BY Jonathan Ledger
Liverpool needed extra time to overcome a spirited Chelsea in the Carabao Cup final at the Wembley Stadium on Sunday.
Virgil van Dijk made the difference two minutes to the end of extra time following a goalless 90 minutes in a match which saw Chelsea waste a plethora of chances.
The Blues have now lost six consecutive domestic finals, the most by any English club in history.
The defeat is also Chelsea’s consecutive loss to Liverpool in the Carabao Cup final, repeating their 2022 loss to Jurgen Klopp’s side.
Raheem Sterling thought he had given Chelsea the lead in the first half but Nicholas Jackson was adjudged offside by VAR. Liverpool would also suffer the same VAR fate when van Dijk’s goal was chalked off for impediment in the build-up.
Both sides were also denied by the woodwork, while Chelsea had three chances to steal it in added time but were unable to convert, and the match went into extra time.
Noni Madueke wasted three good chances in extra time while Harvey Elliot was also denied by Djordje Petrovic.
The Chelsea goalkeeper could however not stop van Dijk from deciding the encounter two minutes from the end. The big Dutch centre-back rose highest to plant Kostas Tsimikas’ corner kick into the net for the winner.
The Carabao Cup triumph is a record-extending 10th for Liverpool who have won the tournament the most.
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