Virgil van Dijk wins EFL Cup for Liverpool

In a sensational final to the EFL Cup, Liverpool emerged victorious against Chelsea, courtesy of a late winner from none other than their captain, Virgil van Dijk. The match, a rollercoaster of emotions and a true testament to the beauty of football, ended 1-0 in favor of Liverpool after extra time. This victory not only adds another trophy to Liverpool's illustrious cabinet but also marks a memorable farewell for their departing manager, Jürgen Klopp, who leaves the club at the pinnacle of the Premier League.

First half highlights

The first half was a closely contested affair, with both teams showcasing their intent and prowess. Liverpool had the opportunity to break the deadlock early on, but Luis Díaz couldn't find a way past Chelsea's goalkeeper, Djordje Petrovic. Similarly, Chelsea had their chances, with Ben Chilwell forcing a save from Liverpool's Caoimhín Kelleher following a corner.

VAR grabs attention

VAR was introduced to help the referee whenever they make an important clear and obvious mistake. Over the years we've seen this tool getting used in a way it wasn't meant for. The match saw its first moment of concern when Liverpool's Ryan Gravenberch sustained what appeared to be a severe ankle injury following a challenge from Moisés Caicedo. The injury forced him off the field, with Joe Gomez stepping in as his replacement. The possible ankle breaking tackle wasn't checked by VAR.

Chelsea thought they had taken the lead through a counterattack finished by Raheem Sterling, but the goal was disallowed for offside, a decision confirmed by VAR by mere centimeters on the replay. Liverpool responded with a header from Cody Gakpo that hit the post, keeping the scoreline level.

As the match progressed into the second half and beyond, it remained a battle of nerves and skill.The biggest talking point about VAR happened when Liverpool's Virgil van Dijk had a goal disallowed for offside. The Dutch giant wasn't in offside position when he scored, but his teammate Endo was in offside position when he blocked Colwill. A decision that even some Chelsea fans disagreed with. A moment like this only sees the opposition against VAR growing.

The decisive moment

The deadlock was finally broken in the dying minutes of extra time. Virgil van Dijk rose highest to head home a corner from Kostas Tsimikas, securing the EFL Cup for Liverpool. It was a fitting climax to a match that had everything but a goal until that moment. This time VAR couldn't do anything to rule the goal out. This victory is significant for Liverpool, not only as a silverware addition but also as a testament to the resilience and fighting spirit instilled by Klopp. The absence of many top players, made this victory even more impressive.