Chelsea v Liverpool League Cup final player ratings: Palmer 7; Kelleher 9, Van Dijk 8

Reds captain heads home last-gasp winner at Wembley Stadium

• 

  Djordje Petrovic 8/10

  CHELSEA RATINGS: Fine save low down to his right to deny Dias goal in first half. Tipped over Danns header in extra-time. No chance with Van Dijk’s late winner. Both keepers had excellent games at Wembley. PAShow less

• 

  Malo Gusto 6/10

  One of two 20-year-olds in Chelsea back four along with Colwill. The French right-back had game’s first shot on target but hit straight at keeper. Found it tough against Diaz and Robertson at times but stuck to task in intriguing battle down his flank. AFPShow less

• 

  Levi Colwill 7/10

  Lucky to escape fifth-minute booking for poor tackle on Mac Allister. Vital challenge to deny Bradley opening goal just before half-time. Blocked by Endo in box which VAR viewed as reason to rule out Van Dijk goal. AFPShow less

• 

  Axel Disasi 6/10

  Slip led to early chance for Diaz and needed Petrovic to come to rescue with good stop. Sharp chance in second half that came at him sudden and fast and could only knee ball into air and into keeper’s hands. Beaten to ball by Dan Dijk for winner. ReutersShow less

• 

  Ben Chilwell 7/10

  Another in Blue who could have been booked in opening 15 minutes, this one after poor first touch led to captain bundling over Bradley. Was booked for fracas with same player on edge of half-time but decent show for rest of game despite threat of red card hanging over him. AFPShow less

• 

  Moises Caicedo 6/10

  The third Chelsea player who should have picked up a card in first half for crunching late tackle on Gravenbach’s ankle that ended Dutchman's game – and few could have argued if it had been red. AP

• 

  Enzo Fernandez 6/10

  Tried to backheel Chelsea into the lead just after break when teammates were better placed and wasted chance – with Palmer making his frustrations very clear. Not enough influence or impact from Argentine World Cup winner. PAShow less

• 

  Conor Gallagher 7/10

  Very unlucky to see lovely flicked finish come back off inside of post in 75th minute and then see rebound land with red shirt rather than blue one. Saw another effort saved 10 minutes later when through on goal and missed another chance not long after. APShow less

• 

  Cole Palmer 7/10

  Must have thought he was going to open scoring only to see Kelleher go full stretch and block from point-blank range. Supplied pass for Gallagher’s second-half effort that hit woodwork. Denied by foot of Kelleher with another strike. ReutersShow less

• 

  Raheem Sterling 6/10

  Side-footed Chelsea into what they though was a first-half lead but Jackson had been caught offside before supplying the cross. Quiet game for former Liverpool attacker who was taken off midway through second half. AFPShow less

• 

  Nicolas Jackson 5/10

  Saw follow-up chance blocked by Endo after keeper saved from Palmer. Caught narrowly offside ahead of supplying cross for Sterling’s disallowed goal. AFP

• 

  Christopher Nkunku 6/10

  SUBS: (On for Sterling 67’) A couple of half chances and narrowly failed to get on end of a few crosses. Reuters

• 

  Noni Madueke 6/10

  (On for Gallagher 97’) Had shot saved by Kelleher in second-half of extra-time with keeper needing two attempts to gather. AFP

• 

  Mykhailo Mudryk 5/10

  (On for Jackson 89’) Brought on to great cheers from Chelsea fans but failed to make any impact. Reuters

• 

  Trevoh Chalobah N/A

  (On for Chilwell 112’)

• 

  Caoimhin Kelleher 9/10

  LIVERPOOL RATINGS: Brilliant performance filling the big shoes of Alisson. Fabulous point-blank save to deny Palmer goal in first half. Two excellent stops from Gallagher and Palmer late in second half of normal time. Getty ImagesShow less

• 

  Conor Bradley 7/10

  Moved into attacking role after Gravenberch injury forced reshuffle and almost scored just before break but low shot was blocked. After looking best player in pitch in opening 45 minutes, had quieter second. AFPShow less

• 

  Ibrahima Konate 8/10

  One of the Premier League’s best defenders in recent months was excellent again here. Showed pace and strength to get back and deny Jackson shooting chance late in game. Harsh booking for handball as he slid into a tackle. AFPShow less

