Chelsea vs Liverpool final score, result, highlights as Van Dijk wins Carabao Cup final 2024 in extra time

Joe Wright

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Chelsea vs Liverpool final score, result, highlights as Van Dijk wins Carabao Cup final 2024 in extra time image

One down, three to go. Jurgen Klopp's farewell tour at Liverpool has got off to a memorable, record-breaking start.

The Reds went to Wembley Stadium missing several first-team stars, including Mohamed Salah, Darwin Nunez, Trent Alexander-Arnold and Alisson. They lost Ryan Gravenberch in the first half of this Carabao Cup final, Moises Caicedo leaving his mark on the midfielder's left foot. They started extra time with 18-year-old Jayden Danns leading the attack. And yet, as the vociferous thousands who had travelled from Merseyside and beyond showed in the dying minutes inside the stadium, you somehow knew they were going to do it.

Liverpool have now won the Carabao Cup a record-extending 10 times. Virgil van Dijk, who had earlier had a goal disallowed for an offside decision that would have caused far more consternation had Chelsea won this final, proved himself the hero, burying a header from Kostas Tsimikas' corner with barely two minutes left. It was fitting that arguably Klopp's finest signing delivered him the first of what could be four trophies to sign off his time at Liverpool. They can still win the Premier League, FA Cup, and UEFA Europa League before June.

Chelsea vs Liverpool final score

  ET FT Goalscorers
Chelsea 0  
Liverpool 1 Van Dijk (118')

Confirmed lineups:

Chelsea (4-2-3-1, right to left): 28. Djordje Petrovic (GK) — 27. Malo Gusto, 2. Axel Disasi, 26. Levi Colwill, 21. Ben Chilwell (14. Trevoh Chalobah, 112') — 8. Enzo Fernandez, 25. Moises Caicedo — 20. Cole Palmer, 23. Conor Gallagher (11. Noni Madueke, 97'), 7. Raheem Sterling (18. Christopher Nkunku, 67') — 15. Nicolas Jackson (10. Mykhailo Mudryk, 90')

Liverpool (4-3-3, right to left): 62. Caoimhin Kelleher (GK) — 84. Conor Bradley (42. Bobby Clark, 73'), 5. Ibrahima Konate (78. Jarell Quansah, 105'), 4. Virgil van Djik, 26. Andrew Robertson (21. Kostas Tsimikas, 87') —  10. Alexis Mac Allister (53. James McConnell, 87'), 3. Wataru Endo, 38. Ryan Gravenberch (2. Joe Gomez, 28') — 19. Harvey Elliot, 18. Cody Gakpo (76. Jayden Danns, 87'), 7. Luis Diaz

For Chelsea, this will feel like a significant missed opportunity. They remain a team that is hard to describe, without a clear identity or particular selling point to fans old and new: poorly planned, strangely assembled, and astonishingly expensive.

And yet, they could easily have won this game in normal time. Liverpool's early superiority in a frenetic opening half-hour, before the Gravenberch injury, did not yield much by way of clear-cut chances. Chelsea, when they managed to string passes together, looked a real threat on the break. Conor Gallagher should have scored in the second half when one-on-one with Caoimhin Kelleher, and he hit the base of the post with a clever shot from Cole Palmer's cross. Raheem Sterling did score before halftime, converting a low cross from Nicolas Jackson after Andrew Robertson was caught upfield, but the tiniest of offside margins denied him. Djordje Petrovic was kept busy, but the majority of his saves were more or less routine, although he too had the woodwork to thank when Cody Gakpo looked likely to score.

He could do nothing when Van Dijk thumped in a header from Andrew Robertson's cross just past the hour, but there was a reprieve when referee Chris Kavanagh was called to the pitchside monitor and ruled that Wataru Endo was offside when he stopped Levi Colwill from running to where the cross ended up. It was not, in isolation, an unfair call, but it would take a brave person to predict that such infringements will be punished on a regular basis.

