Premier League and Carabao Cup final: 10 talking points from weekend

(1) Colossal Van Dijk uses his head

When Liverpool needed a hero, when all their other leaders had been sidelined through injury, Virgil van Dijk cast himself as the Carabao Cup final’s protagonist at the decisive moment. Earlier in the game, the Dutchman had cut a bemused figure after he’d been denied by a marginal VAR call.

The ensuing debate over the offside on Wataru Endo might have haunted Liverpool on another day, but Jürgen Klopp’s youngsters sparkled to keep Chelsea at bay as the game went into extra-time and they needed Van Dijk to rise highest to rubber-stamp the Reds’ dominance.

Ultimately at the time of his 118th minute winner, Van Dijk was about the only player left on the Wembley pitch capable of using his head.

Having been a transformative signing for Klopp more than six years ago, it feels apt that the defender should play such a pivotal role in this trophy success. Dominic Booth

(2) Ten Hag walking tightrope

Admissions of Manchester United’s naivety do not help Erik ten Hag as he seeks to convince Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s new regime to retain him as manager. The 52-year-old did so when analysing Alex Iwobi’s 97th-minute winner for Fulham that came after Adama Traoré was able to run in and pass to the wideman.

Ten Hag said: “They had a throw-in and we didn’t take the right positions. Actually, one player didn’t take the right position but then we should manage this in the team so they can’t escape.”

Here, Ten Hag probably means Victor Lindelöf, United’s auxiliary left-back. There was more, though. Harry Maguire was left trailing by the Spaniard and, like the Dutchman, accepted a callowness of choice.

“I was on a booking [to be suspended],’ the defender said. “Maybe I should have just brought him down but then