Sports

Liverpool Win League Cup As Van Dijk Strikes Late To Sink Chelsea

Published

12 months ago

February 26, 2024

Liverpool players pose with the trophy after the English League Cup final football match between Chelsea and Liverpool at Wembley stadium, in London, on February 25, 2024. Virgil van Dijk scored the only goal deep into extra-time as Liverpool won the League Cup for a record tenth time. (Photo by Glyn KIRK / AFP)

Liverpool won the League Cup in dramatic fashion as Virgil van Dijk’s header late in extra-time sealed a 1-0 win against Chelsea at Wembley on Sunday.

Jurgen Klopp’s injury-hit side finished a gruelling clash with a host of raw youngsters on the pitch, but it was their experienced captain who clinched the club’s 10th League Cup triumph.

Van Dijk earlier had a goal controversially disallowed by VAR, but the Dutch defender pounced to nod home with just two minutes left.

It was Liverpool’s first trophy following Klopp’s bombshell announcement that he will step down at the end of this season.

The German will hope Liverpool’s first silverware since the 2022 FA Cup will be the springboard for an incredible farewell tour.

Quadruple-chasing Liverpool sit top of the Premier League, face Southampton in the FA Cup fifth round on Wednesday and take on Sparta Prague in the Europa League last 16.

It was another bitter Wembley experience for Chelsea, who lost the 2022 League Cup and FA Cup finals against Liverpool.

Blues boss Mauricio Pochettino has asked Chelsea fans not to judge him on “winning titles” in the midst of a troubled first season in charge.

But Chelsea remain without domestic silverware since the 2018 FA Cup and had only themselves to blame after missing a host of chances in normal time.

Ravaged by injuries to 11 players, Liverpool’s list of star absentees included Mohamed Salah, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Alisson Becker, Darwin Nunez, Diogo Jota and Dominik Szoboszlai.

That meant starts for 20-year-olds Conor Bradley and Harvey Elliott, while six of Klopp’s substitutes were 21 or younger.

Chelsea’s Serbian goalkeeper #28 Djordje Petrovic dives but is unable to prevent a header from Liverpool’s Dutch defender #04 Virgil van Dijk (not pictured) beating him during the English League Cup final football match between Chelsea and Liverpool at Wembley stadium, in London, on February 25, 2024. (Photo by Adrian DENNIS / AFP)

– Goals Ruled Out –
Despite their youthful line-up, Liverpool settled quickly as Luis Diaz led the charge.

Taking advantage of Chelsea’s hesitant defending, Diaz advanced into the area for a fierce strike that forced a good save from Djordje Petrovic.

Against the run of play, Chelsea should have taken the lead with their first incisive raid.

Conor Gallagher’s cross deflected to Cole Palmer just six yards out, but his strike produced a superb save from Caoimhin Kelleher.

Ryan Gravenberch joined Liverpool’s ever-growing injury list when he was stretchered off after the midfielder’s leg twisted awkwardly in a challenge with Moises Caicedo.

Raheem Sterling thought he had given Chelsea the lead with a close-range finish from Nicolas Jackson’s cross, but the goal was disallowed for a tight offside against the Senegal striker before his assist.

Responding to Chelsea’s improvement, Liverpool were inches away from taking the lead through Cody Gakpo, whose glancing header from Andrew Robertson’s cross hit the far post.

Liverpool kept coming and Bradley’s goalbound shot was brilliantly blocked by Levi Colwill, who threw himself into the fray to repel the close-range effort.

Liverpool looked to have broken the deadlock on the hour when Van Dijk climbed above Ben Chilwell to head in Robertson’s free-kick.

But VAR intervened, prompting referee Chris Kavanagh to disallow the goal for offside against Wataru Endo, who blocked Colwill from marking the Dutch defender.

Axel Disasi should have rubbed salt into Liverpool’s wounds but the Chelsea defender made a complete hash of a close-range chance.

Chelsea went close again as Gallagher met Palmer’s cross with a flick that cannoned off the far post.

Gallagher wasted a golden opportunity to win it in the final minutes, receiving Palmer’s pass in acres of space but taking a heavy touch that allowed Kelleher to save.

In a pulsating finale, Kelleher made two more saves from Palmer and Christopher Nkunku in quick succession to force extra-time.

Bobby Clark, James McConnell, Jarell Quansah and Jayden Danns were all on by now, but if Liverpool’s youngsters lacked Chelsea’s experience, they were never overawed.

Danns almost guided his header over Petrovic and Elliott was inches away when he volleyed against the post.

Liverpool would not be denied and with penalties just two minutes away, Van Dijk met Kostas Tsimikas’s corner with a header that flashed past Petrovic as Klopp raised his arms with a smile that bordered on disbelief.