Chelsea ended the 90 minutes the stronger, Liverpool finally looking leggy, anxious. Gallagher's face-off with Kelleher came in the 86th minute; moments later, a pinball in the Reds box could have gone anywhere. It went into Kelleher's gloves.

As extra time began, Chelsea looked like they could kick on and take control of the game. Instead, they wilted. Therein lies one of the great qualities of Klopp's Liverpool: an obstinate, die-hard refusal to let adversity overcome them. They pushed Chelsea back, quietened the blue half of the stadium, as 'Allez, allez, allez' boomed out from those fans in red. Pochettino and his players didn't seem to have an answer.

Just as penalties beckoned, Liverpool struck the knockout blow. Van Dijk, already struggling with fatigue, dragged those long legs into one more run across the box to meet Tsimikas' corner. Trevoh Chalobah, only just on as a substitute for Chelsea captain Chilwell, didn't go with him. Van Dijk's glancing header flew past Petrovic. He, like the disconsolate Axel Disasi, knew the game was done.

Chelsea were heavily criticised by Sky Sports pundits Gary Neville and Jamie Carragher for not doing more against such an inexperienced Liverpool team shorn of star players. This certainly felt like a great chance to win a first piece of silverware in the Todd Boehly era, and they will rue those few golden opportunities they had to score. It feels unfair that Gallagher missed the best of them: he ran himself into the ground for the Chelsea cause, not for the first time this season.

But it shouldn't be forgotten that this remains the early stages of a project at Stamford Bridge, with a a manager in his first season in the post and a youthful team that, let's remember, are 11th in the Premier League and 25 points behind Liverpool (and finished 12th last season). Indeed, Chelsea's average age at the start of extra time was younger than that of their opponents (23.2 years of age compared to 25), despite the inexperienced players on whom Klopp had been forced to call. It was also inappropriate for Carragher to claim this was a result that shows "football is about more than money" given that Liverpool's match-winner cost £75 million.

What this final did show, unquestionably, was how much Liverpool will miss Klopp. The way he has inspired this team to success since October 2015 was laid bare in the cold and rain of Wembley, as youngsters came off the bench and players filled in in makeshift roles with apparently not an ounce of fear.

One trophy down, three to go. If anyone can do it, Klopp can.

Chelsea vs Liverpool updates, highlights, and commentary

End of extra time: Chelsea 0-1 Liverpool

It's all over, and Liverpool have won the Carabao Cup again!

120 mins: We'll have three added minutes here. Can Chelsea find a goal? They haven't looked close in extra time, in truth.

118 mins: GOAL! LIVERPOOL HAVE SURELY WON IT! Tsimikas swings in a corner from the right, Van Dijk meets it with a glancing header, and Petrovic has no chance. Chalobah let Liverpool's captain get away.

Watch in USA:

Canada:

UK:

115 mins: So nearly the winner for Liverpool! Elliott nods the ball down after meeting Tsimikas' cross, but a combination of post and Petrovic keep it out. The rebound drops to Danns, who can't get enough on it to turn the ball over the line.

112 mins: Chilwell makes two good challenges to stop Liverpool attacks down the right, and he's taken off for Trevoh Chalobah. Interesting call from Mauricio Pochettino, who perhaps just wanted a fresh pair of legs in defence.

108 mins: A promising Chelsea attack ends when Mudryk is closed down by substitute Quansah. Madueke should really have done a bit more when he was in the Liverpool box there.

Second half of extra time: Chelsea 0-0 Liverpool

Konate is off, Jarell Quansah is on.

Halftime of extra time: Chelsea 0-0 Liverpool

It's still goalless.

104mins: Chelsea have just settled themselves again. Madueke has looked bright since coming on, and his latest combination with Gusto sees Nkunku win a corner off Van Dijk.

101 mins: Liverpool fans are making all the noise at the moment, apparently galvanised by the fact their team, with so many senior players missing, look right up for this extra-time battle.

