Chelsea vs Liverpool Preview: Probable Lineups, Prediction, Tactics, Team News & Key Stats

Chelsea will be looking to lift their third trophy of the 2021/22 season when they lock horns with Liverpool in the final of the Carabao Cup on Sunday.

The first major trophy of the English football season will be on the line on Sunday when Chelsea and Liverpool lock horns in the Carabao Cup final at Wembley Stadium.

Chelsea, who have won the UEFA Super Cup and the FIFA Club World Cup this season, will have their eyes on their third piece of silverware. The Blues have made it this far the hard way as they defeated Aston Villa and Southampton on penalties in the third and fourth round of the competition before beating Brentford in the quarter-finals. A 3-0 aggregate win over Tottenham in the two-legged semi-finals set up their final appearance.

Liverpool, meanwhile, eased past Norwich City and Preston North End in the early stages of their Carabao Cup campaign but had to rely on penalties to beat Leicester City in the quarter-finals. The Reds then defeated Arsenal 2-0 in the semi-finals over two legs to book a date with Chelsea at Wembley. With Jurgen Klopp’s men still alive and kicking in all four major competitions, a quadruple remains on the cards.

Chelsea and Liverpool have faced each other twice already in the Premier League, with both games ending in tightly-contested draws. The Blues have won six games in a row in all competitions while Liverpool are on a nine-match winning run heading into the showpiece event at Wembley. Ahead of this blockbuster finale on Sunday, The Hard Tackle takes a closer look at both teams.

Team News & Tactics

Chelsea

Chelsea manager Thomas Tuchel has confirmed that Ben Chilwell is the only guaranteed absentee for the Wembley showpiece. It means that Reece James could be in contention to feature for the first time in 2022, while the likes of Mateo Kovacic and Hakim Ziyech are fit to feature after picking up knocks in their midweek win against LOSC Lille.

Kepa Arrizabalaga has started all of Chelsea’s five Carabao Cup matches this term and has put in some clutch performances. Even though he was replaced by Edouard Mendy for the FIFA Club World Cup final, the Spaniard should get the nod between the sticks against Liverpool on Sunday evening.

Thiago Silva, who has been in sublime form of late, should line up at the centre of the three-man defensive unit. He will be flanked by Antonio Rudiger on one side, while Andreas Christensen should get the nod over Trevoh Chalobah as the third centre-back. Malang Sarr, who has been a part of the starting XI in each of Chelsea’s Carabao Cup matches this term, will have to miss out.

Despite Reece James’ potential availability, Tuchel could avoid risking him from the start and go in with captain Cesar Azpilicueta as the right wing-back. Marcos Alonso should get the nod on the left side, where he will be in for a feisty battle with the equally attack-minded Trent Alexander-Arnold. N’Golo Kante and Kovacic should hold the fort down in the centre of the park for the Blues.

Ziyech has been one of Chelsea’s most in-form players heading into this game and is a certainty to feature on the right side of the attack. Mason Mount, who returned from injury in midweek, could get the nod as the second attacking midfielder, although Christian Pulisic is ready to feature if the Englishman is not deemed fit to start. Kai Havertz should continue ahead of the under-fire Romelu Lukaku as the No. 9.

Probable Lineup (3-4-2-1): Kepa; Christensen, Silva, Rudiger; Azpilicueta, Kante, Kovacic, Alonso; Ziyech, Mount; Havertz

Liverpool

Liverpool will be without star striker Roberto Firmino for the game due to an injury. In addition, Diogo Jota is also a doubt, although assistant manager Pepijn Ljinders sounded hopeful of having the Portuguese forward back in time for the final. The Reds will field their strongest possible XI, which would mean some of the cup regulars will have to suffice with a place on the bench.

However, Caoimhin Kelleher, who has been an ever-present in the lineup for Carabao Cup clashes, will be backed to start ahead of Alisson Becker between the sticks. Trent Alexander-Arnold and Andrew Robertson are guaranteed starters in the full-back slots and will act as the primary chance-creating outlets for the Reds. Joel Matip and Virgil van Dijk ought to complete the Liverpool backline.

Fabinho will occupy the defensive midfield position and look to help Liverpool exert their dominance in the middle of the park with support from captain Jordan Henderson. Thiago Alcantara should get the nod in the third spot in midfield, where he will put his range of distribution to use to give his team an edge.

Moving forward, there is no looking past the deadly duo of Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane in the wide positions in the final third. In case he is passed fit, Jota should slot in a central role for Jurgen Klopp’s men. January signing Luis Diaz will step into the lineup if the Portuguese forward is unavailable.

Probable Lineup (4-3-3): Kelleher; Alexander-Arnold, Gomez, van Dijk, Robertson; Henderson, Fabinho, Thiago; Salah, Jota, Mane

Key Stats

• This is the eighth time Chelsea and Liverpool have been paired together in the League Cup and for the second time in the final. On 27 February 2005, exactly 17 years to the date of this match, Chelsea beat Liverpool 3-2 after extra time in the final in Cardiff.
• Liverpool have been victorious in only one of their last five League Cup ties against Chelsea.
• Chelsea can win the League Cup for the sixth time, after wins in 1965, 1998, 2005, 2007 and 2015. Only Manchester City and Liverpool (eight each) have won more League Cups.
• Liverpool will make a record-extending 13th appearance in a League Cup final. Their most recent League Cup final was a shootout defeat against Manchester City at Wembley on 28 February 2016 (1-1 after extra time).
• Chelsea can become the first team to beat a top-flight side in every round of a League Cup-winning campaign. They have knocked out Aston Villa, Southampton, Brentford and Tottenham.

Player to Watch

Mohamed Salah

On Sunday, Wembley will be filled with an array of stars who can change the game in a matter of moments. Virgil van Dijk, Sadio Mane, Hakim Ziyech, Mason Mount, N’Golo Kante will all have key roles to play on the evening. But one player who will be extra motivated to put in a match-defining display is Liverpool superstar Mohamed Salah.

Having felt the disappointment of losing the Africa Cup of Nations final with Egypt earlier this year, the 29-year-old will be keen to avoid a repeat of such a situation with Liverpool. Playing against his former employers should add more fuel to the fire for the exceptional forward, who warmed up for the game with a brace against Leeds United earlier this week.

Salah is already enjoying an exceptional season, having netted 27 goals and ten assists from 31 games in all competitions. He has scored four times in his last three appearances and will be fired up to set the stage alight at Wembley and win another trophy with Liverpool.

Prediction

Chelsea 1-2 Liverpool

This is a difficult game to call, considering that Chelsea and Liverpool have built up momentum heading into the game. The Blues have won their last six in a row and have been undefeated since Christmas. The Reds, meanwhile, have been in rampant mood having won nine in a row, and morale will be sky high after the 6-0 thrashing of Leeds United.

However, it must be noted that Chelsea haven’t been entirely convincing on a number of occasions. At the same time, there are off-the-field distractions to deal with in the aftermath of owner Roman Abramovich stepping away from the club. But time and again, they have shown their pedigree in the biggest of games under Tuchel, winning three trophies already and eyeing a fourth.

On the other hand, Liverpool have tripped up at Wembley in the past under Klopp, something that the German alluded to in the buildup to the contest. But given the form they are in currently, with Sadio Mane, Mohamed Salah, Diogo Jota and Luis Diaz firing on all cylinders, they might have the slightest of edges on Sunday, which is why The Hard Tackle predicts the Merseysiders to emerge triumphant.