Statistics are like bikinis. What they reveal is suggestive, however what they conceal is important. These are the phrases of well-known economist Aaron Levenstein. Watching Liverpool win the EFL Cup towards Chelsea on Sunday additional proved this assertion. When the sport completed, absolutely the stats would say that each groups had a number of possibilities to place the tie to mattress; nonetheless, watching the sport, one might really see the greatness of Jurgen Klopp. What the Reds did within the last is one thing that will likely be written within the golden pages of soccer historical past.
There was no Mohamed Salah, there was no Dominik Szoboszlai, there was no Darwin Nunez, there was no Alisson Becker, and there was no Trent Alexander Arnold. Liverpool’s squad on the day appeared one thing like that of an under-23s squad with a great deal of youthful gamers mixed with three to 4 gamers who normally are surplus to first-team necessities.
That didn’t cease them from being topped the EFL Cup champions for the tenth consecutive time.
Teen shine for Liverpool
Liverpool’s beginning XI on the night time had seven gamers that had been aged 25 or youthful. In reality, gamers like Harvey Elliott and Conor Bradley had solely damaged into the primary crew this season whereas others equivalent to goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher had been thrown into the deep finish as first alternative Alisson was out with damage.
Nonetheless, watching the primary half, it felt like Chelsea had been the extra inexperienced crew as Koop’s males put them to the sword, creating a number of possibilities however failing to seek out the again of the online. The Reds had been already massively affected by accidents, and the state of affairs worsened additional after Ryan Gravenberch was stretchered off the pitch after a sort out by Moises Caicedo.
Nonetheless, this didn’t deter Liverpool, as they continued to be on the entrance foot. That got here with a value, as Chelsea frequently discovered huge house on the counterattack. They might have scored two to 3 targets if it weren’t for Kelleher. The teen was wonderful on the night time and confirmed that he’s actually a first-team goalkeeper high quality. Nonetheless, the atmosphere on the membership is so glorious that he has accepted to be Alisson’s understudy until now.
The inflow of kids into the sport from Liverpool’s facet continued as Bobby Clark, James McConnell, and Jayden Danns had been substituted into the sport. Danns’ debut for the senior squad had come solely three days earlier than the ultimate within the Premier League towards Luton City, whereas McConnell’s first begin got here in January of this 12 months.
Nonetheless, even with such inexperienced starters on the pitch, Liverpool performed the identical system that Klopp has deployed over time, displaying the synergy between the younger participant and the veterans on the crew.
THE MOMENT 🤩 pic.twitter.com/VJpjkvyfXy
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) February 25, 2024
Liverpool’s mentality was the important thing distinction on the night time
In complete, the EFL Cup last noticed 40 photographs (18 from Chelsea, 22 from Liverpool), out of which 20 had been heading in the right direction (9 from Chelsea and 11 from Liverpool). Nonetheless, there was a vital distinction in how each groups created the possibilities. A number of of Liverpool’s possibilities got here as they pressured the Chelsea defence to commit errors utilizing their famed Gegenpressing technique. Different possibilities got here as they expertly discovered their approach via the defence, largely via the spectacular Luis Diaz. Chelsea, in the meantime, primarily relied on fast-paced counterattacks to seek out the breakthrough.
One other instance of Liverpool’s successful mentality was the best way they reacted after having their purpose disallowed in maybe the harshest determination of the match. Virgil van Dijk scored from a header, however the purpose was disallowed after VAR deemed Wataru Endo was blocking Levi Colwill and requested referee Chris Kavanagh to take a look at the monitor after which he deemed there was sufficient proof to overturn his on-field determination.
For some other crew with so many kids to have a purpose chalked off in such a way would have had a detrimental impact on the crew. Liverpool, nonetheless, had been relentless and even dominated giant components of the additional time after the scores had been tied on the finish of standard time.
This was all right down to the crew’s mentality, one thing that Klopp has spent years drilling into each participant of the squad. The efficiency was so sensible that one would put cash on them to win the league even when the sport went to penalties.
Van Dijk discovered the winner in the end with a well-directed header, and it was the simply reward for a efficiency of the best order. With this win, Liverpool additionally preserve the dream of a quadruple alive, and this win has simply given them a large enhance in direction of realising their dream.
