When Jürgen Klopp announced his departure from Liverpool at the end of the season, fans started to dream of the perfect ending to his reign as manager. With Liverpool competing for four major trophies this year, achieving a clean sweep would serve as the ultimate send-off for Klopp as rode off into the sunset.
“Liverpool 2.0”, dubbed by many fans this season, faced off against the success-hungry Chelsea FC who were eager to secure their first piece of silverware under Mauricio Pochettino. Up to this point in the season, Chelsea’s performance has been below expectations given the significant investment made in player acquisitions.
The Carabao Cup final between Liverpool and Chelsea ended in a 1-0 victory for Liverpool, concluding a match that would be remembered by neutrals and Liverpool fans alike. The story coming into the final centered around Liverpool’s significant number of first-team players on the injury list. The Reds were missing several key players due to injury setbacks.
During the first half, Ryan Gravenberch became another name added to that lengthy list following a tackle from Moises Caicedo, which surprisingly escaped a booking. At the time of writing, it was unclear when the Liverpool midfielder would be able to return to the football pitch. Raheem Sterling thought that he had given Chelsea the lead in the first half, but his celebrations were cut short following a decision by the video assistant referee, which judged Nicolas Jackson to be offside in the build-up to the goal.
The second half saw another goal disallowed due to another video assistant referee decision, this time against Liverpool. Virgil van Dijk’s towering header just before the hour mark was disallowed due to Wataru Endo being in an offside position and blocking Levi Colwill from challenging for the ball.
Former Premier League referee Mike Dean shared on Sky Sports commentary that he believes the decision was a subjective one.
“Endo is watching the defender and stopping him from getting back into a position to make a challenge on Van Dijk. Where the ball’s drop-in zone is, that’s where Colwill would have been, and that is why the goal has been chalked off. It’s subjective offside,” he said.
Liverpool eventually decided the fate of the match with a van Dijk header late in the second half of extra time. In a game that looked destined to go all the way to penalties, it was Liverpool’s captain who rose to the occasion, not only winning the game but also picking up the Man of the Match award.
Jürgen Klopp’s departure announcement has added an extra layer of emotion to Liverpool’s quest for silverware this season. With the Carabao Cup triumph marking a significant moment in Klopp’s legacy, the team’s resilience in the face of adversity showcased their determination and unity.
As Liverpool fans savor this victory and look ahead to the remaining challenges, they do so with gratitude for Klopp’s remarkable tenure and optimism for the future. The journey continues, filled with memories of triumph and anticipation for what lies ahead in the ever-evolving story of Liverpool Football Club.
