Liverpool lift English League Cup

LONDON, England (AP):

Virgil van Dijk came up with a crucial header to secure Liverpool a record-extending 10th English League Cup trophy yesterday.

The centre back’s goal in the 28th minute of extra time sealed a 1-0 win against Chelsea at Wembley after the game had ended 0-0 in regulation.

It clinched an eighth piece of silverware for Jurgen Klopp at Liverpool and ensured that he will not end his final year at the club empty-handed.

“You should always savour the good moments. This is definitely one of them,” Van Dijk said. “I’m so proud, proud to be part of this club and especially proud of the boys.”

Klopp will step down at the end of the season, but victory in the League Cup has kept his team on course for an improbable quadruple of trophies.

Liverpool currently lead the Premier League table and are still in contention for the FA Cup and Europa League.

Victory was particularly satisfying for Klopp, given that he had to call upon a host of the club’s emerging talent in the absence of injured stars like Mohamed Salah, Darwin Nunez, and Trent Alexander-Arnold.

He used seven players who were aged 21 or under.

“What happened here was absolutely insane. These things are not possible. The team, a squad, an academy full of character. I am so proud I could be part of that tonight,” he said.

Chelsea manager Mauricio Pochettino was hoping to win his first major trophy in England after previous spells with Southampton and Tottenham.

“They (the players) are professional. They need to feel the pain. We played for a trophy we didn’t get,” Pochettino said. “The players feel the disappointment because we were so close to winning the game after 90 minutes.”