February 26, 20242 yr Jurgen Klopp revealed his desire to write another chapter in Liverpool's "wonderful book" before taking his leave at the end of the season, but this Carabao Cup final victory over Chelsea provided an unlikely story even by his own remarkable standards. Klopp's line-up was stripped of some of its most precious assets going into a meeting with Chelsea's billion-pound project, the odds on a Liverpool victory lengthening with the arrival of the team-sheet before kick-off. Mohamed Salah and Darwin Nunez were added to a list of casualties already containing keeper Alisson, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Diogo Jota and Curtis Jones. And yet, in defiance of logic, Klopp ended up celebrating another landmark Liverpool win as he was courageous enough to summon kids from the club's Kirkby creche to lift the first trophy of a potential four-trophy haul, the win sealed by Virgil van Dijk's header two minutes from the end of extra time. Much will be made of Chelsea's missed opportunity and the label of "billion-pound bottle jobs" attached to them by former Manchester United defender and TV pundit Gary Neville. And yet the credit must go to Klopp and Liverpool. READ MORE Don’t miss the latest headlines from Thailand and around the world. Get the Asean Now Briefing newsletter, delivered daily. Sign up here.
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