Liverpool defender Joe Gomez has insisted that the manner of the Reds' EFL Cup triumph over Chelsea will not make Jurgen Klopp perform a sensational U-turn on his decision to step down from his post this summer.
The German's team were crowned EFL Cup winners for a record-extending 10th time with a gritty 1-0 success over the Blues at Wembley, where Virgil van Dijk headed home the only goal of the match in the 118th minute.
Van Dijk's heroic contribution means that Klopp will at least depart with one more piece of silverware to his name, although the Reds could still end the season with a phenomenal four trophies as they chase success in the Premier League, FA Cup and Europa League.
By the time the final whistle blew on Sunday, over a third of Liverpool's XI comprised academy products in the shape of defender Jarell Quansah, midfield duo Bobby Clark and James McConnell and striker Jayden Danns, while Harvey Elliott and Conor Bradley were named in the starting lineup.
Liverpool were forced to fill their bench with teenagers owing to their crippling injury crisis, which saw no fewer than 11 players fail to make the cut at Wembley, but the Reds' youngsters were heralded for their mature displays in the capital.
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Klopp also earned a chunk of the credit for placing his faith in the club's Kirkby prospects, and Gomez was asked whether the German could be persuaded to reverse his decision to step down owing to Sunday's absorbing triumph.
As quoted by the Daily Mail, though, the defender quickly shot down such a hypothetical scenario, responding: "Nah, definitely not. Understanding how long he's been here, I think he knows he has done everything he can.
"He has won it all. Everyone respects his decision and we understand it. He is one of the wisest men we know and when he says he's ready, he's ready. It is what it is, we can't dwell on that, we just have to do him justice.
"We know it's that last hurrah and we just want to give our all for him. We always did but now when the finishing line is in sight it adds that extra emphasis.
"Everyone knows about the importance and we get that aura anyway in team meetings at the minute. It's special and hopefully it's the first of a few we can get this year."
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Towards the end of the 2021-22 campaign, Klopp signed a contract extension to remain with Liverpool until the summer of 2026, and another new deal had apparently not been ruled out amid interest from the German national team.
However, Klopp informed the hierarchy of his decision to step down from his post in November, two months before announcing the news to stunned Liverpool supporters, whom he has been celebrating alongside since 2015.
The 56-year-old admitted that he was losing the energy to continue in such a pressurised role, and he plans to take a year-long sabbatical before thinking about a return to management with a foreign club or national team.
Klopp now has eight pieces of silverware to his name at Anfield, where Liverpool return to action on Wednesday evening to face Southampton in the fifth round of the FA Cup.
Ben Knapton
