Virgil van Dijk was ascending the Wembley steps to collect the Carabao Cup trophy just over a year ago, but today he had to watch from afar as Newcastle’s players basked in the limelight instead.The captain was one of Liverpool’s better performers on an evening when too many of his teammates just didn’t show anything close to their best level,

Virgil van Dijk enters Carabao Cup final with will ‘to win so badly’ as Liverpool to be judged on trophy haul - Liverpool will be looking to defend their Carabao Cup title against Newcastle this weekend.

A 12-point lead over Arsenal means five victories will likely be enough for a second title in five years as their rivals would have to win all nine remaining games while also overhauling a goal difference deficit of 13.