This was a victory forged in Kirkby. A victory that is right up with Jurgen Klopp’s greatest achievements.
It was won with just two minutes of extra time to go, with Virgil van Dijk heading home from a corner, but it owed everything to the grit, determination and courage shown by the Liverpool manager.
The Carabao Cup may be the fourth of Liverpool’s four priorities this season but how sweet this win will feel given the trying circumstances and given the opposition, Chelsea.
Kirkby is where Liverpool’s academy is based and by the end Klopp had turned to the club’s kids to try and see them over the line. They responded magnificently.
In a sense he had little choice, given the horrific, challenging injury list he faced but the manager was brave enough to do it and they responded.
For the fourth time in four and a half years, a final between these two clubs went to extra-time but this time it did not go to a penalty shoot-out. Van Dijk ensured that.
Liverpool ended with, arguably, only three, and maybe even just two – Van Dijk and Wataru Endo – first-choice players on the pitch. By the final whistle it was like watching their under-21s with three teenagers out there as they rallied impressively. The difference in the transfer fees? Chelsea’s XI cost £521 million. Liverpool’s £163 million with half of that on Van Dijk. He proved priceless.
Both sides also had ‘goals’ disallowed after VAR checks for offside calls, both sides struck the post – Liverpool twice – both sides had a host of chances although the clearest were created by Chelsea.
Liverpool goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher saved well from Conor Gallagher having earlier brilliantly denied Raheem Sterling. In injury-time he also repelled efforts from Cole Palmer and substitute Christopher Nkunku as Chelsea undeniably finished the strongest with Axel Disasi also wasteful.
Even so Liverpool were left furious after an earlier Van Dijk header was ruled out, with Endo having blocked off Levi Colwill after coming back from an offside position. The argument? Consistency. It may have been an offence but it was one that is not normally recognised.
There was even more anger as Moises Caicedo went unpunished for a nasty challenge on Ryan Gravenberch with the midfielder leaving on a stretcher with an ankle injury. It was deemed reckless rather than serious foul play by Var John Brooks and added to Liverpool’s horrifically lengthy list and, by the end, Klopp was forced to use more and more youngsters. Luis Diaz and Harvey Elliott stayed on but could barely run.
Even so Elliott almost won it deep in extra-time only for his header to come back off the post with goalkeeper Djordje Petrovic clinging onto the rebound, on the line. But Van Dijk made sure with the next chance.
Liverpool beat Chelsea in extra time: Follow the latest reaction…
07:43 PM GMT
Thanks for following
Congrats to Liverpool. Match report appears above.
07:20 PM GMT
Klopp in the press conference
“What we saw here today was so exceptional, we might never see it again. Not because it’s me on the sidelines, just because these moments don’t come along often. I was told there is an English phrase “you don’t win trophies with kids,” I didn’t know that. This is easily the most special trophy I’ve ever won, it’s absolutely exceptional.”
“I couldn’t care less about my legacy. I’m not here to create one, as a manger of a football club you are there to do the job.
“This was so special, you saw the game. We had problems before the game that got harder during the game. The ref was not up to the level of the game, he didn’t help one team or the other.
“Age is not in our thought process in that moment [sending on kids as subs]. It was clear yesterday in training that these were the boys we would take. We needed fresh legs, it was clear. Jayden Danns has only recently joined us in first team training, I’ve loved him since the first session. He could have scored two goals, it’s absolutely insane.
07:00 PM GMT
Karen Carney
“Obviously he [Poch] will give positive interviews because he knows people are listening but he will be devastated inside and it will be tough to pick that group back up.”
06:40 PM GMT
Mauricio Pochettino press conference
Missed chances?
“I think that was the key. We created five or six chances and didn’t score. In a final who scores first is a big advantage. We didn’t and it was a big problem. They scored in the last minute and it was difficult to react.”
How do you pick up players?
“They are professional and very competitive. And now we need to move forward. We played for a trophy we didn’t get and you can’t say anything to make it better. They need to feel the pain. Liverpool after three or four years, lost the Champions League, lost the Europa League, but they kept believing. That is a good example. We need to keep delivering, that is the most important thing.”
Did you expect more in extra time?
“Of course it was difficult. We were so close to winning the game in 90 minutes and we felt a little bit disappointed, we started to lose our energy, some players started to feel really tired. Maybe they started to feel penalties would be good for us. But I think the effort was massive, I was happy with the effort.”
Your emotions?
“I feel the same as the players. Disappointed. It is so painful. I have less time to win titles than the players, they are younger than me. When you don’t get what you want it is difficult to manage. But we are competitive and if we want to win we have to move on and get ready with training tomorrow and go for Wednesday”
On Neville “bottle job” comments?
“I have a good relationship with Gary. I don’t know how I can take his opinion, but I respect it. I think if you look at the average age of both teams they are not too different. I don’t know how you can describe this situation but for sure I feel proud.”
06:40 PM GMT
Sky reporter
“Enjoy this moment Jurgen, try not to focus on the game on Tuesday.”
Klopp: “TUESDAY??!! I thought it was Wednesday. Oh my God.”
