This Sunday, the first domestic silverware of the season (excluding the Community Shield) will be awarded at Wembley as Chelsea take on Liverpool in the Carabao Cup Final (League Cup Final).
Liverpool are the most successful team in the competitions, history with eight wins, the same as Manchester City, but having been defeated in four other finals, including once by Chelsea back in 2005. City have lost just one other final.
Chelsea are joint second on the list with five wins in the competition, and three runner’s up finishes. Aston Villa and Manchester United also have amassed five wins in the tournament.
Today, we’re going to preview the final by looking at both teams and then we will give you the latest odds on the game provided by bet365 Sports.
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Last year, Manchester City beat Spurs 1-0 to claim their fifth Carabao Cup Final victory in seven seasons, but the Citizens were knocked out this year by West Ham.
However, the Hammers were knocked out by Spurs, who were then defeated by Chelsea in the semifinals.
Let’s begin our look at the two teams starting with Chelsea.
Chelsea made steady rather than spectacular progress through the tournament in the early rounds and have had to play Premier League opponents every step of the way to Wembley.
Two wins on penalties against Aston Villa and Southampton were followed by two late goals being enough to see off Brentford in the quarterfinal.
A comfortable 3-0 aggregate win over Spurs, with Chelsea winning both legs of the semifinal, put the seal on a spot in the final where they will be going for their sixth Football League Cup title.
Thomas Tuchel has tended to play Kepa Arrizabalaga in the Carabao Cup and FA Cup this season and it is likely that the Spaniard will get the nod ahead of Eduoard Mendy for this game.
With Ben Chilwell likely to be the only major absentee through injury, Tuchel will have the luxury of a full strength squad for the game and it is going to be interesting to see what team he picks, especially in attack where Romelu Lukaku has been out of sorts in recent weeks.
That could mean a spot for the likes of Christian Pulisic, or Kai Havertz playing in a false-nine role for the team.
There’s also a question over who gets the nod in midfield with Kante, Jorginho and Kovacic seemingly battling it out for two of three spots in the team. However, Kovacic, along with Hakim Ziyech were both withdrawn in the Champions League win in midweek, and they could be doubts for the game.
Chelsea Predicted Team – (5-4-1) – Kepa, Rudiger, Thiago Silva, Christensen, Azpilicueta, Alonso, Kante, Jorginho, Mount, Pulisic, Lukaku.
Somewhat oddly, Liverpool have won all their away games on the way to Wembley without conceding a goal, but have drawn their two home games.
After wins away to Norwich and Preston that were relatively straightforward, the Reds looked dead and buried against Leicester when losing 3-1 after the first half at Anfield, but a late Minamino leveller took the game to extra time and penalties where Kelleher proved to be the hero saving a spot kick to put the Reds through.
Another draw against Arsenal in the semi final at Anfield, despite the Gunners being down to ten men for the second half, made the second leg look tricky but two clinical Diogo Jota strikes were enough to put Liverpool into the final where they will be going for a record ninth win in the competition.
Jurgen Klopp has already said that backup keeper Kelleher will start this game having played in all the previous rounds, which means Alisson will likely settle for a spot on the bench.
However, the Reds boss is also waiting on fitness news from Diogo Jota and Roberto Firmino, both of whom were not able to play a role in the Reds 6-0 win over Leeds in midweek and who remain big doubts ahead of this game.
Luis Diaz is therefore set to earn a start in his first appearance in this competition with Sadio Mane and Mo Salah both likely to complement him in attack.
Fabinho will start in midfield likely alongside Jordan Henderson, with either Thiago, Naby Keita or Harvey Elliott given the other starting spot in midfield.
Liverpool’s Predicted XI (4-3-3) – Kelleher, Alexander-Arnold, Robertson, van Dijk, Konate, Fabinho, Henderson, Thiago, Diaz, Mane, Salah.
Currently, bet365 Sport have Chelsea as 2/1 to win the game, it is 23/10 the draw and Liverpool are the 11/8 favourites.
The price on the Reds shortened in the wake of their 6-0 demolition of Leeds United in midweek and given that they have been in much better form of late than Chelsea have, especially domestically.
Yet, the Reds have not beaten Chelsea this season, drawing both games and in cup competitions, Chelsea have had the edge over Liverpool in recent times.
We may well require extra time and even penalties to decide the winner in this game if it is as close as the league contests, but I feel that at the moment, Liverpool are just carrying that extra bit of momentum and I feel that they will have learned from their Stamford Bridge experience, where they surrendered a 2-0 lead to draw 2-2.
As such, I am going to go for a draw at 90 minutes, which is 23/10 but Liverpool to take the win in extra time.
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