99 mins: Diaz picks out the run of Elliott, but his volley into the ground hits the side netting. Chelsea look as though they've hit a wall here, and Liverpool look by far the fresher.

97 mins: Gallagher's race is run — and boy, has he run a lot today. Chelsea's midfielder hobbles off to be replaced by Noni Madueke.

93 mins: DANNS! Van Dijk heads the ball back across the box and Danns directs a good header goalwards. Petrovic has to tip it over the bar.

Extra time first-half kickoff: Chelsea 0-0 Liverpool

Here we go, then: we'll have at least another half an hour of this. Are we going to penalties between these two yet again?

End of 90 minutes: Chelsea 0-0 Liverpool

Chelsea have a free-kick in the dying seconds of regulation time, but it's wasted. The referee blows his whistle, and we're heading for extra time.

90 + 2 mins: HOW HAVE CHELSEA NOT SCORED? Konate blocks from Nkunku, Kelleher saves the rebound from Gusto, then Gomez somehow deflects the loose ball back to his own goalkeeper. Right now, Liverpool are hanging on a little.

89 mins: Young Jayden Danns makes a quick impact off the bench, running at Disasi and shooting from just inside the box, but it's a comfortable save for Petrovic.

86 mins: GALLAGHER SHOULD WIN IT! He runs from deep right through the heart of a tiring Liverpool midfield, and Palmer picks him out with the throughball. Gallagher is one-on-one against Kelleher, and the goalkeeper comes out on top, saving at the feet of the midfielder.

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84 mins: Gusto volleys a cross from Caicedo's ball over the top of the Liverpool defence, but Nkunku can't stretch enough to reach the ball.

80 mins: Liverpool work a promising break from left to right, Elliott plays it to the overlapping Gomez, but his shot is straight at Petrovic. It's a tough game to call right now.

75 mins: GALLAGHER HITS THE POST! Palmer slides a low cross in from the right, Gallagher tries a clever first-time shot with his instep, but the ball comes back off the base of the left-hand post as Kelleher stands and watches. So close for Chelsea.

70 mins: Diaz bustles his way off the wing and towards the centre of the penalty-box D, slides the ball to Gakpo, who shoots high. That was a rushed chance.

68 mins: DISASI! Chelsea's corner loops towards the far post, Disasi arrives, but he's under the ball and lifts it over the bar from close range.

67 mins: Christopher Nkunku is on for Raheem Sterling, who gets the sort of reception he's come to expect from Liverpool fans. It's Chelsea now putting some pressure on.

63 mins: NO GOAL! After watching on the monitor, referee Chris Kavanagh rules out the goal for offside. Endo was standing in an offside position when the free-kick was taken, and he stopped Colwill from running back to challenge Van Dijk for the header. I think it's fair to say that is going to cause some debate...

60 mins: GOAL! LIVERPOOL TAKE THE LEAD! It's a simple goal and a poor one for Chelsea to concede. Gallagher concedes a needless free-kick, Robertson sweeps in the delivery from the left, and Van Dijk climbs above Chilwell to power his header into the net. But wait — there's a VAR pitchside check...

58 mins: This half has been a bit less frenetic, as though both teams sense a little more control is needed in possession. Elliott tries a volley that is comfortably — and rather flamboyantly — parried by Petrovic, before Diaz blasts well over.

51 mins: Oh, Fernandez! Chelsea break well through Jackson, who turns Konate and feeds Gallagher's run from deep. His cut-back picks out Fernandez, who started the move, six yards from goal with his back to the Liverpool keeper. Rather than turn and shoot, or look for a teammate, he tries a backheel shot that bobbles harmlessly to Kelleher. That was a poor choice from the Chelsea midfielder.

Kickoff: Second half

We're off and running again.

Halftime: Chelsea 0-0 Liverpool

The half ends with another Liverpool attack ending in a Colwill clearance. The Reds have been the more in-control of the teams, but Chelsea are a threat on the break and only a remarkably close offside call means they don't have a halftime lead.