• 

  Virgil Van Dijk 8/10

  Captain thought he had put side into lead on hour mark with towering header when he was too big and strong for Chilwell – only for VAR to intervene and chalk goal off. Great run and glancing header to win game in 118th minute. APShow less

• 

  Andrew Robertson 7/10

  Trademark pinpoint cross to pick out Gakpo who headed against post then produced another perfect ball to supply Van Dijk who scored only for VAR to intervene. Getty Images

• 

  Alexis Mac Allister 7/10

  The Argentine was on the receiving end of a few bruising challenges, only to receive a booking himself for poor tackle on Caicedo. One chance early in game but drove shot straight at keeper. Getty ImagesShow less

• 

  Wataru Endo 7/10

  Japanese midfielder threw himself in front of Jackson shot to deflect first-half chance over bar after Kelleher saved superbly from Palmer. Cost Van Dijk a goal when he was deemed to have blocked a Chelsea defender in run-up. ReutersShow less

• 

  Ryan Gravenberch 6/10

  Dutch midfielder had his game ended in first half by awful Caicedo challenge and was carried off pitch with ankle injury. Getty Images

• 

  Harvey Elliott 7/10

  First real sight of goal came just before hour mark when he struck volley into ground and Petrovic punched clear. Shot into side netting and headed against post with two extra-time chances. Getty ImagesShow less

• 

  Cody Gakpo 7/10

  Headed against post five minutes before half-time. Smashed shot way over bar after fine run and pass from Diaz. Reuters

• 

  Luis Diaz 8/10

  Pace and trickery caused Chelsea problems throughout as he combined well with Robertson down left. Liverpool’s main attacking threat in absence of Jota, Salah and Nunez. Getty Images

• 

  Joe Gomez 7/10

  SUBS: (On for Gravenbach 27’) The man who has yet to score in senior football struck shot straight at keeper from tight angle ten minutes from time. Booked for time-wasting. Reuters

• 

  Bobby Clark 7/10

  (On for Bradley 72’) Immediate impact from the young midfielder who ran at Chelsea defence, won tackles and passed the ball well. PA

• 

  Jayden Danns 7/10

  (On for Gakpo 88’) Chance within minutes of coming on but shot easily saved. Saw header tipped over bar in extra time. AFP

• 

  James McConnell 6/10

  (On for Mac Allister 88’) One of three very young substitutes brought on with injuries leaving Liverpool with no experience on bench to turn to. Booked for blatant pulling on Palmer's shirt. PA

• 

  Kostas Tsimikas 7/10

  (On for Robertson 88’) Settled straight in and gave team some much-needed experience with so many young heads around him. Had one shot comfortably saved but supplied cross for winner. Reuters

• 

  Jarrell Quansah N/A

  (On for Konate 106’) Getty Images

Virgil van Dijk headed Liverpool to a record-extending 10th League Cup triumph by securing a 1-0 win against Chelsea in the Carabao Cup final at Wembley on Sunday.

The centre-back's goal in the 28th minute of extra time settled a tense clash that had ended 0-0 after 90 minutes.

It clinched an eighth piece of major silverware for Jurgen Klopp at Liverpool and ensured he will not end his final year at the club empty-handed.

“Intense game for both sides, they had chances we had chances. Amazing. First trophy as Liverpool captain,” Van Dijk said.

“Listen, we will never take things for granted and you see today it could have been the other way as well that we lost. But we did a job, even with all the problems we have had before the game.

“You should always savour the good moments, this is definitely one of them. I’m so proud, proud to be part of this club and especially proud of the boys.”

Klopp will step down at the end of the season, but victory in the League Cup final has kept his team on course for an improbable quadruple.

Liverpool currently lead the Premier League table and are still in contention for the FA Cup and Europa League.

Chelsea manager Mauricio Pochettino was hoping to win his first major trophy in England after previous spells with Southampton and Tottenham.

He will have to wait, while Klopp can look ahead to more glory before walking away.

“We created four, five, six big chances and we didn't score. In a game like today and in a final to score first, it is a big advantage,” said Pochettino.

“We didn't score and that is a bit of a problem. We conceded in the last minute and it is difficult to react.

“They [the players] are professional, they need to feel the pain. We played for a trophy we didn't get. They need to feel the pain like us.

“The players feel the disappointment because we were so close to winning the game after 90 minutes.”

You can see the player ratings from Sunday's game in the gallery above.