Chelsea vs Liverpool player ratings: Fernandez and Caicedo flop as Van Dijk scores perfect 10
Liverpool won the League Cup by beating Chelsea 1-0 through a late extra-time goal from captain Virgil van Dijk after a fierce end-to-end battle at Wembley.
Dutchman Van Dijk rose to meet a corner in the 118th minute and nodded home in front of cheering Liverpool fans.
This is how Telegraph Sport rated the two sides.
Chelsea
Djordje Petrovic
Incredible extra-time save to stop Elliott winning the game for Liverpool. Also stopped an Elliott volley and Danns’ header. What a signing he’s been. 8/10
Malo Gusto
A threat going forwards, but struggled against Luis Diaz, who was Liverpool’s most dangerous player, and sometimes loose with his passing. 5/10
Axel Disasi
Made one big interception, but also got away with three bad mistakes – at least two of which could have led to goals, and lost Van Dijk in extra-time. 4/10
Levi Colwill
Like some of his team-mates, Colwill made a nervy start but settled and made a vital block to stop Bradley opening the scoring. 7/10
Ben Chilwell
The Chelsea captain was booked for shoving Bradley and was beaten to the ball from which Van Dijk scored, but he was saved by VAR. 6/10
Moises Caicedo
Should he have been sent-off? He was certainly lucky to escape without so much as a booking for the foul that forced off Gravenberch. Poor. 5/10
Enzo Fernandez
Couldn’t sort out his feet, when he was presented with a chance early in the second half and still yet to justify his transfer fee. 5/10
Cole Palmer
Looked nailed on to give Chelsea the lead, but Kelleher made a great close-range save. Great work to provide the pass from which Gallagher hit the post. 7/10
Conor Gallagher
So unlucky to hit the post, but should have done better after being put through by Palmer late on and then failed to hit the target with a shot. 6/10
Raheem Sterling
An offside flag against Jackson stopped him opening the scoring. Struggled to make an impact otherwise and he was replaced by Nkunku. 5/10
Nicolas Jackson
He may be unpredictable and imprecise, but Jackson was a menace to the Liverpool defence and was only millimetres offside for Sterling’s goal. 6/10
Subs
Christopher Nkunku (on for Sterling, 67) 5
Mykhailo Mudryk (on for Jackson, 90) 5
Noni Madueke (on for Gallagher, 97) 5
Trevoh Chalobah (on for Chilwell (113) 6
Liverpool
Caoimhin Kelleher
Heroic at Wembley two years ago during penalties, but this eclipsed it. A stunning save to deny Cole Palmer was the starter before a frantic finale in which denying Conor Gallagher a winner in 90 minutes was the highlight. 9/10
Conor Bradley
Ben Chilwell will have had nightmares about how Bradley exposed him at Anfield – that showed when the pair squared up and were booked just before half-time. Ran out of steam having been turned into a makeshift winger. 7/10
Virgil van Dijk
At his imperious best. Impeccable at both ends. He looked in the mood. Contentiously denied by a forensic investigation in his first bid for a winner, he would not be denied. Perfection. 10/10
Ibrahima Konate
Established as Van Dijk’s preferred partner. Konate’s pace is a valuable asset when closing down those open Wembley spaces. His last ditch tackling became increasingly necessary as Liverpool ran out of players and energy. 9/10
Andy Robertson
He has been edging his way back to his best but it was always going to be a stretch for him to last the full 90 minutes. The usual accomplished performance before he was replaced by Tsimikas near the end. 8/10
Wataru Endo
The closest player on the pitch to N’Golo Kante. There were moments when Chelsea must have wished they’d rivalled Liverpool for his signature last summer. He was the last senior man standing in Liverpool’s midfield by extra-time. 9/10
Alexis Mac Allister
A thoroughbred performance. When Mac Allister was controlling midfield, Liverpool had momentum. His late substitution felt like the moment Chelsea had the game there for the taking. Wrong. 9/10
Ryan Gravenberch
Stricken by a Caicedo challenge, which left Klopp furious that there was no VAR intervention. Subbed on 27 minutes forcing Liverpool to send on an extra defender. 6/10
Harvey Elliott
Made a nervous start, squandering possession more often than his teammates. Kept searching for the final pass or shot in a performance that was ultimately one of courage as he kept pushing forward. 8/10
Luis Diaz
Not a killer when he gets opportunities, but he never stops. He played Gusto with gusto. Always looked the most likely to find a way through in open play. Must have felt like a lone assassin at some points. 8/10
Cody Gakpo
His pre-match homework should have been to watch Roberto Firmino videos. His header against the bar was the closest Klopp’s side were to a first half lead. Had to be replaced before 90 minutes. 7/10
Subs
Klopp unleashed his superkids and how they delivered, a tribute to themselves, the senior coaching and the Liverpool academy. Clark, McConnell, Danns and Quansah never put a foot wrong and made a mockery of the price of their opponents.
