. But Kelleher comes racing out of his goal and the Chelsea man can't poke the ball past him. Liverpool 0-0 Chelsea

Gallagher hits the post!

This is remarkable, the ball just does not want to go in. Palmer cuts inside from the right and squares the ball to Gallagher, who tries to flick it into the far corner, but it cannons back off the post. Just 15 minutes to go now, it remains Liverpool 0-0 Chelsea

First Chelsea change

Raheem Sterling is taken off to be replaced by Christopher Nkunku. The former Liverpool star is loudly booed by fans of his old club. Liverpool 0-0 Chelsea