WEMBLEY, England: In a heart-stopping finale worthy of the storied Wembley stage, Liverpool emerged victorious from a tense encounter with Chelsea, claiming the coveted Carabao Cup with a narrow 1-0 victory. The drama unfolded with agonizing slowness as both teams battled to a scoreless draw through regulation time. As extra time loomed, anxiety levels rose, but it was the towering presence of Virgil van Dijk who rose to the occasion, securing the win for the Reds with a powerful header in the 118th minute.

The iconic defender’s decisive intervention capped off a night of emotional significance for Jurgen Klopp, who witnessed his Liverpool side secure their tenth Carabao Cup title just months before his emotional departure from the club. The victory, a fitting send-off for the departing manager, was met with unrestrained jubilation from the Liverpool faithful, who celebrated as the final whistle confirmed their team’s triumph.

However, for Mauricio Pochettino and his Chelsea side, Wembley once again proved a stage of heartbreak. The defeat marks the manager’s fourth consecutive loss in a final at the iconic stadium, adding a layer of disappointment to a valiant effort from his players. While Chelsea displayed admirable grit and determination throughout the match, ultimately, it was Van Dijk’s late heroics that secured the Carabao Cup for Liverpool, etching his name into the club’s history books and leaving Chelsea with a bitter taste of defeat.