Jurgen Klopp believes Liverpool owe their Carabao Cup glory to the entire squad after victory in an “absolutely crazy” Wembley final.
The Reds secured a record-breaking ninth League Cup triumph by winning a dramatic penalty shoot-out 11-10 against Chelsea following an enthralling goalless draw on Sunday.
Goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher scored his spot kick before watching Chelsea counterpart Kepa Arrizabalaga smash his effort miles over to ensure Liverpool the first leg of what they hope will be a trophy quadruple.
Both teams had goals controversially disallowed during an end-to-end encounter, and a delighted Klopp said: “It was like two lions going for each other, it was absolutely crazy.
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“They started better, we took over and were better. Second half again, Chelsea had two really good moments, we sorted it again and in the end everybody was tired on the pitch and we had to get through it.
“Then the penalty shoot-out, one of the most spectacular I ever saw.
“Absolutely great to win it like this. We call it the people’s cup but the whole journey was a squad journey and that’s what I love most about it.”
Liverpool used 33 different players during the competition, a number which would have been higher had Thiago Alcantara not been forced to pull out of the starting line-up having suffered an injury during the warm-up.
And Klopp was at pains to point out the involvement of every squad member through the triumphant run.
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“It would have been perfect if we could have had more players on the teamsheet,” said the Reds boss.
“Today I had to make a few real tough decisions, and I said to the boys in the meeting, including the ones that were not on the teamsheet, ‘this is my squad , plus – and I hope I don’t forget anyone – Tyler Morton, who was slightly injured, Conor (Bradley), Owen (Beck), Harvey (Blair), Elijah (Dixon-Bonner) played some minutes as well, Adrian saved our ass in Preston’.
“The whole journey was absolutely outstanding. Without Takumi (Minamino) and Divock (Origi), the goals they scored in the competition, we would not be here.
“We were 3-1 down against Leicester, most of the people wrote us off at the moment, wonderful story, came back, penalty shoot-out, won it.
“Then we had to change the way. The home game with Arsenal, 0-0 against 10 men, nobody really positive about the second leg and we went there and won in a really nice manner. Now tonight against Chelsea.”
