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Liverpool coach Jürgen Klopp celebrates their victory in the League Cup

Photo:

Peter Byrne/dpa

In his final season as coach of Liverpool FC, Jürgen Klopp secured his first title.

In the final of the English League Cup at Wembley Stadium in London, the Reds won 1-0 (0-0, 0-0) in extra time against Chelsea FC with a header from Virgil van Dijk (118th minute).

It was Liverpool's tenth triumph in England's third most important competition.

This means the club has two more wins than Manchester City in second place among the record winners.

It was a final with great entertainment value, even though big stars like Mohamed Salah and Darwin Nunez didn't take part.

Chelsea, who only finished in a disappointing eleventh place in the league table, were able to keep up with league leaders Liverpool and even had an early big chance through Cole Palmer, who was denied by Liverpool substitute goalkeeper Caoimhín Kelleher from five meters (21').

In the 24th minute there might have been a dismissal, or at least a yellow card, for Chelsea midfielder Moises Caicedo, who stepped on Ryan Gravenberch's ankle with an open sole.

Gravenberch had to go off injured, Caicedo was allowed to continue playing without a warning.

Shortly afterwards, the Blues celebrated a supposed goal from Raheem Sterling.

However, this was preceded by a narrow offside position from Nicholas Jackson on Palmer's opening pass (33').

Liverpool also came closer to a goal, Cody Gakpo headed the post from Andrew Robertson's cross (41').

Liverpool's goal is taken back

Reds captain van Dijk did better than Gakpo with a free kick from the left half of the field.

Robertson lifted the ball into the penalty area, where the defensive giant prevailed in an aerial battle against Ben Chilwell and headed into the goal despite being held by his shirt (60').

But the goal didn't count: Wataru Endo was offside on the free kick and was in the path of Chelsea defender Levi Colwill, so he couldn't follow Virgil.

After a tip from the video assistant, referee Chris Kavanagh assessed the scene as active intervention and canceled the goal.

So the game remained open – and exciting.

Axel Disasi missed for Chelsea (69th) and Gakpo (70th) for Liverpool.

A sharp cross from Palmer created a great chance for Conor Gallagher, but he only hit the post (76').

In the final phase.

In the counterattack, Gallagher should have scored the winning goal in the final phase, but lost the duel with goalkeeper Kelleher (85th).

Liverpool's substitute keeper maintained his level in stoppage time with two excellent chances for Palmer and Christopher Nkunku (90th + 2).

Kelleher saved his team into overtime.

After the end of regular time, Liverpool were more dangerous.

Jayden Danns (94th) and Harvey Elliott (115th) missed good opportunities with their heads before captain Virgil once again showed his younger teammates how headers work: When a corner was taken shortly before the end, the Dutchman was unstoppable at the first post and scored his team's victory (118th).

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