Chelsea 0-1 Liverpool
2024 EFL Cup champions! How does that sound all you Liverpool fans out there? Jurgen Klopp picked up the first silverware of the 2023/24 campaign after his side edged out Chelsea in an action packed 120 minutes of top class football.
Mauricio Pochettino’s Chelsea gave their all but it was a Virgil Van Dijk header, deep into extra time which won the game for the Merseysiders.
The big pre-match EFL Cup 2024 news concerned the team news as Mo Salah was among a group of players missing from the Liverpool line-up and Klopp didn’t have many attacking options on the bench, while Chelsea were unchanged from the team which drew with Manchester City last week. And in a pulsating final both teams hit the woodwork, Liverpool had a goal ruled out and Chelsea gave the Reds defence a pummelling at times.
It was a classic final but Klopp’s men came through, and this could signal an incredible last four months for the Reds boss at his spiritual home.
Highlights of the game
After losing two finals to Liverpool in 2022 and being thumped 4-1 in the recent league meeting this was a chance for sweet revenge for the Blues, particularly against a depleted Liverpool team. But the Reds were well on top in the opening exchanges as Luis Diaz had the first effort of the match and Alexis Mac Allister stung the palms of Chelsea keeper Dorde Petrovic.
But the best chance of the opening quarter came to the Blues when they broke quickly and Raheem Sterling burst into the penalty area; the ball fell to Cole Palmer some eight yards out and as the whole stadium expected the net to bulge, Caoimhin Kelleher made a stunning save.
Cody Gakpo had scored in every round and he was a whisker away from breaking the deadlock when he met a pinpoint cross from Andrew Robertson; but his glanced header bounced away off the foot of the post.
Before the break Liverpool’s injury woes worsened when Ryan Gravenbach was stretchered off after a heavy challenge from Moises Caicedo.
This game was wide open and a great watch; but what would a top class football match be without VAR chalking off a goal? And so it was early in the second half. Robertson swung in a free-kick and Virgil van Dijk planted his header home to spark bedlam in the Red end. But after a minute of wild celebration we had three minutes of waiting and VAR found enough to rule the goal out, as Endo was marginally offside and interfering with Levi Colwill.
With 15 to go it was Chelsea’s turn to hit the post when Palmer beat the Liverpool defence and fired the ball into the danger area but Conor Gallagher’s first time effort bounced away off the upright. Then, with five left, Kelleher made another brilliant save to deny Gallagher who was clean through.
An injury time game of pinball in the Liverpool box saw the Reds somehow escape as Christopher Nkunku’s final shot was straight at Kelleher and extra time beckoned.
The Reds keeper was busy again in the extra 30, saving from Noni Madueke and at the other end Petrovic denied Harvey Elliot. And then, when we all feared another penalty shootout, Van Dijk met a corner from Kostas Tsimikas and we had more bedlam…this time uninterrupted.
Key statistics
The pre-match EFL Cup 2024 betting odds gave the Reds a slight edge and they were the better team in the first half. The possession was shared but Klopp’s men had eight shots to Chelsea’s three and three to two on target, though the biggest chance fell to Palmer.
By the end of 90 minutes the Reds had six shots on target to Chelsea’s four but the Blues’ chances were the best. How on earth it was still goalless at this stage we can only wonder.
Liverpool are the first team to win the EFL Cup for the tenth time.
What’s next?
Next up both teams are in FA Cup action as the fifth round of the oldest cup competition in the world kicks off on Monday. Liverpool and Chelsea are playing on Wednesday and both will be backed to go through. The Reds are at home to Championship side Southampton while the Blues are in one of the SBOTOP ties of the round at home to Leeds United.
Then it’s back to Premier League action when Chelsea visit Brentford in a West London derby and Liverpool visit struggling Nottingham Forest.
But tonight is a night for celebration for the Liverpool fans, their heroes on the pitch and their magnificent manager, Jurgen Klopp.
●●●
CHECK OUT OUR BLOG FOR MORE FOOTBALL STORIES & ODDS
Stay updated with everything sports and betting.
Follow us on social Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.
