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The Dutch defender, who controversially had an earlier header ruled out at the same end in the second half after VAR intervention, rose above Mykhailo Mudryk to nod in Kostas Tsimikas’s corner in the 118th minute.

It was no more than the Netherlands international, lifting his first trophy as Liverpool captain, deserved after a monumental performance in defence in a win which seemed against the odds for long periods.

Klopp became the third Liverpool manager to win the trophy more than once as his long goodbye to his departure at the end of the season began with the first of a potential four pieces of silverware.

But for opposite number Mauricio Pochettino his long wait for an English domestic trophy continues.

Chelsea also had a Raheem Sterling goal chalked off for offside in regulation time, and both sides came close in a gripping tussle in which both hit the woodwork and forced saves from their goalkeepers.

But it was to be Liverpool's title ultimately, and Klopp will now move on to the next challenge before leaving the club at the end of the season.

The Liverpool manager, who said last month he would leave after eight years at the end of the season, will take particular satisfaction in a victory achieved in testing circumstances, with the club facing an injury crisis that forced him to put his faith in a host of youngsters who did not let him down.

"All the young boys on the pitch, in extra-time. It's incredible, I'm so proud of the team," skipper Van Dijk said.

"Intense game for both sides, they had chances we had chances. Amazing. First trophy as Liverpool captain, it's all for the fans so let's enjoy it."

The final was a gripping encounter and both sides had what they thought were opening goals ruled out for offside, with Sterling denied by the linesman's flag for Chelsea before the break and Dutchman Van Dijk's header after the interval chalked off in a controversial call by the VAR.

Liverpool's injury list was long, with the likes of Diogo Jota, Trent Alexander-Arnold, goalkeeper Alisson, Curtis Jones, key forwards Mohamed Salah and Darwin Nunez and midfielder Dominik Szoboszlai recently joining a number of longer-term absentees and all of whom watch from the sidelines.

They ended the game with 19-year-olds James McConnell and Bobby Clark and Jayden Danns, 18, on the pitch, the trio having barely a handful of first team appearances between them.

Liverpool's injury problems were compounded further when Ryan Gravenberch was taken off on a stretcher in the first half after twisting his ankle in a challenge with Moises Caicedo.

Klopp's side was then handed a reprieve by the lineman's flag when Sterling tapped home from Nicolas Jackson's pass, a tight on-field call that needed to be confirmed VAR.

Cody Gakpo headed against the post from Andy Robertson's cross towards the end of the half and that was as close as the Reds came until Van Dijk thought he had put them in front in the 60th minute.

The centre back outjumped Ben Chilwell to head home but the VAR spotted that Wataru Endo was offside and deemed to be interfering by blocking a Chelsea defender when Robertson's free-kick was sent into the box.

Chelsea's Conor Gallagher, who spurned a number of other chances, had the opportunity to win it in the 85th when he bore down on goal but his shot was excellently saved by Liverpool's stand-in keeper Caoimhin Kelleher.

Harvey Elliott hit the woodwork again for Liverpool five minutes of extra-time remaining when he headed powerfully towards the bottom corner but his effort hit the base of the post before being clutched gratefully by Chelsea keeper Djordje Petrovic.

Moments later, Van Dijk's moment came when he headed a corner home to send the Liverpool supporters into raptures.

Chelsea manager Mauricio Pochettino's hopes of igniting the season after a difficult start to his reign were dashed, with the Blues becoming the first team to lose six successive domestic cup finals in English football history, with the past three of those defeats coming against Liverpool.

It was a familiar outcome for the Argentinean coach whose time in England has seen him go close on numerous occasions without landing any silverware.

It was the second time Klopp had got the better of him in a major final, after Liverpool beat Pochettino's Tottenham Hotspur side in the UEFA Champions League in 2019.

Pochettino, tasked with knitting together a squad assembled at huge expense, will be disappointed his side failed to get the better of Liverpool's young outfit even if his team trails the leader by 25 points in the Premier League and was soundly beaten 4-1 at Anfield in January.