06:34 PM GMT
Jurgen Klopp
“Insane, these things are not possible. Full of character. Unbelievable. I could not be prouder. We deserved it.”
“I’m sure when we brought on all the kids people thought ‘oh they have given up’ but we did it because we needed fresh legs.
“The young players have trained a lot of time with us. They are a pain, to be honest! They all want minutes.”
06:12 PM GMT
Thom Gibbs on the celebrations
“However overwrought and wearing you find the Liverpool FC self-mythologising industry (me? quite!) that was a beautiful moment of communion between fans, players, manager and staff. Those on the pitch forming a line with arms over shoulders and swaying in front of the Liverpool end as they sung You’ll Never Walk Alone. Klopp went a bit early with the “come onnnn!!!” big finish, before the final chorus, and had to sheepishly take his place back in the line. He is transparently eking every bit out of these moments now, knowing he has few of them left.”
06:07 PM GMT
A spine-tingling moment
as Liverpool’s players and staff line up in front of their fans and sing an acapella version of You’ll Never Walk Alone. Oh actually, there is music: it’s just being drowned out!
Jurgen, bless him, takes a moment just with his own thoughts.
06:02 PM GMT
Mark Chapman on Klopp
“I’ve been watching him for the last 20 minutes and he has gone round every player. The injured ones who missed out. I don’t think he’s left anyone out.”
05:56 PM GMT
Peter Drury
“The golden sky, the sweet silver song of the lark.”
05:55 PM GMT
Thom Gibbs writes
“Among the squad members and backroom staff who vaulted the advertising hoardings to celebrate, Ryan Gravenberch, on crutches and in a protective boot. Can’t imagine the physio will be happy with that, but he hasn’t got involved in any of the bundles. Might need a hand up the steps though.”
05:55 PM GMT
Gary Neville again
“The energy, the passion, the spirit of Klopp: I can’t wait til he leaves.”
05:54 PM GMT
Chelsea get up for their medals
They must be gutted, they really should have won. Here is Gary Neville: “Those Chelsea players will regret that for a long, long time. They had Liverpool by the scruff of the neck but Chelsea hit the wall and they didn’t turn up in extra time. I was really disappointed with Chelsea in extra time. He (manager) should have rallied them.”
05:48 PM GMT
Here is van Dijk to Sky
“Means so much. All the young boys on the pitch…. I am so proud of the team. They had chances, we had chances. My first trophy as Liverpool captain, lets enjoy it.”
On being mobbed/bundled by his teammates after scoring: “I just didn’t want to get injured! I wanted to get out of there.”
“We had problems before the game but we put them behind us.”
05:46 PM GMT
Mark Chapman on Sky with the stats
42 attempts and 20 on target before VVD’s winner.
05:43 PM GMT
Full time: Chelsea 0 Liverpool 1
Liverpool have done it. The celebrations begin.
05:40 PM GMT
119 mins: Chelsea 0 Liverpool 1
Van Dijk returning to his day job, a brave and skilled defensive header as Madueke connects with a sweet volley.
05:39 PM GMT
GOAL! Chelsea 0 Liverpool 1 (van Dijk 118)
He was denied before, but he is not denied this time! Virgil van Dijk gets up and across his markers and crashes home a mighty header.
Thom Gibbs: “Van Dijk scores from a more or less identical position to his first half goal and surely there’s no chance of Varring that one out? Pretty ropey marking from Mudryk and those Liverpool fans who literally kept their powder dry are rewarded with another chance to use their contraband pyrotechnic devices. Lots of Chelsea’s heading for the exits.”
05:36 PM GMT
116 mins: Chelsea 0 Liverpool 0
Elliot gets free at the back post and has headed/chested the ball onto the post, not quite sure what bit of him that hit. Good stop by the Chelsea keeper and there is a scramble. Somehow it stays out!
Thom Gibbs: “Trevoh Chalobah, presumably amazing at penalties, is Chelsea’s fourth sub. Two left, and two keepers on the bench so still time to bring on your spot kick specialist if Poch doesn’t fancy Petrovic. Or just throw on third choice Marcus Bettinelli to take a pen to mess with Liverpool. Bet they don’t have any data about where he prefers to put his penalties.”
05:33 PM GMT
112 mins: Chelsea 0 Liverpool 0
Noni Madueke, who replaced Gallagher on 97 mins, gets free and shoots at the keeper. Kelleher needed two bites at the cherry to grab it. Maybe Madueke could have crossed?
Think this could be quite damaging for Chelsea if they don’t win this. Could not possibly have a more favourable set of circumstances, Liverpool finishing the game with kids.
— Daniel Zeqiri (@ZeqiriDan) February 25, 2024
05:29 PM GMT
109 mins: Chelsea 0 Liverpool 0
Thom Gibbs writes: “All getting very loose and messy on either side now. Jarell Quansah looking pretty composed since replacing Konate at centre back. Several players with their hands on their haunches at Chelsea prepare to take a corner. This all just feels so unnecessary. Bring back replays!”
