Gallagher was not the only player who struggled in front of goal in what was a hugely frustrating day at Wembley
This will hurt Chelsea for a very long time. No matter how many mitigating circumstances – inexperience, bad luck, injuries etc. – you attempt to place on it, their gut-wrenching extra-time defeat to Liverpool in the Carabao Cup final on Sunday was a colossal missed opportunity.
The spurned chances, of which there was so, so many, will be haunting Mauricio Pochettino's dreams tonight, with the injury-ravaged Reds somehow clinging on for long enough for Virgil van Dijk to head home the game's only goal late in the additional period.
In a pulsating first half, Cole Palmer saw a close-ranged effort wonderfully saved by Caoimhin Kelleher and Raheem Sterling had a goal marginally ruled out for offside. Liverpool, had their chances too, with Cody Gakpo hitting the woodwork and Conor Bradley somehow being denied by some heroic Levi Colwill defending.
Incredibly, the intensity was dialled up further after the break. Chelsea let a string of presentable chances go begging either side of Van Dijk's header being controversially chalked off by VAR for an infringement by Wataru Endo. And, in a climatic end to normal time, Liverpool survived a goalmouth scramble of epic proportions, before Conor Gallagher hit the post and then blazed an excellent opening high and wide.
But, after being denied in normal time, Van Dijk would punish Chelsea from a set piece in the 118th minute, nodding home a Kostas Tsimikas corner to send the travelling Reds behind the goal loopy. A few minutes later, with red smoke from the pyrotechnics let of after the goal still covering the Wembley turf, the final whistle was blown and all the Blues could do was trudge off with the bitter taste of disappointment in their mouths.
GOAL rates Chelsea's players from a classic final…
GettyGoalkeeper & Defence
Djordje Petrovic (8/10):
A competent display before making an outstanding save to deny Elliot in the final throes of extra time. Will be devastated to lose his clean sheet.
Malo Gusto (8/10):
Excellent. Made a couple of vital defensive contributions and impressed going forward.
Axel Disasi (6/10):
Made a couple of unforced errors in possession that, thankfully for him, went unpunished. Other than that, he was fairly dominant.
Levi Colwill (7/10):
Got off to a shaky start, but grew into the game and made a stunning block late in the first half.
Ben Chilwell (6/10):
Booked for a scuffle with Conor Bradley on the stroke of half-time. Defended diligently and kept plugging away, but his delivery was lacking.
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Moises Caicedo (6/10):
Very lucky not to be booked for a clumsy foul on Gravenberch. Went about his work fairly effectively other than that, but wasn't perfect.
Conor Gallagher (6/10):
A potent creative force, but he simply had to take one of the two chances he was gifted at the end of normal time. The disappointed shake of the head as he was substituted said it all.
Enzo Fernandez (6/10):
Tried to be too clever with a backheeled finish as a second-half chance went begging. Played some incisive passes, but not his best display.
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Raheem Sterling (6/10):
A couple of really bright moments and would've scored if Jackson had held his run by a split second. Was starting to fade when he was replaced by Christopher Nkunku.
Nicolas Jackson (7/10):
So nearly provide a perfect assist for Sterling – but was narrowly offside. Caused Liverpool problems throughout with his direct running.
Cole Palmer (7/10):
Had to score past Kelleher in an otherwise quiet first half. Got more into the game as things progressed and carved out some decent openings.
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Christopher Nkunku (5/10):
Just could not quite reach Malo Gusto's cross at the end of normal time.
Mykhailo Mudryk (5/10):
Hardly in the game.
Noni Madueke (5/10):
Carved out one of the only opening on full time with a mazy dribble, but only after his sloppy pass halted a promising attack.
Trevoh Chalobah (N/A):
On for a few minutes at the end.
Mauricio Pochettino (7/10):
He set his team up well, looking to exploit Liverpool's high line with his pacy forwards. Hard to criticise him too much. The finishing on display will have driven him up the wall.