If there’s a photo that can sum up a night, then this is it.
There was Harvey Elliott, his arms wide open and his gaze sharp, a smile on his face as he held a flare in his hand. Red smoke billowed into the Wembley sky.
How happy, how passionate. It was an extraordinary moment for the teenager, even though it could have resulted in sanctions from the English Football Federation (FA).
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He wasn’t even expected to appear in the League Cup final, but once he got the chance, he managed to prove his worth.
It was there that he, fearlessly, stood tall against Kai Havertz and Chelsea’s Antonio Rudiger. Play with confidence and composure in the biggest game of his life. Executed his penalty in the most thrilling penalty shootout.
And then, at the end of it all, staged that iconic celebration in front of rejoicing Reds fans.
Not a bad day, all things considered.
Elliott, of course, represents Liverpool’s future right now, and on Sunday we saw why Jurgen Klopp is so excited about it. The old generation continues to play well, but the new generation is already lining up to replace them.
Some are well integrated.
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At 18 years old, Elliott is the jewel in the crown, a player of rare talent and limitless potential and one, most importantly, one who is blessed with character and the mentality that goes with it. As someone at Manchester United once said about Paul Scholes; “If it doesn’t work then we should all go home.”
He has only played 17 times for Liverpool, but has already collected quite a number of medals. Sunday was his fourth championship party, the League Cup after winning the European Super Cup, Club World Cup and the 2019/20 Premier League.
He is now the youngest ever player to play for the Reds at Wembley, and the first 18-year-old to feature for the club in a major final. He could still play in the FA Youth Cup or UEFA Youth League this season if needed, but he has shown himself far, far beyond that level.
He’s not the only ‘newcomer’ making his presence felt on Sunday.
Caoimhin Kelleher, 23 and with only a few senior appearances so far, has been promising in goal. “The best No.2 in the world,” according to Klopp. The Republic of Ireland player, in place of Alisson Becker, was outstanding.
Ibrahima Konate and Diogo Jota came off the bench to play their part and claim their first medal with the club. Both have made huge contributions this season – and Jota’s since last season as well – but, at the age of 22 and 25 respectively, they are believed to have a bigger role to play in the years to come.
The same goes for Luis Diaz, who is marking his sixth appearance for the Reds with his first trophy. How well has the Colombia international adapted since moving to Anfield in late January? At £50 million, he already looks cool.
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Diaz was Liverpool’s best striker that day. Direct, purposeful and with the quality that goes with it, he surpasses even the great Mo Salah and Sadio Mane. In fact, when Klopp played Jota in the second half, it was Mane who was sent off. A sign of things to come, who knows?
Liverpool fans will definitely fall in love with Diaz. They loved his speed, his energy, his will to fight. Klopp said he had never seen someone smile so often, even in training, and he liked seeing Diaz do that every game.
Indeed, when a member of Liverpool staff asked him outside the Wembley dressing room if he was having a good time on Sunday, Diaz’s answer said it all.
“Si, pero estoy muerto,” he smirked. “Yes, but I am very tired.”
If all goes according to plan, Diaz, Jota, Elliott and Konate, as well as Trent Alexander-Arnold, who at the age of 23 is already on his way to legendary status at Anfield, will be the ones to help bridge the gap from an outstanding first generation team to another. next one is sunny.
Top teams are always evolving, always growing, and Liverpool’s brilliance in recruiting means that when the likes of Roberto Firmino, James Milner and perhaps others, reach the end of their careers with the Reds, a replacement will appear.
Remember, last weekend showed that, ostensibly to give a sneak peek of the club’s future.
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Milner’s contribution from the bench, at the age of 36, shows why Klopp is desperate to keep him for at least another year, while the contributions of Fabinho, Virgil van Dijk and Andy Robertson, in particular, have been enormous.
The trio, coincidentally, signed long-term contracts last summer, along with Alisson and Jordan Henderson, the captain.
Salah, fans hope, will be next, although rumors about his future have started to subside in recent weeks. Maybe that’s a good sign, who knows?
And while decisions, which are difficult in some cases, are still needed for the futures of Mane, Firmino, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Naby Keita, with their contracts expiring at the end of next season, Liverpool can at least be relieved to be in the situation that they are already in a better position. ideal.
They have already won one trophy this season, and are hunting for another three between now and May. And their squad is now as strong as ever.
The harmonization is just right, starting from the old and new generations, as well as the brilliant manager.
Klopp has already painted a masterpiece on Merseyside with the old and new generations starting to emerge.