05:28 PM GMT
107 mins: Chelsea 0 Liverpool 0
Chelsea on the attack but a series of poor decisions sees them squander a couple of good moments. Murdyk one of the culprits.
05:25 PM GMT
Keith Hackett’s view
Liverpool should feel aggrieved – two key Carabao Cup final decisions went against them
05:24 PM GMT
HT in ET: Chelsea 0 Liverpool 0
Liverpool came back at Chelsea in that period, Chelsea seemed to take their foot off the gas. Klopp bringing the vibes at the changeover, bearhugging his players, notably Tsimikas.
Poch needs to lift his men because they had Liverpool on the ropes at the end of the 90 but have let them get out of trouble in the following quarter hour.
Thom Gibbs: “As ever at this point I would like to suggest a drastic re-imagining of extra time, which so rarely improves a football match. I like the idea of penalties before the game, so teams know who’s going to win if it’s not settled in 30 extra minutes. Yes you’d have a lot of bus parking, but at least it would provide some novelty, for a period.”
05:20 PM GMT
103 mins: Chelsea 0 Liverpool 0
Thom Gibbs: “All Liverpool in the first half of extra time. Their fans have turned it up to 11, scarves twirling. Chelsea’s wave their complimentary flags in response and if you are thinking that doesn’t sound very intimidating you would be right.”
05:14 PM GMT
98 mins: Chelsea 0 Liverpool 0
Harvey Elliott goes close, shooting into the side netting. Some Liverpool fans thought that had crept in on the narrow angle.
Todd Boehly looks at the Liverpool team now on the Wembley field and thinks how much FFP pure profit dollar there is out there.
— John Brewin (@JohnBrewin_) February 25, 2024
05:10 PM GMT
93 mins: Chelsea 0 Liverpool 0
But Liverpool are the side on the attack early on, they’ve got Chelsea pinned back and they’ve put a header just over. Danns the man who nearly wrote his name into Liverpool lore. Here’s Thom Gibbs:
“How close we came to my snide remark about Neil Danns’ son saving the day looking (even more) stupid. His header so nearly creeps under the bar but Petrovic had it covered. Both keepers have played well. Going to be brutal if / when one misses the decisive penalty, Kepa-style”.
05:06 PM GMT
Extra time
coming up. Liverpool certainly have the fresh young legs, having made that late triple change but you have to say that Chelsea appear to have more options.
05:01 PM GMT
End of 90 minutes: Chelsea 0 Liverpool 0
Chelsea should be celebrating by now, but they’ll have to go again. They had loads of chances to put Liverpool away in that second half, and the Reds are now have a very inexperienced XI on the pitch.
That said, Liverpool could equally point to a van Dijk goal that was disallowed on a tight call.
04:55 PM GMT
90+ mins: Chelsea 0 Liverpool 0
A tremendous goalmouth scramble! Four Chelsea shots in a few seconds, Kelleher and Konate both on the line repelling all four of them by hook or by crook. Chelsea finishing much the stronger.
04:54 PM GMT
88 mins: Chelsea 0 Liverpool 0
Thom Gibbs: “Huge save from Kelleher. Should Conor Gallagher have done better? There was a tiny half-touch just before his shot which seemed to delay proceedings. Then Jackson briefly looked to have a one-on-one chance but Konate held him up well. Klopp throwing on the kids is intriguing. Feels like the game just needs one high quality moment to settle it. Luis Diaz looks Liverpool’s best route for that outcome, Cole Palmer for Chelsea.”
04:53 PM GMT
87 mins: Chelsea 0 Liverpool 0
Subs, various:
Jackson is off, Murdyk on.
Triple sub by Klopp: Tsimikas, Danns and McConnell on.
04:49 PM GMT
86 mins: Chelsea 0 Liverpool 0
Kid you not, Gallagher has had another brilliant chance just a few seconds later, and he’s spurned that one as well.
04:48 PM GMT
85 mins: Chelsea 0 Liverpool 0
Gallagher with an absolutely gilt-edged chance. Gallagher is through and just the keeper to beat.
04:45 PM GMT
82 mins: Chelsea 0 Liverpool 0
A flurry of big tackles, Konate’s lunge being the wildest of the bunch and it earns him a yellow.
04:44 PM GMT
80 mins: Chelsea 0 Liverpool 0
Thom Gibbs on the game’s momentum/energy shift:
“It has turned into an enjoyably tense game. Pure aghast horror from the Chelsea end when Gallagher hit the post. Liverpool look to be flagging a touch. Think that Gakpo blotter miles over the bar from a promising position may come back to haunt them. Feels like it is there to be nicked at either end. Equally think a drab extra time period and long penalty shoot-out is most likely outcome.”
04:38 PM GMT
75 mins: Chelsea 0 Liverpool 0
Liverpool standing still, they are defending very deep for some reason. Cole Palmer down the right, plays it in, and Conor Gallagher hits the post with a cute flick!
Love contentious VAR decisions when it doesn’t affect who I support. They say it’s killing the game but VAR and penalty shoot outs are the only reason I tune in as a neutral. #WeLoveVAR
— Irvine Welsh (@IrvineWelsh) February 25, 2024
Another important football figure is having his say.
