CHELSEA finished the Carabao Cup final with a YOUNGER team than Liverpool – despite the Reds featuring five academy graduates.
Jurgen Klopp picked up his seventh major trophy as Liverpool manager after Virgil van Dijk headed home a late extra-time winner.
He claims it is “easily the most special” trophy he has won and he shared his pride in the club’s academy after the match.
The Reds finished the match with five players who have risen through the academy ranks – Jarrell Quansah, Bobby Clark, James McConnell, Jayden Danns and Caoimhin Kelleher, who proved a hero with a string of saves to keep his side in the match.
Joe Gomez and Harvey Elliott also joined the club very early in their careers with the latter still just 20-years-old.
But while Liverpool have won plaudits for their unlikely win and the youthful nature of their team, Chelsea actually finished the game with a younger line-up.
The Blues ended the final with an average team age of just 22.6 – lower than Liverpool’s 24.1
Even the team that started the match was younger with an average age of 23.9, though considerably more expensive.
Since Todd Boehly took over the club Chelsea have spent eye-watering sums on several players, but they have mostly looked to buy young players.
The Blues finished the match with an average midfield age of just 22, but Moises Caicedo, Enzo Fernandez and Cole Palmer cost a combined £264million.
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The cost of Chelsea’s final team was an incredible £529m, an average of £48m per player despite Levi Colwill and Trevoh Chalobah not costing a penny.
By contrast, Liverpool’s final eleven cost just £159m with £124m spent on Van Dijk and Luis Diaz alone.
Gary Neville branded Chelsea “billion pound bottlejobs” at the final whistle as despite their youth, they boasted considerably more experience with nine internationals – including World Cup winner Fernandez.
