Virgil van Dijk — A Captain Liverpool deserve

Jurgen Klopp’s era marshalled to its end by the incredible leadership of Virgil van Dijk to save Liverpool at the death.

Liverpool triumphs against the odds to crown themselves for a record 10th time the Carabao Cup Champions, all thanks to the leading Dutchman, Virgil van Dijk.

Credit cannot be given enough to the Netherlands international, whose resilience and sheer leadership qualities led the Reds through against Chelsea, who on the night proved themselves class.

Narratives would be said about the Blues failing to take the advantage to beat a young Liverpool side filled with academy players in the lineup, or sympathy shown to the Reds for marching out at Wembley with at least 11-players out injured, but Chelsea proved themselves a quality team on the day to ridicule their standing in the premier league.

Going into the game as the underdog team, the Blues side of London registered 9 shots on goal as against Liverpool’s 11, with the Reds needing the actions of Caoimhin Kelleher and Virgil van Dijk to keep them in the game.

Speaking of Virgil van Dijk, narratives would be said about Captains turning up for their team in the most darkest of moments, for Liverpool, that moment couldn’t have been any more than the Carabao Cup final. Twice, he scored for the Reds, but VAR had to have its say for the first.

It was a call many deemed ‘controversial’, but if conspiracy theorists would have their way, chances are that the call was made against Virgil van Dijk, to even things with Chelsea as the Blues’ first half strike via Raheem Sterling was also marginally chalked off for offside.

But the Liverpool Skipper knew his moment would come, and it did in the 118th minute with Virgil van Dijk coming through for his team again to win the tie for Liverpool. A performance deserving of a captain, one reminiscent of the days of Steven Gerrard.

No Mohamed Salah, no Diogo Jota, no Darwin Nunez, Alison Becker and the Reds down by 1-man within the first 35-minutes, Virgil van Dijk pulls through to lead Liverpool to glory.