Chelsea 0-1 Liverpool: The one that went to extra time

Perspective is often overlooked in football - and no longer just by fans, but by the 'experts' for the sake of a snappy soundbite or engagement on social media. It's polarised every result into a turning point or the end of the world. There's no longer an in between. And maybe - that's not really the road we want to travel. Maybe, just maybe, it might be refreshing to take a step back and look at things as they are rather than feed into some narrative or another.

Chelsea's defeat in the Carabao Cup final sucked - for lack of a better word. It didn't feel good to lose. Defeats shouldn't just be accepted because some the players gave their all. The goal should be always to win. The tackle, the ball, the game, the trophy, Olivier Giroud's heart. Winning is what it's all about. However a singular loss isn't an entire season in microcosm - which is how these results are starting to be treated more and more.

On Monday Night Football, Jamie Carragher said that "I think that game if it's played 10 times, Chelsea win 8 of them. I have no doubt about that." And he's not wrong. In those opening 90 minutes, the Blues had the better chances. While there were a few that could have done better with their finishing maybe learn what it is to chip a keeper, no would should ignore the fact that Liverpool's keeper, Caoimhin Kelleher, was called into action. A lot. He was forced into a number of difficult saves to keep things level, making 9 in total. They didn't all just get gently lobbed into his waiting arms. He also had the 'best defensive partnership'* in the universe in front of him.

*Other CB pairings are available

The former Liverpool defender isn't the only one who reacted to Gary Neville's 'bottlejob' dig - with a number of high profile pundits hitting back at his soundbite. Ally McCoist insisted the tag was wrong and echoed Carragher's sentiment that the game could have gone either way. Gary Lineker also said Chelsea 'could have won it' and went on to highlight Kelleher's stellar save on Cole Palmer's best effort. While Simon Jordan slammed Neville and his 'little Overlap gang'. 

The other pervasive trope that came out of the game was the idea of 'Klopp's kids'. Again - thanks Gary for getting that out there. Liverpool were able to bring on a number of academy stars in extra time that proved effective. But in large part because they were playing alongside experienced counterparts. Everyone seems to have casually ignored that it was a £75m 32 year old defender who popped up for the eventual winner. On average, Chelsea were 2 years younger than Liverpool both at the start of the game and at the final whistle despite those young players being given a chance. 

Experience cannot be underestimated in general - but especially not when it comes to a final. It's experience that finds the breakthrough and it's experience that pushes those around them to elevate their standards. That is the lesson that Todd Boehly and his band of cohorts should be taking from this defeat. Not that their project held their own for 90 mins but that a few older heads on the pitch are what ultimately lifts you the trophy. 

They need to have a hard look at their recruitment policy and ease the restrictions on age. And sack Paul Winstanley. An experienced player would have helped calm the nerves for those that may have been overawed by the occasion. They don't need to be the wrong side of 30 or come with a big price tag - but they do need to be a leader and come with more than a half season games under their belt.

The elephant in the room of course is how Chelsea turned in on themselves and ultimately fell apart in those final 30 minutes. Mauricio Pochettino's comments after which appeared to admit that they were playing for penalties have not gone down well in the immediate reactionary aftermath. All fingers were pointing at the boss - with a strong undertone of where he previously managed, and I don't mean PSG. He started the strongest team and made the best subs he could with the fit players that were available. The penalty 'admission' has since been cleared up by a number of journalists. It was not a tactic deployed by Pochettino or consciously by the players - it was his observation that they were shattered and appeared to subconsciously be playing for penalties. 

The players that started that match gave everything they had. There legs were gone and they were trying to get stretched out wherever they could - without adding to the constant injury crisis. While a bit chaotic at times, potentially from the magnitude of the occasion or the collective lack of experience they still were the more likely team to have won in those first 90 minutes. Which of course makes extra time and the subsequent defeat feel even worse. But the fact they ran themselves into the ground for Pochettino speaks volumes about what they think of him - and why he is the best man to take this group forward. But he needs to be given a couple of grown ups to help get Chelsea back to where they belong and lifting the silverware rather than the runners up medals.

jb

RESULT: Chelsea 0-1 Liverpool (AET)

GOALS: Van Dijk (118')

CHELSEA XI: Djordje Petrovic, Malo Gusto, Axel Disasi, Levi Colwill, Ben Chilwell (Chalobah 113'), Moises Caicedo, Enzo, Cole Palmer, Conor Gallagher (Madueke 97'), Raheem Sterling (Nkunku 67'), Nicolas Jackson (Mudryk 90')

STAR MAN: Djordje Petrovic