Liverpool emerged victorious with a 1-0 win over Chelsea in the Carabao Cup Final at Wembley Stadium on Sunday, February 25.
Heading into the match with a solid recent performance record, Liverpool had secured four wins and suffered one defeat in their last five outings. With a tally of 16 goals scored and seven conceded during this period, the Reds were considered favorites to claim the cup following the showdown.
Their previous encounter was a comfortable 4-1 triumph over Luton Town in the Premier League. Despite facing injury challenges, Jürgen Klopp aimed to extend his team’s winning streak and thus fielded a robust lineup for the crucial fixture.
Liverpool had a promising first half, seeking to establish dominance and rhythm while crafting their attacking opportunities.
They registered eight attempts on goal in the first half, although only three were on target, indicating some inaccuracy.
The pattern continued in the second half, with Chelsea holding a slight statistical advantage, recording 11 attempts on goal, four of which were on target. However, Liverpool’s offensive output remained subpar, managing just three shots on target out of nine attempts.
As the match extended into extra time, marking the third such occurrence between Chelsea and Liverpool in recent finals, the deadlock persisted until late in the game. It was Liverpool’s captain, Virgil van Dijk, who ultimately made the difference.
In the dying moments of the match, van Dijk rose to head in a corner delivered by Konstantinos Tsimikas in the 118th minute, dramatically securing victory for the Reds.
