Liverpool win League Cup as Van Dijk strikes late to sink Chelsea

With 11 injured senior players, Klopp had to use the "Liverpool Kids" to win the cup for a tenth time. The billion-pound team lost to the kids. Intense game and happy it didn't go to penalties. The Liverpool fans never stopped singing during the match.

Brilliant effort from the boys and fully deserved. Not sure if we've got the legs to beat Citeh & Arsenal in the League but good to get another trophy in the bag.

Awful clubs with awful fans. It's a shame only one team could lose.

You have a good long cry fella. Get it all out nice and early.

Liverpool plays Southampton on Wednesday with a depleted squad FA Cup 5th round.

Jürgen Klopp press conference: 'It's easily the most special trophy I ever won

Indeed. I told you they would win. Celebration time.

A decent game considering both squads were depleted.

Well done to Liverpool.

Did you? Newcastle thrashed by Arsenal.

It was nice to see both sets of supporters enjoying a few moments of unity.

https://twitter.com/ShippersUnbound/status/1761775790994124958

Hats off to the Reds - especially to their captain courageous Van Dijk - as well as legendary gaffer Klopp! Commiserations to Chelsea, fighting well above their weight.

Amazing win with such a young team, and the first piece of silverware in the Reds quest to send out Klopp with a Quad. Don't bet against it - if it happens, this Reds team will go down as possibly the greatest ever.

Aston Villa FC won their last trophy in 1996 when they won the League Cup against Leeds United.

No crying here, just pointing out that you're a horrible club with horrible fans.

Sour grapes. And why 6 down votes (and counting) for my comment below? Congratulations to the winners.

It's funny how anyone having a go at Liverpool is accused of crying

You do tend to hate many clubs and their fans.

I watched Villa at Goodison. Worst group of divers I’ve seen this season. Tough guy John McGinn worse than Bruno Fernandes for time on the deck.

I don’t hate Villa or their favs though.

Liverpool fans are the envy of clubs the world over.

According to widespread reports, the EFL Cup's showpiece event is worth just £100,000 ($127,000) to the team that lifts England's secondary domestic cup, while the runners-up will receive £50,000 ($63,500).

Delighted for my team, doing what they do. Mentality monsters ride again! With the injury list what it is, and games coming thick and fast in all competitions, it will be tough to win another title this season, let alone 3 more. Won't stop the boys trying though. A couple of odd (let's be honest...ill-informed) comments here so far:

A decent game considering both squads were depleted.

Incorrect. Actually Chelsea were at near full strength. Liverpool massively depleted. Huge difference there.

Chelsea, fighting well above their weight.

Don't like the club at all, but it's ridiculous to suggest that they're not on a similar level to the Reds.

Congratulations to Liverpool footballers, their legendary gaffer Herr Jurgen Klopp, and their diehard lovers of football. Well played.

A decent game considering both squads were depleted.

Incorrect. Actually Chelsea were at near full strength

No, they were not.

Not trying to take anything away from Liverpool, but Chelsea have got a lengthy list of short and long term injuries.

Reece James, Cucurella, Silva, Fofana, Chukwuemka, Ugochukwu, Lavia and Badiashile were unavailable.

A couple of odd (let's be honest...ill-informed) comments here so far

I can see one.

Nice try Jimizo, but it's easier just to accept you're in the wrong. Only Reece James would have made the starting line-up if he'd been available. Silva is fit but out of favour with Poch at the moment. Cucurella instead of Chilwell? Don't think so. Lavia instead of Enzo or Caicedo? No again. Ugo & Chuk would have been handy subs. Badiashile is a walking disaster area. You're better off without him.

The score remained 0-0 until the last five minutes of ET.

Nice try Jimizo, but it's easier just to accept you're in the wrong. Only Reece James would have made the starting line-up if he'd been available. Silva is fit but out of favour with Poch at the moment. Cucurella instead of Chilwell? Don't think so. Lavia instead of Enzo or Caicedo? No again. Ugo & Chuk would have been handy subs. Badiashile is a walking disaster area. You're better off without him

A lot of opinion in there. You nor I know how he would have lined up for a cup final with a full squad to choose from and what subs he’d have been able to call upon.

