Despite the absence of 11 players due to injuries, Liverpool managed to defeat Chelsea. However, their challenge intensified after facing an additional injury just 27 minutes into the game.

On Sunday, Liverpool secured its first trophy of the season in a thrilling manner as Virgil van Dijk scored the winning goal in extra time during the Carabao Cup final. Despite being denied by VAR in regular time, Van Dijk managed to score from a corner taken by Kostas Tsimikas.

Liverpool managed to defeat Chelsea even though they were missing 11 players due to injuries and lost Ryan Gravenberch in the first half. This forced Klopp to rely on young players like Bobby Clark, James McConnell, and Jayden Danns, who were all on the field when Van Dijk scored the winning goal.

In his post-match press conference, Klopp expressed his amazement at the team’s performance, stating that such occurrences are rare in football. He also mentioned an English saying that you can’t win trophies with kids, which he wasn’t aware of.

Liverpool has a tight schedule ahead, with a midweek FA Cup fifth-round match against Southampton at Anfield, followed by a Premier League match at Nottingham Forest on Sunday. Klopp will still be missing most of the injured players, but there’s a possibility that a few might return.

Here’s an update on Liverpool’s injury situation following their dramatic victory on Sunday:

Ryan Gravenberch and Wataru Endō both suffered injuries during the match against Chelsea. Gravenberch was taken off the field on a stretcher after a rough tackle from Moisés Caicedo in the 27th minute. He was seen celebrating the victory on crutches and wearing a protective boot. Klopp hopes that his injury isn’t severe. Endō, on the other hand, played the entire match and was seen leaving Wembley on crutches with a protective boot. It’s not clear whether this was just a precaution. Their return dates are still unknown.

Mohamed Salah and Darwin Núñez were expected to play against Chelsea, but neither made it to the matchday squad. They both sustained injuries in the previous match against Brentford. Although they were seen in training gear on Friday, Klopp decided not to risk them. They might return for the midweek match against Southampton or the Saturday match against Nottingham Forest.

Dominik Szoboszlai and Trent Alexander-Arnold are also on the injury list. Szoboszlai has been out since January due to a hamstring problem and was unable to play in the final. Alexander-Arnold, who arrived at Wembley wearing a knee brace, is expected to be out until after the international break.

Underdogs Rise: Phoenix Suns Defy Odds to Triumph Over Lakers!

Alisson Becker, Liverpool’s first-choice goalkeeper, is out with a hamstring problem. In his absence, Caoimhín Kelleher will continue to play. Becker is expected to return by the end of March or the start of April.

Curtis Jones and Diogo Jota are also injured. Jones suffered a high ankle sprain against Brentford and is expected to return during the international break. Jota, who suffered a medial ligament injury in the Brentford match, is expected to be out for a longer period.

Thiago Alcântara and Stefan Bajčetić are also dealing with injuries. Thiago sustained a muscle injury in his season debut against Arsenal, and there has been little update since then. Bajčetić has also had a series of injuries, and his return date is unknown.

Obituary: Former Halifax, Aston Villa and Southampton defender Chris Nicholl dies aged 77

Joël Matip and Ben Doak are also on the injury list. Matip, who suffered an ACL injury against Fulham last month, is expected to be out for the rest of the season. Doak underwent knee surgery at the end of last year and is racing to return before the European Championships.