Chelsea vs Liverpool LIVE: Carabao Cup final result and reaction after Virgil van Dijk nets extra-time winner

Gary Neville wrote the headlines when he made a decisive statement in the aftermath of Virgil van Dijk’s winning goal for Liverpool against Chelsea in the Carabao Cup final.

The game looked like it might go to penalties without a goal, just like the 2022 final had done between the two sides, but Liverpool’s captain and most experienced player timed his run perfectly to head home a Kostas Tsimikas corner with just three minutes of extra time remaining.

When the final whistle blew, Neville, proclaimed as co-commentator on Sky Sports: “(Jurgen) Klopp’s kids against the blue billion-pound bottlejobs”.

By the end, it was the sort of side only seen on the pitch together in pre-season friendlies. There was Jayden Danns, James McConnell and Bobby Clark, who have two first-team starts for Liverpool between them. And they were taking on Chelsea, flush from spending £1bn, in the most expensive makeover in footballing history.

But money couldn’t buy Chelsea a trophy or the spirit, ambition and resolve of Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool side. The first silverware of the season, the first of a possible quadruple, went to the kindergarten Klopps, to the kids who left Chelsea with a billion regrets. This was another example of Klopp’s ability to script the improbable. The last chapters in his story may be as astonishing as some of the earlier ones.

Speaking on Sky Sports, former Liverpool player Jamie Redknapp said: “What a man. How do you follow that? How do you follow Jurgen Klopp?

“Trying to come to Liverpool after what he’s done and what he’s created, it’s virtually impossible. It is. The guy is just such a leader of men.

“He’s led a city, every Liverpool fan around the world has looked up to that man and what he’s achieved.

“He’s turned around a club that was struggling at the time and made everyone believe in what he was trying to achieve, and even those young players he has given opportunities to, the belief he has got in all of them.

“He’s just an incredible human being.”

The celebrations begin for Liverpool, the new Carabao Cup champions.

The Liverpool fans serenade the team and managers with a rendition of ‘You’ll Never Walk Alone’ and Klopp looks emotional on the Wembley pitch.

Here’s the team lifting the cup:

The Liverpool captain was asked if he is savouring this moment with manager Jurgen Klopp who is leaving at the end of the season. He replied: “You should always savour the good moments, this is definitely one of them.

“Listen, we will never take things for granted and you see today it could have been the other was as well that we lost but we did a job, even with all the problems we have had before the game.

“I’m so proud, proud to be part of this club and especially proud of the boys.”

“So much. All the young boys on the pitch, in extra time. It’s incredible, I’m so proud of the team.

“Intense game for both sides, they had chances we had chances. Amazing. First trophy as Liverpool captain, it’s all for the fans so let’s enjoy it.

“It’s emotion, it’s everything I am so proud of the boys. All of the young boys playing their part in what we achieved today it’s incredible and on to more.”

Jurgen Klopp and Virgil van Dijk meet in the middle of the stands and the Liverpool captain lifts the cup with his head coach. They hoist it into the sky and the music plays.

The celebrations begin, Liverpol are the Carabao Cup champions for 2024.

120+3 mins: There goes the whistle! Liverpool have done it. With their youngsters and the experienced head of Virgil van Dijk the Reds have come to Wembley and swept Chelsea aside again.

Jurgen Klopp celebrates. The fans celebrate. Liverpool are the Carabao Cup champions.

120 mins: There’s three minutes of added time to play. Three minutes for Liverpool to hold on to this lead. Chelsea are imploding.