ENGLISH LEAGUE CUP, FINAL
Chelsea–Liverpool 0–1 (0–0, 0–0, 0–0) – following extra time
London, Wembley Stadion. Led by: Kavanagh
CHELSEA: Petrovics – Gusto, Disasi, Colwill, Chilwell (Chalobah, 113.) – Caicedo, E. Fernández – Palmer, Gallagher (Madueke, 97.), Sterling (Nkunku, 67.) – Jackson (Mudrik, 89.). Head coach: Mauricio Pochettino
LIVERPOOL: Kelleher – Bradley (Clark, 72), Konaté (Quansah, 105), Van Dijk, Robertson (Cimikasz, 87) – Mac Allister (McConnell, 87), Endo, Gravenberch (Gomez, 28) – Elliott, Gakpo (Danns, 87.), L. Díaz. Head coach: Jürgen Klopp
Scorer: Van Dijk (118.)
What might have been guessed became official an hour before the English League Cup final: Dominik Szoboszlai did not recover from his injury, Liverpool manager Jürgen Klopp did not even include him in the squad for the match once morest Chelsea. However, his teammates might still do to win his first trophy in England – although the leader of the league list was forced to play as a reserve due to the many injuries, the goalkeeper Alisson Becker, Mohamed Szalah, Diogo Jota and Darwin Núnez might not be in the starting team either.
Chelsea, which is suffering in the league (in 11th place), played better in the first half, so they might have saved their season somewhat by winning the League Cup. In the 20th minute, the “blues” missed a huge opportunity, they might have scored two goals from one action, but first Cole Palmer shot from four meters with the ball into the goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher, and Nicolas Jackson might have scored the rebounding ball, but they threw themselves into the path of the ball when he shot .
Liverpool, which was already plagued by injuries, was hit by another blow shortly following, Ryan Gravenberch had to be replaced, Joseph Gomez replaced him.
But even though Chelsea had a slight advantage on the pitch, they only managed to score a last goal through former Liverpool player Raheem Sterling. In addition, Liverpool came closest to the goal in the first forty-five minutes, as Cody Gakpo headed the ball onto the left post four minutes before the break.
Liverpool started the second half better. First, in the 58th minute, Djordje Petrovic had to throw himself to save Harvey Elliott’s acrobatic shot, then two minutes later it seemed that Virgil van Dijk would give the “Reds” the lead with an eleven-meter header – but following the VAR investigation, the goal was disallowed due to shirt pulling. And in the 76th minute, the Londoners might have scored, following Cole Palmer’s pass in the middle, Conor Gallagher sent the ball with a beautiful movement – on the right post.
Both teams still had chances, but no goals were scored, two fifteen-minute overtimes followed, in which both goals were also in danger, the game was pulsating. In the 25th minute of extra time, Harvey Elliott headed the left post, and then three players crowded each other on the goal line – but even then there was no goal. And when everyone was mentally preparing for the penalties, Virgil van Dijk decided the cup final: Konstántinosz Cimikasz took a corner from the left, and the Dutch defender headed it into the long, lower right corner from six meters.
Dominik Szoboszlai has thus enriched his collection with another trophy: in addition to his four Austrian league titles, three Austrian Cup victories and two German Cup triumphs, he can now also claim to be an English League Cup winner, even if he might not play in the final. 0–1