AFP

Sports

Brighton humble Chelsea on Valentine’s day

Published

1 week ago

February 15, 2025

Kayode Sanni-Arewa

Victory in the FA Cup last week, a win in the Premier League tonight… Brighton are wishing they could play Chelsea every week.

A hugely-impressive performance from the home side who now move up into eighth place, above both Aston Villa and Fulham.

Brighton enjoyed their first home win in six games in the Premier League (D3 L2), while it was their joint-biggest win in the competition over a side starting the day in the fop four, along with a 3-0 win v Arsenal in May 2023 under Roberto De Zerbi.

Sports

Just in: Aston Villa send Tottenham packing out of FA Cup

Published

2 weeks ago

February 10, 2025

Kayode Sanni-Arewa

Aston Villa has sent Tottenham Hotspur packing from the FA Cup, securing a 2-1 victory in their fourth-round clash at Villa Park.

The win marks a significant upset, given Tottenham’s eight FA Cup titles, and comes on the heels of their humiliating 4-0 defeat to Liverpool in the EFL Cup semi-final.

Aston Villa’s triumph was fueled by their strong home form, which has seen them deliver impressive wins in the Champions League this season.

Despite entering the match on the back of a disappointing 2-0 loss to Wolves, Unai Emery’s side demonstrated resilience and determination to overcome their opponents.

Tottenham, plagued by injuries, with a dozen first-team players sidelined, struggled to find their footing. Their task was further complicated by the absence of key players, including Richarlison, Dominic Solanke, and James Maddison.

The victory is a significant boost for Aston Villa, who will now advance to the next round of the FA Cup.

For Tottenham, the loss marks a disappointing exit from the competition, adding to the pressure on manager Ange Postecoglou.

Sports

Plymouth Argyle flush out Liverpool from FA Cup

Published

2 weeks ago

February 10, 2025

Kayode Sanni-Arewa

Plymouth produced a huge FA Cup upset as Premier League leaders Liverpool were knocked out by the bottom club in the Sky Bet Championship.

Liverpool boss Arne Slot gambled with a weakened side in Devon and literally paid the penalty as Ryan Hardie’s second-half spot-kick gave Plymouth a famous 1-0 win and sent them into the fifth round of the competition.

It was only the fourth time that the team starting the day at the top of the Premier League has been eliminated from the FA Cup by a side from outside the top flight.

So Liverpool’s quadruple hopes are over and Slot’s team selection will be a hot topic of discussion in the coming days.

Plymouth have kept only two clean sheets in the Championship, but Ukrainian defender Maksym Talovyerov – who celebrated almost every clearance as though it was a goal – was a colossus at the heart of their defence.

Pilgrims boss Miron Muslic had hailed Liverpool as the “best team in the world”, but only goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher remained from the side that thrashed Tottenham on Thursday to book a Wembley date in the Carabao Cup.

Mohamed Salah, Virgil van Dijk and Alexis Mac Allister were among those given the day off.

Diogo Jota, Federico Chiesa and Luis Diaz ensured there was still plenty of firepower against opponents with the worst defensive record in the top four tiers of English football.

There was a carnival atmosphere at kick-off with Home Park sold out and huge green and white flags decorating the stadium.

Plymouth pushed for a dream start and Hardie saw his shot blocked by Joe Gomez inside the opening minute.

Gomez was captaining Liverpool on his first appearance since December 29 following a hamstring injury, but his afternoon was to end prematurely.

The England defender cut a frustrated figure sitting on the ground and limped off after 11 minutes, with Isaac Mabaya coming on to make a senior debut.

With the contest also held up by dental damage to Pilgrims defender Nikola Katic, there was little rhythm to a tie being played out on a lively surface.

Plymouth fans appealed for a penalty as Mustapha Bundu and Kostas Tsimikas tangled in the area, but referee Sam Barrott instantly waved play on.

James McConnell had the solitary on-target first-half attempt after 36 minutes, the midfielder’s strike deflecting off Darko Gyabi and forcing Conor Hazard into a sprawling save.

Callum Wright, a Liverpool fan who grew up idolising Steven Gerrard, saw his powerful effort deflected over by Wataru Endo, but Plymouth were soon ahead after 53 minutes.

Gyabi hooked the ball over his head and it struck the hand of Harvey Elliott, which was in an unnatural position above his head.

Hardie stepped up with confidence and dispatched the ball into the bottom left hand corner as Kelleher dived the other way.

Slot quickly sent on Darwin Nunez, but Plymouth were inches from doubling their advantage in the 62nd minute.

The excellent Katic knocked down a free-kick for Hardie to strike a post after Kelleher’s outstretched foot had applied the faintest of touches.

Hardie appeared to be offside, but the absence of VAR meant a goal would have stood.

McConnell drove wide following a Plymouth defensive mix-up and Hazard denied Jota and Nunez with outstanding saves, and the Pilgrims survived nine minutes of stoppage time to get the party started.