45 + 3 mins: Chilwell and Bradley get into a shoving match and some other players get involved, for little reason, to be honest. The original perpetrators get a yellow card each.

45 mins: Diaz skips away from Fernandez down the left and gets into the box. What follows is an almighty scramble in which the Colombian has a shot blocked, gets the ball back, plays it wide to Bradley and watches blue shirts throw themselves in the way of the attempt. Last-ditch stuff from Chelsea, but it worked well.

40 mins: Gakpo off the post! Robertson clips a cross towards the far post from the left, Gakpo heads it goalwards from six yards out, but the ball bounces back off the base of the post and Ben Chilwell clears.

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38 mins: Good play from Chelsea down the left sees Gallagher break into the box, but Robertson gets to his cut-back first and Kelleher gathers.

32 mins: STERLING SCORES — but the flag is up! Jackson gets in between Konate and Van Dijk, and crosses for Sterling to tap in at the far post, but the offside flag is raised. VAR is checking... and Jackson was indeed offside, by mere millimetres. No goal.

28 mins: Gravenberch is going off on a stretcher, with Joe Gomez on in his place. It looks like Gomez has gone to right-back, with Bradley pushing further forward. Klopp is still berating the officials.

25 mins: Gravenberch is receiving treatment after Caicedo stood on his left foot in a challenge near the touchline. Klopp and Liverpool's staff are furious on the touchline. Caicedo hasn't been booked for it, and watching it back, he's very lucky. Gravenberch looks like he won't be able to continue.

21 mins: How have Chelsea not scored?? Caicedo plays in Conor Gallagher in the huge space Robertson has just vacated. His cross finds Raheem Sterling, who battles with Ibrahima Konate, and the loose ball falls to Cole Palmer. With the goal at his mercy, Palmer is somehow denied by a flying save from Kelleher. Brilliant from the Liverpool goalkeeper, but Chelsea should be winning.

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18 mins: Chelsea clear after Gakpo and Gusto both throw themselves into challenges on the edge of the Blues' area with... well, gusto. The long clearance gives Nicolas Jackson a chance, but he falls over before he can control the ball. It's been that sort of start here.

15 mins: Big chance for Diaz! Axel Disasi slips over when in possession on the edge of the Chelsea box. Gakpo pays it to Diaz, whose low shot is well saved by Petrovic.

14 mins: Malo Gusto brings a comfortable save out of Caoimhin Kelleher with a volley from the edge of the box. Barely a minute later, Liverpool twice win the ball back from Chelsea in their half, and Alexis Mac Allister stings the palms of Petrovic.

9 mins: Luis Diaz stretches to get a head on Andrew Robertson's deep cross, but it's an easy save for Petrovic. What Diaz didn't seem to know was that Cody Gakpo was arriving behind him and would likely have had a far better chance to shoot had his teammate left the ball.

6 mins: It's been a bit of an erratic start. Levi Colwill, who turns 21 tomorrow, dribbles out of defence but takes a heavy touch and concedes a free-kick. Chelsea clear the initial delivery, but Moises Caicedo concedes another foul on the edge of the box.

Kickoff: First half

We're underway at Wembley!

10 mins prior to kickoff: Kickoff should be imminent, but there's a problem with Liverpool fans trying to get into Wembley. It seems there are issues with the ticket gates. The below video was posted by Caoimhe O'Neill from The Athletic around 15 minutes ago.

20 mins prior to kickoff: Not long to go now. The players have gone through the warm-ups and kickoff is approaching.

45 mins prior to kickoff: Just how significant will the absence of Salah and Nunez be today? Liverpool were excellent in the second half against Luton Town without those two, but this is a very different task away from Anfield. Chelsea going with the same side that drew at Man City isn't a surprise, but what's next for Thiago Silva, who isn't even in the matchday squad?

