What a thrilling Carabao Cup final it was, with Virgil van Dijk emerging as the hero for Liverpool with a dramatic 118th-minute header to secure a 1-0 victory over Chelsea. The match was full of twists and turns, with controversies and missed opportunities, making for a gripping spectacle until the very end.

Despite missing key players due to injuries, Liverpool started the game brightly, with Luis Diaz testing the Chelsea goalkeeper early on. However, it was Chelsea who had the best chance in the first half, with Cole Palmer being denied by an outstanding save from Liverpool’s goalkeeper, Caoimhin Kelleher.

The intensity of the match continued to rise, with Liverpool suffering another blow as Ryan Gravenberch was stretchered off following a challenge from Moises Caicedo. Chelsea then thought they had taken the lead through Raheem Sterling, but the goal was disallowed for offside after a VAR check.

Liverpool had their own goal ruled out controversially by VAR in the second half, with Van Dijk’s header being disallowed due to an offside decision against Wataru Endo. Chelsea pressed hard for a winner towards the end of normal time, but Kelleher made crucial saves to keep Liverpool in the game.

As extra time loomed, Liverpool found renewed energy and dominated possession. The young Reds were spurred on by the support of their fans at Wembley, and it was Van Dijk who finally broke the deadlock with a powerful header from a corner.

The victory marks Liverpool’s first piece of silverware in Jurgen Klopp’s final season in charge, setting the stage for what could be a memorable farewell for the manager. Meanwhile, Chelsea’s hopes of winning their first trophy under Mauricio Pochettino were dashed, leaving them disappointed as they head into the remainder of the season.