Jurgen Klopp has revealed his desire to write a new chapter in Liverpool's “great book” before taking time off at the end of the season, but victory over Chelsea in the Carabao Cup final was a sign of his desire to write a new chapter in Liverpool's “great book”. He offered an unlikely story even by his own extraordinary standards.
Klopp's line-up has been stripped of some of its most valuable assets ahead of meeting with Chelsea's £1bn project, but Liverpool's chances of victory remain clear after team sheet arrived before kick-off It has increased.
Mohamed Salah and Darwin Nunez have been added to a casualty list that already includes keeper Alisson, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Diogo Jota and Curtis Jones.
Yet Klopp, contrary to logic, had the courage to summon children from the club's Kirkby Nursery and lift the first of what could be four trophies, another Liverpool breakthrough. It was a great victory to celebrate. Virgil van Dijk's header sealed the victory. 2 minutes from the end of overtime.
Much will be made of Chelsea's missed chances and the label. “The Billion Pound Bottle Job” ex-Manchester United defender and TV pundit Gary Neville added.
Still, the credit should go to Klopp and Liverpool.
The manager was ridiculed by neutrals for comparing his midweek comeback at Anfield to beat struggling Luton Town 4-1 to the famous Champions League semi-final victory over Barcelona. But he has a right to look back and bask in what was a truly great victory here at Wembley.
Chelsea will never have a better chance to avenge their painful penalty shootout defeats to Liverpool in the FA Cup and League Cup finals in 2022, but the latest chapter in Klopp's book nonetheless. It ends with the familiar storyline of yet another red celebration.
It is difficult to gauge how much Klopp will be missed when he leaves Liverpool in the summer, but it is clear that whoever arrives will leave a huge hole to fill.
The good news for the next manager is that this Wembley victory confirms the golden future Klopp has envisioned for his successor, both in terms of established world-class talent and the speed of production from Liverpool's Kirkby academy. That was proof.
Liverpool had Van Dijk, a trusted world-class defender and match-winner, while keeper Caoikhin Kelleher, who was the only player in the league in their ninth win in the competition against Chelsea two years ago, He gave a new performance at Wembley that rests in peace with his heroic deeds.
Perhaps even more memorable, and what this final will be remembered for in the future, is Klopp's incredible display of faith and trust in Liverpool's emerging young players, as they were thrown into the game. It showed that he had no regard for Wembley's nerves and wariness. The final battle is filled with tension.
After 72 minutes, 20-year-old Conor Bradley was replaced by 19-year-old Bobby Clarke, and with three minutes left, Jaden Dans (18) and James McConnell (19) replaced Kodi Gakpo and the Argentina international. ) was introduced. Cup winner Alex Mac Allister was nervous throughout Wembley Stadium.
Clarke, McConnell and Dunnes had made a total of 15 appearances for Liverpool when they joined, with the latter making his debut with just one minute remaining in the midweek victory over Luton. Bradley had only played 16 games.
They now have Cup winners' medals to treasure at a time when their careers are still in the early stages. And this EFL Cup win is just the beginning of a new era of success for Liverpool for Klopp's “reloaded” (in his words) side, with much more to come this season. I had a feeling it was going to happen.
Klopp may not be manager next season, but his fingerprints will be all over Liverpool for the foreseeable future.
Liverpool and Klopp appear to be in the best position to achieve that, with the team and manager seemingly on a mission to give the German a silver farewell at the end of his nine-year reign at Anfield.
The EFL Cup was won. They are top of the Premier League and favorites to win the Europa League and will play Championship side Southampton at home to Championship side Southampton on Wednesday in the FA Cup fifth round.
If fortune favors the brave, this is a classic example, with Klopp giving his best to Liverpool's young players while the most dysfunctional shotgun transfer spree in Premier League history. This is because some of Chelsea's big names, who were recruited at huge cost, failed to produce results. .
Chelsea's slump was due to the fact that, despite playing in midweek, it was Liverpool who were stronger in extra time, and their combination of experience (admittedly not that much) and young leg strength was in the driver's seat. Illustrated.
Liverpool's injury list worsened during the match, with Ryan Gravenbirch being stretchered off after 28 minutes following a rotten challenge from Moises Caicedo. Klopp was prepared to pay £110m in the summer, but he is the man who chose Chelsea.
When the final whistle blew, Klopp wore a smile that had to be surgically removed, but his opponent Mauricio Pochettino is the man who saw ghosts as he continues to miss out on his first win in England. He made an expression like this.
And so will the rest of Liverpool's season.
With the FA Cup coming up next Wednesday, Klopp's confidence and confidence will be so strong that no matter what team he plays, it will reinforce the belief that anything is possible.
Klopp's departure would be a huge missed opportunity for Liverpool on all fronts, but this victory shows that by the time he says goodbye, he will have given his loyal fans even more recognition for themselves. This suggests that there is a good chance that you will be remembered.