Gary Neville unleashes brutal new nickname for Chelsea's Carabao Cup flops

Gary Neville laid into Chelsea after Virgil van Dijk’s late header gave Liverpool victory in the Carabao Cup final on Sunday at Wembley against the underperforming London side. 

Liverpool had a young lineup out at the showpiece event with the likes of James McConnell, Bobby Clark and Jayden Danns being sprung from the bench despite their tender years and having barely a first-team appearance between them. 

In contrast Chelsea featured plenty of multimillion pound talent with central midfield partnership Enzo Fernandez and Moises Caicedo costing around a quarter of a billion between them. 

Chelsea just couldn’t get the job done against “Klopp’s Kids” as Jamie Carragher named Liverpool on Sky Sports commentary, with Mauricio Pochettino’s side retreating further and further as the clock ticked down and a goal for the Reds seemingly inevitable. 

Kostas Tsimikas swung over a corner with only moments left on the clock in extra time and Van Dijk raced in front of his marker to give Liverpool control in the late stages. 

The Dutchman had earlier been denied by a contentious VAR call when referee Chris Kavanagh adjudged that Wataru Endo had blocked off Levi Colwill on a freekick delivery. 

Given the disparity in the makeup of the XIs by the end of the game, Neville was quick to criticise the Todd Boehly-led outfit with a nickname for the ages. 

'The Blue Billion Pound Bottle Jobs'

“It's Klopp's kids against the blue billion-pound bottle jobs," Neville said on Sky commentary. "Liverpool have been absolutely sensational. Those young players have been incredible. Klopp must be so proud.

"However, for Chelsea, I have no sympathy for them whatsoever. Mauricio Pochettino's players have shrunk. They have shrunk right in front of our eyes and in front of their fans."

Boehly and the BlueCo investment vehicle have invested over a billion pounds on players since taking over in 2022 but have got nothing to show for their spending so far. 

Expensive players like Fernandez, Caicedo, Mykhailo Mudryk, Christopher Nkunku, Raheem Sterling and Noni Madueke and more have flattered to deceive thus far in their Chelsea careers and the club is facing a belt-tightening period with money needing to be brought in on sales before the end of June. 

Where it leaves the Blues next season remains to be seen but their new moniker is going to be tough to shake off.