Chelsea and Liverpool meet in yet another final with the 2024 Carabao Cup at stake.
Liverpool are still in the hunt for the English treble in Jurgen Klopp’s final season at the club, whilst under pressure Chelsea boss Mauricio Pochettino is hoping to pick up his first trophy in English football.
Here’s everything you need to know about Sunday’s final.
Carabao Cup final Match Preview – Chelsea vs Liverpool
Form
Chelsea: WLLWD
Chelsea have had a tough run of fixtures recently, including a Premier League trip to Anfield where they were demolished 4-1 by Sunday’s opponents.
The Blues entered the Carabao Cup in round two, where they squeezed passed lower-league opposition AFC Wimbledon.
In round three their match was just as tight, edging out Brighton & Hove Albion 1-0. Blackburn Rovers were the next obstacle in the way, but that match was never really in doubt.
In the quarter-final, Newcastle United took them to penalties, Chelsea’s biggest scare of the tournament so far. Then, against North East opponents once again, Chelsea had to overturn a 1-0 deficit in the semi-final second leg, after a poor trip to Middlesbrough.
???? @LFC‘s Road to Wembley! ????️ #EFL | #CarabaoCupFinal pic.twitter.com/jpw4RSUj3X
— Carabao Cup (@Carabao_Cup) February 22, 2024
They did that in style, putting six past Michael Carrick’s men to reach the final for the fourth time in 10 years. Cole Palmer netted twice in that game and has 14 goals to his name this season. He will be integral to their performance on Sunday.
Thiago Silva is battling the clock on his fitness, whilst Reece James, Wesley Fofana, Marc Cucurella, Romeo Lavia and Benoit Badiashile are the certain absentees from Chelsea’s dismantled defence.
Liverpool: WLWWW
After their win against Chelsea, Liverpool dropped points to title rivals Arsenal. However, they have since comfortably seen off Burnley, Brentford and Luton and are top of the Premier League in great form.
Liverpool entered the Carabao Cup one round later than their opponents, seeing off Leicester City and AFC Bournemouth in their first two games.
In the quarter-final, they thumped West Ham United 5-1, before edging out Fulham 3-2 on aggregate in what was a nervous semi-final for the Reds.
???? @LFC‘s Road to Wembley! ????️ #EFL | #CarabaoCupFinal pic.twitter.com/jpw4RSUj3X
— Carabao Cup (@Carabao_Cup) February 22, 2024
The Merseyside club hold the record for the most EFL Cup titles (9). They are looking to get their hands on a 10th this weekend at the expense of the side they beat on penalties in the final just two years ago.
Klopp’s side were boosted by the return of star man Mohamed Salah this month. However, the Egyptian did not feature in midweek and is one of many injury concerns for Sunday’s clash.
Trent Alexander-Arnold, Diogo Jota, Curtis Jones and Allison Becker are four big names that will not feature, whilst Darwin Nunez and Dominik Szoboszlai are also doubts.
Previous Meetings
Liverpool’s 4-1 demolition of Chelsea in January was the evening that full-back Conor Bradley announced himself to the world, joining Jota, Szoboszlai and Luis Diaz on the scoresheet.
Before that outing, the two sides couldn’t be separated after 90 minutes for seven straight games, with four of those finishing goalless.
Two of those matches were cup finals, both of which Liverpool won on penalties. The last time Chelsea beat Liverpool was on March 4th, 2021.
Predicted Lineups
Liverpool: Kelleher; Bradley, Konate, Van Dijk, Robertson; Endo, Gravenberch, Mac Allister; Salah, Nunez, Diaz.
Chelsea: Petrovic; Gusto, Disasi, Colwill, Chilwell; Caicedo, Fernandez; Palmer, Gallagher, Sterling; Jackson.
Who is the referee?
Chris Kavanagh.
Is Chelsea vs Liverpool on TV?
UK and Ireland: Sky Sports.
What time is kick-off?
Sunday 25th February, 15:00 GMT.
Odds
Chelsea – 9/4
Draw – 5/2
Liverpool – 11/10
Read – Seven of the greatest moments in the Chelsea-Liverpool rivalry
Read Also – Pochettino confident Chelsea have improved from Liverpool loss
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