What on earth are they doing? This isn’t funny anymore. John Brooks can see that – but not the challenge on Gravenberch? Really? I’m losing the will to watch football
— Richard Keys (@richardajkeys) February 25, 2024
Clark on for Bradley.
04:32 PM GMT
70 mins: Chelsea 0 Liverpool 0
Diaz with a powerful driving run, he lays it off to Gakpo, who blazes wastefully over the bar.
If that was a subjective offside call, was the original decision not to give it a clear and obvious error? #CarabaoCupFinal
— Ben Rumsby (@ben_rumsby) February 25, 2024
04:29 PM GMT
65 mins: Chelsea 0 Liverpool 0
Raheem Sterling is subbed off, the Liverpool supporters bid him a warm farewell.
Thom Gibbs: “Pretty irrelevant day for Raheem Sterling on the site of some of his finest moments, mainly during summer 2021 at Euro not-2020. Nkunku might be exactly what Chelsea leads? They’re certainly winning the singing at the moment, air has gone out of Liverpool after the Var fun. Pink mist still drifting across the pitch from their premature flares.”
04:24 PM GMT
60 mins: Chelsea 0 Liverpool 0
Ben Chilwell is having a game to forget. A decent ball into the area, van Dijk has bullied and overpowered Chilwell, and the Liverpool defender guides the ball past the keeper with a calm header.
There is a VAR.
Endo has blocked off Colwill, and Endo was offside when he did it, to boot. The ref goes over to the monitor. Goal disallowed.
Thom Gibbs: “A two-part celebration to that non-goal, Van Dijk the scorer ran towards his fans and Robertson the provider turned back towards his bench. Both deserved their fun, firm header from Van Dijk despite Chilwell having a handful of his shirt. Fantastic delivery from Robertson, from what is a highly unpromising position. Of course none of that matters now. Hooray for videos!”
04:23 PM GMT
56 mins: Chelsea 0 Liverpool 0
To that point, Enzo had a glorious position but got the ball stuck under his feet. Palmer, just behind him, was in a much better position but communication broke down.
04:21 PM GMT
55 mins: Chelsea 0 Liverpool 0
Thom Gibbs: “Getting to the point now where I’m wondering if both these teams are a bit off-colour today. So many occasions where a promising position has been squandered with a poor pass, and you can see the game becoming a bit more entrenched now, both sides defending deeper, both wary of being undone by a transition, as is the modern parlance for a loss of possession.”
04:20 PM GMT
Close!
04:13 PM GMT
50 mins: Chelsea 0 Liverpool 0
Thom Gibbs: “So here, I think, comes the great Liverpool assault. Am expecting a very full-on start to this half, because what are the other options? Keep it tight and wait for the son of Neil Danns to save the day? Endo’s shot looked a lot closer from my seat than on the replay, I was not alone in making a slightly embarrassing noise as it flew past the post.”
04:09 PM GMT
46 mins: Chelsea 0 Liverpool 0
The second half begins and Liverpool are attacking straight away. Gakpo tees up Endo, who fires wide.
04:01 PM GMT
National anthem booed: report
Liverpool football fans boo national anthem at Carabao Cup final
03:57 PM GMT
Matt Law
“Following a nervy start, Chelsea more than matched Liverpool in that first-half. Moises Caicedo is lucky to have not been shown at least a yellow card, but the midfield are fighting well and Mauricio Pochettino’s team are dangerous on the break. Nicolas Jackson can only have been millimetres offside before teeing up Raheem Sterling. Chelsea have more on the substitutes’ bench than Liverpool, so the longer this goes without a goal, it might be Pochettino who has more options.”
03:56 PM GMT
Chris Bascombe
“Liverpool suffered a mid-half dip either side of Gravenberch’s injury. Klopp was irate that the Caicedo tackle was not reviewed by VAR. But his side started and ended the first half the better side. The problem – inevitably – is whether he has the finishing power in his line-up. And his options on the bench are non-existent. On the plus side, Alexis Mac Allister has been outstanding.”
03:54 PM GMT
Half time: Chelsea 0 Liverpool 0
An engaging game, both sides having some attacking moments of pace and sharpness, and also some rather iffy defending from both sides. It seems very open: good luck predicting the outcome. Lets get the views of the experts at Wembley.
Here is Thom Gibbs.
in a video.
03:48 PM GMT
45+ mins: Chelsea 0 Liverpool 0
Some argy-bargy between Chilwell and Bradley. A yellow card each, which seems both fair and just.
03:43 PM GMT
41 mins: Chelsea 0 Liverpool 0
Post! Good Liverpool move down the left, a cross and Gakpo rises above everyone else. He directs the header into the far corner, the Chelsea keeper is totally beaten…. he watches, heart in mouth, as the header dribbles against the far post and stays out.
“Petrovic was wonderfully rooted for that post-hitting header from Gakpo, what a throwback! Feel like keepers now fling themselves at everything, even when doing so is hopeless, because it looks so embarrassing to be stock still as you concede. A reminder of Liverpool’s threat after a much more composed period for Chelsea at the back.”
