The Incredible Moment 37-Year-Old Thiago Silva Raced Back To Clear Mo Salah's Effort

Thiago Silva will be 38 years of age later this year but the Brazilian proved he is no slouch in the Carabao Cup final yesterday.

The former Paris Saint-Germain man has never been viewed as a rapid defender, instead relying on his expert reading of the game in situations.

But he showed he has both in the locker in one phase of play against Liverpool at Wembley.

In the second half, Edouard Mendy gave the ball away very cheaply and the ball was fed to Sadio Mane by Fabinho.

Liverpool counted quickly with Chelsea's players up the pitch and the ball was threaded through to Mo Salah, who had a one-on-one chance with Mendy.

This is actually ridiculous. Look at where 37 year old Thiago Silva starts & how he manages to get back on the line ahead of any other chelsea player. pic.twitter.com/r2RqieXnsS

— Felix ⭐️⭐️ (@CFC_Felix_) February 27, 2022

He got more in the tank compare to 12 years younger players. Such a role model https://t.co/MlhecoPlZR

— Aragorn (@azfarmhmd) February 28, 2022

Playing twice or thrice a week and giving 9/10 performances every game at 37 years of age is just incredible. https://t.co/Sx0S1jJucD

— Kedar Chandorkar (@kvc6110) February 28, 2022

Salah held his run to remain onside and then opted for a dinked finish. It may well have been going wide anywhere but Silva appeared out of nowhere to make a superb goal-line clearance.

He ended up sliding back into the net for his troubles but it was an excellent piece of defending from Silva, who never gave up.

His performance in 120 minutes of action was imperious and he even tucked away his penalty in the shoot-out defeat.

Thiago Silva is unbelievable.🤯@tsilva3 l #CFC pic.twitter.com/KmiVkT1bkw

— Talk Chelsea (@talkchelsea) February 28, 2022

Silva drew high praise from Jamie Carragher on Sky Sports after the game, with the former Liverpool defender saying, "He is unbelievable, that fella. To do what he's doing at his age. In terms of Van Dijk and Thiago Silva, that is world-class."

Meanwhile, Jimmy-Floyd Hasselbaink was even more complimentary of Silva - causing a stir with Carragher and Jamie Redknapp when he said the ex AC Milan man is better on the ball than Virgil van Dijk.

"I think sometimes when Van Dijk is under pressure he kicks it out," while Silva wouldn't, he finds a solution. Hasselbaink said, irking his fellow pundits.

Jimmy 🗣 "I think sometimes when van Dijk is under pressure he kicks it out."@Carra23 🗣 "Are you going back to his Groningen days?"

Jimmy 🗣 "Thiago Silva top class, Van Dijk top class, Silva a little bit better on the ball."@jf9hasselbaink ruffling feathers here 👀 pic.twitter.com/HJcDuVCXlO

— Football Daily (@footballdaily) February 27, 2022

Redknapp urged Hasselbaink to support his fellow countryman, while Carragher asked if he was going to back to Van Dijk's time at Groningen in the Netherlands.

He replied: “Hold on guys.“I love Virgil Van Dijk. Silva, top class. Van Dijk, top class. Silva, a little bit better on the ball.”