Liverpool’s victory in the Carabao Cup final against Chelsea was all about the young players. This was a game in which Liverpool were missing so many key stars. But they delivered and triumphed inspite of all the odds.
By the full-time whistle, there were three players on the pitch who hadn’t even started a game for Liverpool in the Premier League. There were also three other academy graduates, and others who wouldn’t normally be in the starting line-up for the Reds.
This was a team playing on the other side against players who had cost a fortune for Chelsea to acquire. But it was Liverpool who looked like the better side. It was Liverpool who dominated and looked to win the game. It was Liverpool’s young stars who came closest to scoring a winner in extra-time, and ultimately helped Virgil van Dijk win the game for Liverpool.
Jayden Danns praised by Jurgen Klopp
Among those players was Jayden Danns. For a while now Klopp has named Danns among a group of players who the Liverpool boss has described as ‘special.’ But still, even with the context, it was a surprise to see Klopp put him on the pitch before full-time.
This was Danns’ second only appearance in a red shirt. His first was playing a few minutes against Luton midweek. But the 18-year-old stepped up to the challenge. He thrived on the Wembley turf causing Chelsea plenty of problems and was really unlucky not to find the back of the net.
Speaking to beIN SPORTS after the game, Jurgen Klopp was full of praise for the Liverpool youngster. The Liverpool boss even joked that Danns could have scored two goals.
“Come on Jayden Danns. Wow! He could have scored two goals in his first League Cup game at all. It’s so wonderful,” Klopp said.
Danns was absolutely sensational in his cameo. He never once looked out of place coming up against physically imposing defenders. The 18-year-old definitely has a very bright future ahead of him.
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