03:41 PM GMT
Peter Drury says
“Jamie (Carragher) I enjoyed your piece in the paper about the Liverpool academy and all the talent coming through.”
Peter is referring to this.
03:33 PM GMT
32 mins: Chelsea 0 Liverpool 0
Chelsea have the ball in the net after a sweeping, dynamic move. Jackson and Sterling with a two-man break and they get it in the net. But is Jackson offside? It’s really close. The onfield decision was offside. And offside it remains. Goal disallowed.
03:33 PM GMT
31 mins: Chelsea 0 Liverpool 0
Thom Gibbs: During the treatment for and removal of the injured Gravenberch we had a bit of the “always the victims, it’s never your fault” song from pockets of the Chelsea fans, which did not go down well when Luton sung it earlier this season. Liverpool’s responded with, to the tune of Papa’s Got a Brand New Pigbag “dur-dur-dur / f— the Tories,” which is certainly the most explicitly (in both senses) political song I’ve ever heard sung at a cup final. Chelsea’s comeback, predictably, “dur-dur-dur / f— the Scousers”
03:32 PM GMT
30 mins: Chelsea 0 Liverpool 0
Gravenberch took a sore one on the ankle in that and has gone off. Gomez on.
03:28 PM GMT
27 mins: Chelsea 0 Liverpool 0
Thom Gibbs writes:
“A good few minutes for the Liverpool deputies. Alissoneseque improbable save from the torso of Caoimhin Kelleher and Conor Bradley doing some honest-to-god Trenting at right-back, he’s slotting into that more central and advanced slot which Alexander-Arnold has done with such aplomb this season. But it’s certainly been Chelsea’s round, assuming we are splitting this game into 18 five minute rounds? What do you mean that’s a stupid idea? The telly lads loved it!”
03:27 PM GMT
23 mins: Chelsea 0 Liverpool 0
Caicedo put in a big challenge earlier and he’s made another borderline tackle on Gravenberch. Liverpool want a red card, but get no help from VAR. Mike Dean explains to Sky Sports viewers that “it is not serious foul play” and there is some debate also about whether the ref allowed the correct amount of advantage.
03:22 PM GMT
21 mins: Chelsea 0 Liverpool 0
A big chance for Chelsea when they play a quick direct transition. Sterling has the ball in the box and should have shot first time. Sterling does eventually shoot and it’s a sensational stop from Kelleher. Palmer cannot do much with the follow-up.
03:18 PM GMT
17 mins: Chelsea 0 Liverpool 0
Here is Thom Gibbs: “Crikey, not looking too clever at the back for Chelsea. Colwill having a nightmarish start to the game and Disasi slipping onto his bum gave Endo a chance he might have done better with. It’s a bit better going forward, some signs Chelsea can play through Liverpool’s lines neatly and should be able to break with speed if they can find a final ball. Sterling went a bit higher and more central during their last attack and seemed annoyed that Gallagher had not played it forward from midfield more quickly.”
03:17 PM GMT
14 mins: Chelsea 0 Liverpool 0
Malo Gusto hit a first-time strike is straight at Caoimhin Kelleher just before that flurry of Liverpool activity.
Chelsea tried to play out from the back, made a mess of it and Luis Diaz cracked a good shot at goal. Djordje Petrovic was able to repel it on that occasion.
03:13 PM GMT
12 mins: Chelsea 0 Liverpool 0
End-to-end stuff. Chelsea had a corner but Liverpool are now attacking. Gary Neville: “It is a very nervy Chelsea team.”
Here is Thom Gibbs: “This is the first time I’ve seen Chelsea in person this season and while clearly it is exciting to see Cole Palmer in the flesh for the first time the thing that has caught my attention most in the opening minutes is how distracting the shiny emblems on their shirts are. I am shocked, SHOCKED, that we have yet to have confected row this season with a player or manage complaining about them. There is still time. Little clear iridescence advantage so far, Chelsea looking quite cowed and mostly sitting back.”
03:09 PM GMT
6 mins: Chelsea 0 Liverpool 0
Thom Gibbs writes:
“In case you were still fretting about my pre-match question about whether Sterling would be leading the line, based on the way the Chelsea team was announced online, please rest easy, it’s definitely Nicolas Jackson up top. Palmer, Gallagher and Sterling behind him from right to left.”
That second freekick was chipped into the area and missed everybody. A moment of alarm for Chelsea because Liverpool have a couple of men free but the referee’s whistle curtails the action. Ibrahima Konate, unmarked, had handled.
03:07 PM GMT
5 mins: Chelsea 0 Liverpool 0
Mac Allister drives forward and is fouled by Colwill. Following that freekick, Liverpool soon have another freekick because Moises Caicedo hsa fouled Wataru Endo
03:03 PM GMT
Oliver Brown on the booing of the national anthem
“It is hardly without precedent at these occasions, given Liverpool’s anti-establishment credentials, but God Save the King was screechingly derided by the supporters in red before kick-off. The Chelsea half of the stadium responded by delivering it with even greater patriotic gusto than usual.”
