Our 3️⃣ points as Liverpool beat Chelsea to win the EFL Cup | OneFootball

Liverpool lifted their record-breaking 10th EFL Cup with Virgil van Dijk’s 118th minute winner giving them victory over Chelsea.

Here is what we made of events at Wembley.

Liverpool prove to be the “Mentality Monsters” once again

Despite mounting injury issues and the loss of Ryan Gravenberch in the first-half, nothing appears to be able to stop Liverpool right now.

It is a testament to the mentality instilled in the side during the Jürgen Klopp era, which looks set for a fitting finale in the coming months.

Heading into the final without several first-team regulars and three of their go-to guys over the years in Mohamed Salah, Alisson and Trent Alexander-Arnold, it would have been understandable if they felt down on their luck and wilted at Wembley.

Instead, they persevered and made do with what they had, with it being rather appropriate that Virgil van Dijk, both the captain and an original “Mentality Monster”, was the man to nod home the winner.

Those intangibles will likely be needed in the coming weeks and months as they look to add three more trophies to the one they picked up today.

Would you bet against them?

The kids are more than alright

As a result of those injuries, Liverpool’s squad has been down to the bare bones in recent weeks, leading to several youngsters being thrown into the deep end. They’ve had little trouble swimming.

Conor Bradley started again today, and it is a serious recognition of both the Northern Irishman’s talent and application that the absence of Trent Alexander-Arnold was not one of the major talking points coming into the game.

Harvey Elliot stepped up from impact sub to Wembley starter with aplomb and, while he is 25, Caoimhín Kelleher showed once more that he is more than just a backup to Alisson with another EFL Cup final performance to remember.

Off the bench late in the second half came teenagers Bobby Clark, James McConnell and Jayden Danns, the latter making just his second appearance for the club.

You would not have noticed, such was his and his fellow youngsters composure as the game went the full 120 minutes.

It helps having Van Dijk, Klopp and that elite-level mentality at the club but the kids keep stepping up.

A major opportunity missed for Chelsea and Pochettino

While there is more glory for Liverpool, there is only more disappointment for both Chelsea and Mauricio Pochettino.

The extra-time loss made it a record six in a row in domestic finals for the Blues, who once had the mentality that Reds now possess.

As for Pochettino, his wait for a trophy in English football goes on, as does his poor record against Klopp – he has now beaten the German only once in 14 meetings, and has the EFL final loss to add to the 2019 Champions League final.

When Liverpool brought on the kids, it felt as if the final was there for the taking for Chelsea, but instead of rising to the occasion, they appeared to be overawed by it all, particularly in the added 30 minutes.

Gary Neville labelled them “blue billion pound bottle jobs” and it is hard to argue against it, given so much money has been spend but they are still a complete contrast to the club they lost to at Wembley. It is all a damning indictment of Todd Boehley and co’s reign to date.

Marooned in the bottom half of the league and with only the FA Cup left to pursue this season, where now for both team and manager?