I think we can safely say Chelsea were not at nearly full strength in not having a fit squad to select from - hence ‘depleted squad’.

That was what I posted - ‘depleted squad’.

You can call that wrong if you like but you’ve just listed some of the injuries which have depleted the squad.

A lot of opinion in there.

Informed opinion, from someone who follows the league very closely. I wonder if you do.

In any case, regardless of how much those on the Chelsea injured list were seriously missed (& only James was, I assure you), you only have to look at the substitutes benches to see that Chelsea was still stocked with experienced players valued at many millions of whatever currency whereas Liverpool were almost entirely down to teenagers from the academy, some with zero minutes of first team football, others with a few minutes (e.g. Danns).

Chelsea, fighting well above their weight.

Don't like the club at all, but it's ridiculous to suggest that they're not on a similar level to the Reds.

Chelsea were on the same level as the Reds, City and Gunners. No more. They are not the heavyweights they were for a long time, rather a genuine mid-table team under Pochettino. A miracle if they are playing in Europe next season.

I think they punched above their weight to even make a final. Having a squad valued at more than all PL teams except for City doesn't mean very much when no-one performs. Pochettino will be extremely lucky to survive past this season.

Okay. I think this is a semantic problem. We have slightly different ideas about what "punching above their weight" means in this context.

For me a team's "weight" implies their size, status etc. A big club is a big club, regardless of their current form (you're talking about form). Chelsea are in a similar boat to Man Utd (a more extreme example). Utd have been rubbish for years, but they're still a big club. If they do okay in the next match against Liverpool, it wouldn't be right to say they were "punching above their weight". They're a big club with talented individuals. They just can't get organized as a team, with a coherent playing style. Same with Chelsea.

A great win as a start to giving Klopp a triumphant farewell, but I, like many others, secretly hope that more cups in the cupboard will persuade Klopp to stay another season on Merseyside.

For me a team's "weight" implies their size, status etc. A big club is a big club, regardless of their current form (you're talking about form

@Blackstar - fair enough, I get your point now. Chelsea - Huge club, massive budget, superstar players... but underachieving. The days of Terry, Lampard, Drogba et al seems a lifetime ago!

but I, like many others, secretly hope that more cups in the cupboard will persuade Klopp to stay another season on Merseyside.

I think that a handsome haul of trophies will only serve to convince him that he should get out while he is ahead! And I think he has no wish to be part of the 32 team FIFA Club World Cup next year.

I'm also going to make a bold prediction and say that if Pep wins the CL again this season he'll be on his way too. No more worlds to conquer for him.

Klopp is his own man and will be going as he stated. I'm curious if he and his wife will remain living in Liverpool or go home to Germany.

Klopp is his own man and will be going as he stated. I'm curious if he and his wife will remain living in Liverpool or go home to Germany.

His wife has been busy building a monstrous house in Mallorca, so he'll be sunning it up there instead of in Formby I suppose, the fool.

In other news, seems that Everton have just got 4 points knocked off their 10 point deduction. @Jimizo must be a bit more cheerful about life tonight.

Yes, I forgot about Mallorca but I think I would prefer Formby Beach where I spent much of my childhood.

Good news for Everton.

Yes, I forgot about Mallorca but I think I would prefer Formby Beach where I spent much of my childhood.

Agreed, the smell of pine trees still takes me back there.

Big 4 points for Everton, Luton have a lot to do now.

Yes, I forgot about Mallorca but I think I would prefer Formby Beach where I spent much of my childhood

Good stuff. Had a few good days out up there. Remember ladybirds all over the place on the way back.

@Jimizo must be a bit more cheerful about life tonight.

Still got another possible fine to face but didn’t expect anything back. Good news.

Anyway, great to see a thread about Liverpool winning a cup turn into a chat about Everton which I didn’t start.

Nice one lads.

We are all Liverpool lads.

We are all Liverpool lads

Yes. Honestly glad to see Liverpool win against Chelsea.

Good to see family and friends having a good day.

I'm so glad that Jurgen is a Red.

I'm so glad he delivered what he said.

Jurgen said to me, you know. We'll win the Premier League, you know. He said so.

I'm in love with him and I feel fine.