03:02 PM GMT
1 mins: Chelsea 0 Liverpool 0
“Liverpool are weakened and depleted by injuries, will Chelsea ever get a better chance?” asks Sky’s Gary Neville.
Chelsea, in blue, have first use of the ball. They lose it and Liverpool hit a ball forward.
03:01 PM GMT
The Liverpool players gather in a huddle
Klopp sits smiling on the bench. Poch looks perhaps the more tense of the two managers.
“The rhapsody in blue in thrilling discord with the red Mersey beat,” says Peter Drury.
02:56 PM GMT
Some supporters are booing
the National Anthem.
Thom Gibbs writes:
“If you thought the boos from the Liverpool end were noisy for Sterling you reckoned without the national anthem. Interesting to observe that the majority of the noise seemed to be coming from a clear section of the red end, slightly off centre behind the goal, where most of the Kopesque flags are situated.”
“On less heated ground, think you’ve got to have grudging respect for the dude, presumably a Carabao bigwig, getting a selfie with Klopp during the team introductions. Klopp can be a very spiky presence but he knows which side his bread is buttered. All smiles. Free energy drinks forever!”
02:53 PM GMT
Atmosphere
Thom Gibbs on the pre-match hoopla.
“The guys and gals at Carabao x EFL really throwing their full promotional might at this. Florence and the Machine’s Spectrum (that one that goes “say my nayyyy-ayyyy-aim” to you or me) blares, there are 10 drum-toting revellers on the centre circle, the usual large emblems are being given a rigorous shake and each team has a bonus piece of tarpaulin stretched across the width of the pitch. I realise this is the opinion of a 100 year-old person but surely a cup final crowd can be relied upon to generate a good deal of its atmosphere themselves, without the need for all these banging tunes and window dressing?”
A Carabo executive/dignitary takes the opportunity for a selfie with Jurgen Klopp.
02:50 PM GMT
Poch
“Always important and nice to be here but now it is about winning. We are better after three weeks. Lots of positive things. We have momentum but we have to connect that to the pitch.”
02:50 PM GMT
Klopp
“We are here and we will give it a try.”
02:49 PM GMT
Kick off is ten minutes away
Would you like to have a wager on the outcome of the match?
Can Chelsea ruin the party as Liverpool look to notch up a piece of silverware in Klopp’s final season? Back your fancy with these best betting sites.
02:43 PM GMT
The Liverpool fans
sing You’ll Never Walk Alone.
Here is Thom Gibbs on the Liverpool fans singing You’ll Never Walk Alone.
“They’ve gone early with You’ll Never Walk Alone, a full 18 minutes before kick-off. Looking forward to a rousing Chelsea response with, what? Liquidator? That nice Suggs one from the Cup final? I Don’t Want To Go To Chelsea by Elvis Costello?
A big expert call here, but I’m willing to stake my reputation on it: It is cold. Scarf AND hat weather IMO. Am yet to call on my Faginesque fingerless typin’ gloves, but the night is young. Pitch is being watered, which feels unnecessary., given forecast for steady rain starting soon.”
02:43 PM GMT
Sturridge on Gallagher on Sky
“All the big clubs have his kind of player: someone who does the dirty work, the glue that binds it all together.”
02:42 PM GMT
A protestor
02:39 PM GMT
Sterling booed
Thom Gibbs on the team announcements.
“Hearty boos from the Liverpool fans as Raheem Sterling’s name is announced in the Chelsea line-up, as you would expect. I am positioned closest to the Chelsea fans, so forgive me if my updates are overstating their noisiness. It’s Liverpool chants dominating so far, which I’m sure is inspiring their team to stretch their calves extra-proficiently in the warm-ups.”
02:33 PM GMT
Fathers and Sons
The Telegraph’s Head of News Mark Hughes points out the unusual scenario of there being no fewer than three sons of former footballers on the Liverpool bench: Jason Koumas, Lee Clark and Neil Danns the proud dads of Reds subs today.
02:29 PM GMT
Telegraph Sport’s John Macleary
who is, I believe, there in his capacity as a Liverpool supporter, reports:
“Lots of confusion as digital ticket holders appeared to have time slots for entering ground. Understandably, few realised this and were not happy at being told they could not enter. Stewards were not allowing these fans in, adding to queues that, at 1.15pm were relatively short.”
02:26 PM GMT
Daniel Sturridge on Sky Sports
“You want to win for you and the club. And of course for the manager. I am sure that the players want to send him off, but inside, as a footballer, you want to win for yourself.”
02:25 PM GMT
Jamie Carragher on Klopp
“Last season was so poor by Liverpool standards that it’s almost like Jurgen felt he had to fix it before he went.”
The Telegraph Sport columnist suggests that Klopp might have called it a day last term had he been able to leave on a high.
