When Liverpool won the corner towards the very end of extra time that would prove decisive, Jürgen Klopp applauded and just found himself smiling at the romance of it all. Depleted by a host of injuries and collecting more here, other players running on fumes, the manager had introduced a clutch of untested youngsters. But here his team were, fighting until the last breath. It was Liverpool who found the purpose and clarity in the extra period.
Klopp’s scriptwriter had something left, the detail to ignite his quest to collect four more trophies before he rides off into the sunset at the end of the season. The substitute Kostas Tsimikas swung over the kick and there was Virgil van Dijk, stealing away from Axel Disasi, to glance home with his head. The Liverpool captain had seen a header ruled out on the hour after a lengthy VAR intervention. There would be no denying him or his team on this occasion.