Team news

It's confirmed: Mohamed Salah and Darwin Nunez are OUT of the Carabao Cup final. Liverpool instead have Harvey Elliott, Cody Gakpo, and Luis Diaz in attack. Dominik Szoboszlai and Trent Alexander-Arnold have also failed to make the squad.

Chelsea stick with Djordje Petrovic in goal, even though Robert Sanchez is fit enough for the bench. Thiago Silva is not even in the matchday squad.

1 hour 15 mins prior to kickoff: The big question for Reds fans is how many of their injured players will be available today. Social media has been awash with rival fans declaring victory in the game, either because Salah and Nunez are definitely out, or definitely in. Either way, Jurgen Klopp seemed cheerful enough as he inspected the pitch.

1 hour 30 mins prior to kickoff: Liverpool might be battling something of an injury crisis at the moment, but the hope for the Reds is that Mohamed Salah, Darwin Nunez, and Dominik Szoboszlai will all be fit to start today's game. That would only underline their tag as favourites to win this final against a Chelsea team they thrashed 4-1 in league play a little over three weeks ago.

2 hours prior to kickoff: Who will win the first major domestic trophy of the English season? We'll find out today. Let's just hope it's not another goalless draw between these teams at Wembley Stadium!

Chelsea vs Liverpool kick off time

This Carabao Cup final clash takes place at Wembley Stadium in London, UK and kicks off on Sunday, February 25 at 3:00 p.m. local time.

Here's how that time translates across some of the major territories:

  Date Kickoff time
USA Sun, Feb. 25 10:00 a.m. ET
Canada Sun, Feb. 25 10:00 a.m. ET
UK Sun, Feb. 25 3:00 p.m. GMT
Australia Mon, Feb. 26 2:00 a.m. AEDT
India Sun, Feb. 25 8:30 p.m. IST

Chelsea vs Liverpool lineups, team news

Mauricio Pochettino is still without six first-team players ahead of this clash and the Argentinian coach has kept the same team that started the 1-1 Premier League draw at Manchester City last time out. Thiago Silva is not even in the matchday squad.

Chelsea (4-2-3-1, right to left): Petrovic (GK) — Gusto, Disasi, Colwill, Chilwell — Fernandez, Caicedo — Palmer, Gallagher, Sterling — Jackson.

Chelsea subs (9): Sanchez, Bettinelli, Chalobah, Gee, Gilchrist, Tauriainen, Madueke, Mudryk, Nkunku

Klopp opted for caution in his starting XI as Liverpool battled back to secure a 4-1 midweek Premier League win over Luton Town. However, his injury picture is unchanged.

Mohamed Salah, Darwin Nunez and Dominik Szoboszlai were not risked at Anfield, but none are in the matchday squad at Wembley. Key defender Trent Alexander-Arnold also missed out due to a knee injury.

Liverpool (4-3-3 right to left): Kelleher (GK) — Bradley, Konate, Van Dijk, Robertson — Mac Allister, Endo, Gravenberch — Elliott, Gakpo, Diaz.

Liverpool subs (9): Adrian, Gomez, Tsimikas, Clark, McConnell, Koumas, Danns, Quansah, Nyoni.

Chelsea vs Liverpool live stream, TV channel

Here's how to watch this Carabao Cup final match across selected areas of the world's major regions:

Region TV Streaming
USA — ESPN+
Canada —

DAZN

UK Sky Sport Main Event, Sky Sports Football Sky GO, Now TV
Australia beIN Sports 3 beIN Sports Connect
India — FanCode

Joe Wright

Joe Wright Photo

Joe is a Senior Editor at Sporting News. He was previously a sub editor and writer for Goal.com before spending six years as part of the Stats Perform editorial news service, covering major global sports including football, tennis, boxing, NBA, rugby union and athletics. Joe has reported live on some of the biggest games in football, including two UEFA Champions League finals, Euro 2016, the Confederations Cup 2017 and the 2018 World Cup final at the end of a month in Russia.