There is nothing better than showing great sportsmanship immediately after a tightly-contested cup final!
Liverpool and Chelsea faced off at Wembley Stadium yesterday in the curtain closer for this season's Carabao Cup campaign. While no goals were scored in 120 minutes of action, what unfolded was a thrilling game of football, as both the Reds and the Blues went toe-to-toe for the title.
Both teams had their fair share of opportunities to win the game, but goalkeeping heroics and poor finishing meant a penalty shootout was required. Things got more interesting here as well as the 20 outfield players all found the back of the net, meaning it was up to the two goalkeepers to decide the winner.
Caoimhín Kelleher, who started over Alisson, buried his attempt while Kepa Arrizabalaga, who came on as a substitute for Edouard Mendy just for the penalty shootout, blasted his spot kick over the bar, thus handing the Merseyside giants the Carabao Cup trophy.
Klopp's men were jubilant, and understandably so, as this was their first domestic cup success under the German. The Anfield stars were in celebratory mood, but despite this, Liverpool captain Jordan Henderson and vice-captain James Milner made sure to show their class.
As the Chelsea players came down from collecting their runners-up medals, the two English midfielders waited at the bottom of the steps and made sure to console every single one of Tuchel's men. Albeit a small act of kindness, it was enough to earn the pair praise on social media. Check out that moment of class in the clips below.
Pure class from Jordan Henderson and James Milner
— Carabao Cup (@Carabao_Cup) February 27, 2022
Two @LFC legends. #EFL | #CarabaoCupFinal pic.twitter.com/lbyk6eE6Bs
James Milner and Jordan Henderson consoling every Chelsea player after the final.
— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) February 27, 2022
Pure class
(via @Carabao_Cup) pic.twitter.com/v6X0TQK71x
One possible explanation for their action is that they are only two of four remaining Liverpool players who understand what it feels like to lose a Carabao Cup final. The Merseyside giants went through this in the 2016 edition, going down on penalties to Man City after drawing 1-1 after extra time.
Only four Liverpool players from Jürgen Klopp's first cup final squad remain at the club:
— Squawka Football (@Squawka) February 27, 2022
Jordan Henderson
James Milner
Roberto Firmino
Divock Origi
Henderson is the player remaining from the 2012 triumph.