Liverpool’s Carabao Cup final victory was about Jurgen Klopp, one of the most celebrated managers in football, and Virgil van Dijk, perhaps the outstanding centre-back of his generation.
But it was also about backup goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher’s superb first-half save and a host of youngsters — Jarell Quansah, Bobby Clark, James McConnell and Jayden Danns. Their contribution in extra time was extremely impressive.
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They weren’t simply introduced to provide fresh legs and hang on for penalties. Instead, they played without fear and in keeping with Klopp’s principles — pressing high, playing out under pressure, and switching play. With a host of entirely inexperienced players in a cup final, Liverpool played as their first-teamers would, which is a great compliment to Klopp.
The goal was supplied by captain Van Dijk from a set piece, but Liverpool deserved it. In extra time, they had seven shots to Chelsea’s five and 15 touches in the opposition box compared to their opposition’s nine. Most significantly, in a clash between the two managers who have arguably popularised the concept of pressing more than any other in English football, Liverpool won possession in the middle or final third eight times, compared to just once by Chelsea.
In those additional 30 minutes, Liverpool outplayed Chelsea because they were more tactically fluent.
What stood out during extra time was how familiar Liverpool’s youngsters were in their roles.
Here, for example, as soon as Clark came deep to receive possession, his midfield colleague McConnell was haring into the channel defended by Ben Chilwell, hoping for a ball in behind.
That, in turn, opened up space for Harvey Elliott. Liverpool’s right-sided forward could drift wide into space created by Chilwell having to defend narrow. Clark switched the play to him and Elliott sent in a decent cross.
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Another familiar concept involved Joe Gomez, who was introduced as a substitute after Ryan Gravenberch’s enforced departure due to sustaining a first-half injury, playing the Trent Alexander-Arnold role and drifting inside from right-back. Evidently not as comfortable as Alexander-Arnold — or Conor Bradley — in possession, Gomez still did the right things.
Here, as Liverpool built up play down the left, Gomez was trying to sneak inside into a position between the lines. Moments later, on the other flank, his in-to-out run evades Mykhailo Mudryk and Liverpool win a corner.
Both sides tried to do some similar things, with wildly different outcomes.
Here’s Cole Palmer trying to switch the play, with three Chelsea players unmarked and available for a square pass. The ball is misdirected and it is Elliott, not even in the television shot in the first frame, who nips in to win possession.
On the other hand, when Gomez receives this ball under pressure, Kostas Tsimikas knows the pass is coming.
The ball is a little behind him but still accurate enough. After that switch, Tsimikas played his pass forward to Luis Diaz, who put a low ball across the six-yard box.
The biggest contrast, though, was the pressure the sides exerted on one another.
Here’s Van Dijk under no pressure and able to play the ball to Clark. Fair enough — he’s in his own half and the game is into extra time, so you can’t blame Chelsea too much for not pressing.
But then Clark, on the halfway line, isn’t under any pressure either when he plays the ball to Tsimikas. OK, maybe the same thing applies here.
But then Tsimikas isn’t really under any pressure from Malo Gusto as he plays the ball onto Diaz.
And Diaz isn’t under any pressure, 25 yards out between the lines, as he floats a ball towards Elliott.
Elliott has a decent volleyed effort, which ends up in the side netting.
That switch to Elliott at the far post, incidentally, is something Liverpool attempt regularly when Mohamed Salah is playing — and Elliott again came close to winning the game in a similar situation in the second half, with his header just kept out by Djordje Petrovic.
But where Chelsea were becalmed in extra time, Liverpool pressed aggressively.
Here, Chelsea have swept the ball out to Chilwell on the far side. The left-back brings the ball down on his chest and is about to knock it back to Levi Colwill, who is unmarked. By the time he does, Liverpool have crowded the space around him and his nearest team-mates, forcing a more ambitious pass.
Colwill concedes possession and Liverpool are back on the attack.
Here’s another situation where Chelsea’s defenders are trying to play out.
Danns is closing down Axel Disasi as part of a front two with Clark. Disasi plays the ball on to Enzo Fernandez, who sweeps a pass towards Palmer out wide. Look at Tsimikas, who is actually marking Noni Madueke but anticipates the pass and jumps forward to intercept in front of Palmer.
Again, Liverpool end up on the attack.
Even when Liverpool were closed down, their players showed great confidence in possession.
Here, at the start of the second period of extra time, Quansah has just come on for Ibrahima Konate. He has yet to touch the ball, but from his first involvement, he has the confidence to dummy a long ball downfield and then touch the ball past Christopher Nkunku. It’s fair to say Nkunku’s team-mates weren’t backing up his press.
And here’s another example, from Clark. Receiving possession from goalkeeper Kelleher between two Chelsea players, other youngsters might have panicked.
But Clark feinted to pass with his first touch, then let the ball run across his body, shifted into attack, dribbled away from Fernandez and played this ball that nearly set Elliott running through.
This might be Klopp’s final trophy with Liverpool — alternatively, he might win another three – but the nature of this victory might give him more satisfaction than any other potential trophy win.
It showed how Klopp has shaped the club’s philosophy with youngsters coming through who automatically know how to play his football in the first team. It also suggests that his legacy will be felt long after he has departed Anfield.
(Top photo: Jacques Feeney/Offside/Offside via Getty Images)
