Liverpool skipper Virgil van Dijk scored the all-important goal in the second half of the extra-time as Liverpool won the Carabao Cup beating Chelsea at Wembley on Sunday (25 February).
With two minutes left on the clock, Van Dijk glanced his header into the net after meeting a delicious delivery from Kostas Tsimikas. Both sides created loads of chances and had goals disallowed as well, but in the end, Liverpool kept their nerve and won the tie.
There were loads of great individual performances, but this game will be remembered for Jurgen Klopp’s courage to summon kids from the club’s academy to do the job at Wembley.
Former Manchester United defender and TV pundit, Gary Neville described Chelsea as “billion-pound bottle jobs” but no one can take the credit away from Liverpool and Klopp.
Van Dijk was inspirational at the back and he marshaled the troops of young boys, and he said after the game that he was so proud of them.
Gary Linker hailed him as a “magnificent” footballer on The Rest is Football podcast, saying he is “always a threat” in both boxes.
“What an impressive footballer he is, isn’t he?” said Lineker.
“He is calm. He is one of the defenders who never goes to the ground. He is quick. He is incredibly brilliant in both boxes.
“He is always a threat. He has proved it once again. He is a magnificent footballer.”
Virgil van Dijk is a Liverpool legend
Klopp said after the game that the Dutch defender is “absolutely outstanding” since he joined the club from Southampton.
Last season, many had suggested that Van Dijk suffered a dip in form, which he agreed as well, but not to the extent as many made to believe.
Following Jordan Henderson’s departure, he was made the captain of the side, and he has shown great leadership on and off the pitch this season. He not only leads by example, but the way he inspires other young players is fantastic.
He is a world-class defender, and arguably one of the best in the Premier League. It will be interesting to see if Liverpool offer him a new deal after Klopp leaves.
