Gallagher wasn’t the sole player struggling to find the net in what turned out to be an immensely frustrating day at Wembley.
Chelsea’s defeat to Liverpool in the Carabao Cup final on Sunday will linger painfully for a considerable time. Despite various factors like inexperience, misfortune, and injuries, the Blues squandered numerous opportunities in the match, leaving Mauricio Pochettino to grapple with lingering regrets.
The multitude of missed chances, too many to count, will likely plague Pochettino’s thoughts as Liverpool, despite their injury woes, managed to hold on until Virgil van Dijk’s late header sealed the game’s fate in extra time.
The first half was a whirlwind of action, with Cole Palmer’s close-range effort thwarted by Caoimhin Kelleher, and Raheem Sterling denied by a narrow offside call. Liverpool, too, had their moments, with Cody Gakpo striking the woodwork and Conor Bradley encountering a remarkable block from Levi Colwill.
Remarkably, the intensity surged even higher in the second half. Chelsea squandered a series of promising opportunities, both before and after Van Dijk’s header was controversially disallowed by VAR due to an infringement by Wataru Endo. As normal time reached its climactic conclusion, Liverpool miraculously survived a chaotic goalmouth scramble. Conor Gallagher then struck the post before sending a prime chance soaring over the bar.
However, Chelsea’s frustrations mounted further when, in the 118th minute, Van Dijk capitalized on a set piece, nodding in a corner from Kostas Tsimikas to ignite jubilation among the traveling Liverpool supporters. With red smoke still lingering from the celebratory pyrotechnics, the final whistle blew, leaving Chelsea to trudge off the Wembley pitch with a bitter taste of disappointment lingering in their mouths.
Goalkeeper & Defence
Djordje Petrovic (8/10):
Malo Gusto (8/10):
Axel Disasi (6/10):
Levi Colwill (7/10):
Ben Chilwell (6/10):
Midfield
Moises Caicedo (6/10):
Conor Gallagher (6/10):
Enzo Fernandez (6/10):
Attack
Raheem Sterling (6/10):
Nicolas Jackson (7/10):
Cole Palmer (7/10):
Subs & Manager
Christopher Nkunku (5/10):
Mykhailo Mudryk (5/10):
Noni Madueke (5/10):
Trevoh Chalobah (N/A):
Mauricio Pochettino (7/10):
He set his team up well, looking to exploit Liverpool’s high line with his pacy forwards. Hard to criticise him too much. The finishing on display will have driven him up the wall.