02:20 PM GMT
Chelsea fans
02:19 PM GMT
A couple of Chelsea faves of recent vintage
02:17 PM GMT
Liverpool’s Young Team
In Ryan Gravenberch (21), Conor Bradley (20), and Harvey Elliott (20), Liverpool are starting three players aged 21 or younger in a major final for the very first time in the club’s history. #LFC #CarabaoCupFinal
— Michael Reid (@michael_reid11) February 25, 2024
02:14 PM GMT
Not going to feature
02:11 PM GMT
And here is Thom Gibbs on the team news
“Chelsea unchanged from their draw with Man City. Their social media post breaks with dreadful current convention of listing the team in squad numerical order, instead in the order you would expect them to line up in Poch’s usual 4-2-3-1. If it’s accurate it’s Sterling up top with Gallagher, Palmer and Jackson behind him, but I am almost certainly reading too much into this given it’s been either Jackson or Palmer up top in their past few games.
“It’s QUITE bad news for Liverpool, neither Salah nor Nunez fit enough for even the bench, which looks threadbare in their absence. Jason Koumas’ son Lewis among the subs, which is nice, although not the game-changing option you would hope for if you were Klopp. Wonder if they’ll start aggressively and try to settle game early as there is little obvious firepower beyond the starting XI.”
02:09 PM GMT
And here is Chris on the Liverpool team news
“Liverpool’s worst fears are realised with Salah, Nunez and Szoboszlai failing to prove their fitness for Wembley. Klopp can still field a strong starting XI, but his options from the bench are almost entirely from the club’s academy. Klopp’s hope is that the trio will be available for the Premier League trip to Nottingham Forest next weekend.”
02:07 PM GMT
Chris Bascombe on ticketing issues
“A few reports are emerging of queues outside Wembley turnstiles because of a barcode fault on the digital tickets. Liverpool fans are being asked to re-download on their mobile phones in order to gain entry. It is causing congestion. Hopefully it will be resolved before kick-off to enable swifter access for supporters.”
02:06 PM GMT
Mauricio talks to Sky Sports
“It is a big challenge we face. We can perform and win.”
02:04 PM GMT
Team news
Chelsea: Petrovic, Gusto, Disasi, Colwill, Chilwell, Caicedo, Fernandez, Palmer, Gallagher, Sterling, Jackson. Subs: Sanchez, Mudryk, Madueke, Bettinelli, Chalobah, Nkunku, Gilchrist, Gee, Tauriainen.
Liverpool: Kelleher, Bradley, Konate, van Dijk, Robertson, Mac Allister, Endo, Gravenberch, Elliott, Gakpo, Diaz. Subs: Gomez, Adrian, Tsimikas, Clark, McConnell, Koumas, Danns, Quansah, Nyoni.
Referee: Chris Kavanagh (Lancashire)
02:02 PM GMT
Mark Chapman is presenting
on Sky Sports. The words of Succession’s Logan Roy set the scene. “What will it be, the golden sky of a perfect ending?”
01:59 PM GMT
Thom Gibbs on Kepa’s Finals
“The Kepa Aririzabalaga final, the shouting, the gesturing, the refusing to be substituted was five years ago yesterday. The second Kepa Aririzabalagan final, the coming on for the penalties, failing to save any then missing the decisive kick himself, will be two years ago on Tuesday. Neither Kepa nor the man he replaced two years ago Edouard Mendy will feature today, despite their combined cost of about £93m. Odd sport, isn’t it? Kepa is still a Chelsea player, although on loan at Real Madrid, Mendy is having a surely-lovely time in Saudi. Both glued, presumably, to Sky Sports Main Event this afternoon.”
01:58 PM GMT
Team news coming up
any minute
01:57 PM GMT
Chelsea men touring the facility
01:50 PM GMT
Fans arriving
01:32 PM GMT
Thom Gibbs on the final
“Slightly odd vibe on the approach to the stadium from Wembley Park, and I suppose this is always a slightly odd final. It certainly was last time I was here for it in April 2021, a week on from the Super League shambles with an attendance of just under 8,000.
“It was one of the first major post-Covid games with a crowd and those in that reduced crowd seemed slightly punchdrunk with the excitement of being out of the house. Quite a few today seem actual drunk, which is pretty good going for midday, although many will have started as they mean to go on at Lime Street this morning. A restorative Thai energy drink will sort them out.
“Does not feel particularly tense as yet, sure it will get there. We could do with a turn from Jose Mourinho and Rafa Benitez to up the needle levels.”
01:31 PM GMT
Ian McCullough profiles Levi Colwill
“Levi Colwill may only turn 21 on Monday, but he already has no shortage of experience of the mixed emotions a visit to Wembley can bring.
Colwill, who will line up at the heart of the Chelsea defence against Liverpool in the Carabao Cup final, is seen by many at Stamford Bridge as a potential heir to John Terry – and not just because he wears the No 26 shirt that was donned by the club’s most decorated player.
Such is the high regard Colwill is held in by Mauricio Pochettino, the head coach handed him the captain’s armband for December’s trip to Manchester United, making him the youngest player to lead out a Chelsea side since an 18-year-old Ray Wilkins in 1975.
His progress so far, however, has inevitably not been without the occasional set-back. And while Wembley provided the backdrop for Colwill’s England debut against Australia last October, previous trips to the national stadium haven’t always been kind, adding to his motivation to ensure Sunday’s visit ends on a high.
