By the end, it was the sort of side only seen on the pitch together in pre-season friendlies. There was Jayden Danns, James McConnell and Bobby Clark, who have two first-team starts for Liverpool between them. And they were taking on Chelsea, flush from spending £1bn, in the most expensive makeover in footballing history.

But money couldn’t buy Chelsea a trophy or the spirit, ambition and resolve of Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool side. The first silverware of the season, the first of a possible quadruple, went to the kindergarten Klopps, to the kids who left Chelsea with a billion regrets. This was another example of Klopp’s ability to script the improbable. The last chapters in his story may be as astonishing as some of the earlier ones.

Ryan Gravenberch is celebrating on the pitch with the rest of his team. The midfielder is on crutches with a protective boot on after getting injured during the game.

He’ll think it was all worth it at this minute though.

The game looked like it might go to penalties without a goal, just like the 2022 final had done between the two sides, but Liverpool’s captain and most experienced player timed his run perfectly to head home a Kostas Tsimikas corner with just three minutes of extra time remaining.

When the final whistle blew, Neville, proclaimed as co-commentator on Sky Sports: “(Jurgen) Klopp’s kids against the blue billion-pound bottlejobs”.

Speaking on Sky Sports, former Liverpool player Jamie Redknapp said: “What a man. How do you follow that? How do you follow Jurgen Klopp?

“Trying to come to Liverpool after what he’s done and what he’s created, it’s virtually impossible. It is. The guy is just such a leader of men.

“He’s led a city, every Liverpool fan around the world has looked up to that man and what he’s achieved.

“He’s turned around a club that was struggling at the time and made everyone believe in what he was trying to achieve, and even those young players he has given opportunities to, the belief he has got in all of them.

“He’s just an incredible human being.”

The celebrations begin for Liverpool, the new Carabao Cup champions.

The Liverpool fans serenade the team and managers with a rendition of ‘You’ll Never Walk Alone’ and Klopp looks emotional on the Wembley pitch.

Here’s the team lifting the cup:

The Liverpool captain was asked if he is savouring this moment with manager Jurgen Klopp who is leaving at the end of the season. He replied: “You should always savour the good moments, this is definitely one of them.

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

“I’m so proud, proud to be part of this club and especially proud of the boys.”

“Great scenes for those young players.

“I said when it was announced that Jurgen Klopp was leaving that it’s up to these Liverpool players to send him out with a bang and they’ve started it well.”

“So much. All the young boys on the pitch, in extra time. It’s incredible, I’m so proud of the team.

“Intense game for both sides, they had chances we had chances. Amazing. First trophy as Liverpool captain, it’s all for the fans so let’s enjoy it.

“It’s emotion, it’s everything I am so proud of the boys. All of the young boys playing their part in what we achieved today it’s incredible and on to more.”