In 2022 – his first season as a professional – Colwill was loaned out to Huddersfield Town and played a starring role in the Yorkshire club’s unexpected run to the Championship play-off final only for his unfortunate own-goal to help Nottingham Forest to a 1-0 win.
A second loan spell at Brighton the following season helped cement his reputation as one of the best young defenders in the Premier League only for Colwill to suffer the disappointment of be dropped by Roberto De Zerbi for last year’s FA Cup semi-final defeat to Manchester United.
“I think it was a build-up of a few games where I had a tough run going and I knew what the manager was like,” said Colwill, who watched from the sidelines as De Zerbi’s side lost on penalties. “Of course, I was disappointed but I understood everything. Obviously, it was annoying that the team didn’t win but hopefully this time I can go and play and hopefully win.”
Colwill acknowledged both spells away from Stamford Bridge were hugely beneficial to his development with Brighton so taken by his performances they made a £30 million bid to make the move permanent – an offer knocked back by Chelsea who immediately handed him a new six-year contract.
“I went there to develop but I always wanted to come back to Chelsea, that has always been my main goal,” Colwill said. “While there I was 100 per cent focused on Brighton but in the back of your head it’s about coming back to your home team and to play.”
Colwill insists his decision to wear No. 26 has nothing to do with Terry’s legacy and unlike Kalidou Koulibaly, who left the club in the summer, he did not seek the former skipper’s permission before claiming it as his own.
However, he is aware of the huge expectations that come with it from Chelsea fans and knows they will heighten if the club’s six-year domestic trophy drought continues.
“Chelsea’s culture is winning. That’s it, really. That’s all Chelsea knows: to win. To be a legend, you’ve got to win trophies, you’ve got to apply yourself with that one focus on winning,” he said.
“For Chelsea fans, for JT it’s a big number but I have confidence in myself that I can come in and play well, and be my own person. The big thing about stepping in to this number is that you can get carried away a lot by the presence of it. But I am coming in to play as myself and not be John Terry because you will never be able to replace the legend that he was.
“I know that it’s his old number but it is a big number for me personally, it was my first professional number at Huddersfield and it’s also my birthday.”
Terry is back working at Chelsea in an academy role and Colwill admits he has the same presence around the club that he held as a player.
“When he was walking around at Chelsea when I was growing up, you think ‘there’s the captain’ and he still has that aura,” he said. “A really big thing for everyone, the staff and the players is that we always see him up in the canteen and he is always really down to earth.
“I think I can learn so much from him just from a casual conversation. Hopefully in the future I can have many more conversations with him and learn as much as possible from him. This is a really young squad. If I pick up that leadership part of him and add it to my own qualities, I can help out a lot more.”
Colwill’s has fonder memories of his first trip to Wembley when he was an 11-year-old mascot for Sholing in the FA Vase final – a competition for clubs who compete in steps nine to 11 of the English football league pyramid.
Three of his uncles played in the team that won 1-0 that day but it will be a case of split family loyalties for his Liverpool-supporting parents in the stands.
“My dad, Levi and my mum, Deborah, they both just supported Liverpool growing up, I don’t know why as they’re from Southampton,” he said. “My dad is a real Liverpool fan, he tells me all the news, injuries, if they’re on a run, the knowledge that fans have that I wouldn’t really know myself.
“Of course, they want me to win. Supporting teams goes out of the window when your son plays for one of the teams involved. It’s going to be a big game. But if we beat them, I’ll give him a bit of stick”.”
01:01 PM GMT
Thom Gibbs on Olympic Way
12:57 PM GMT
Fancy a flutter?
Can Chelsea ruin the party as Liverpool look to notch up a piece of silverware in Klopp’s final season? Back your fancy with these best betting sites.
12:34 PM GMT
A high-class League Cup Final coming up
Good afternoon, Alan Tyers here, welcome to our live blog of the Carabao Cup Final between Chelsea and Liverpool. Kick off is at 3pm but we will have plenty of time and space for the build-up between now and then. We will be getting updates throughout the afternoon from our man Thom Gibbs at Wembley, and we will have all the gossip, scene-setting and team news that you need.
The managers will name their lineups sometime around 2pm, and it is certainly a huge day for both of these likeable gaffers. Mauricio Pochettino seeks his first trophy as Chelsea manager, and many of the experts are saying that he needs to put something on the Stamford Bridge mantelpiece sooner rather than later. The man in the opposite dugout, Jurgen Klopp, has of course delivered multiple trophies (I make it seven at Liverpool), including this competition in 2021-2022. That was one of Liverpool’s NINE successes in this event. Chelsea have won it five times themselves so there is plenty of pedigree.
Here is Poch: “When you plant a seed you don’t see results at the start but it begins to grow. That is the process of all new teams – to build this competitive spirit. Winning titles will be a good way to arrive at this capacity of competing well. Being second is the worst thing in the world. We are going to build the players’ careers and our careers by winning trophies.”
Whether the people who run the club and its supporters are up for this long-term nurturing remains to be seen. Clearly being the victors today would buy him plenty of time and good will.
