Chelsea face Liverpool in the final of the Carabao Cup on Sunday afternoon, and they will look to win a trophy this season.
Chelsea have had a disappointing Premier League season by their standards, and they will look to lift the spirits and morale around the club by winning the Carabao Cup tomorrow against Liverpool.
The Blues are unbeaten in their last three matches across all combinations, including an impressive draw against Manchester City. They will look to grind out a positive result against a depleted Liverpool side.
Liverpool are in impressive form right now, having picked up five wins from their last six matches. But they are without several key players heading into this game. It will be interesting to see if the Reds can step up and produce a match-winning performance here.
With several key players sidelined, this will be an uphill challenge for the Reds. Liverpool are unbeaten in the last six matches against Chelsea, but this is likely to be a tricky encounter for them. The Hard Tackle takes a closer look at the encounter ahead of the latest meeting between the two sides.
Team News & Tactics
Chelsea
The Blues will be without Wesley Fofana, Reece James, Benoit Badiashile, Romeo Lavia, Marc Cucurella. The home side are likely to shape up in a 4-2-3-1 formation, with Djordje Petrovic in goal.
Malo Gusto and Ben Chilwell will be deployed in the flanks as the full-backs. They will look to help out in the attack and protect the central defenders. Axel Disasi will start alongside Levi Colwill at the heart of the defence. In the midfield pivot, Enzo Fernandez will look to dictate the tempo of the game alongside Moises Caicedo, who will look to break up opposition attacks.
Conor Gallagher will be deployed as the attacking midfielder here, and he will look to add drive and creativity to the side. Raheem Sterling and Cole Palmer are likely to start in the wide areas, and they will look to add goals and creativity to the side. Nicolas Jackson will lead the line for Chelsea against Liverpool.
Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Petrovic; Gusto, Disasi, Colwill, Chilwell; Caicedo, Fernandez; Palmer, Gallagher, Sterling; Jackson
Liverpool
Liverpool have a number of injury problems heading into this game, and they will be without key players like Alisson Becker, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Thiago Alcantara, Curtis Jones, Joel Matip, and Diogo Jota. Stefan Bajcetic remains a long-term absentee as well. Mohamed Salah and Darwin Nunez remain doubts for the fixture.
Liverpool are like to shape up in their usual 4-3-3 formation, with Caoimhin Kelleher in goal. Conor Bradley will deputise in the absence of Alexander-Arnold. Andrew Robertson will start as the left-back. The two players will look to help out in the attack and protect the central defenders.
Ibrahima Konate will start alongside Virgil van Dijk at the heart of the Liverpool defence. Wataru Endo will start as the defensive midfielder here, and he will look to protect the backline and break up opposition attacks.
Alexis Mac Allister and Ryan Gravenberch are likely to start here, and they will look to add creativity and control in the middle of the park. Cody Gapko could lead the line if Nunez starts on the bench. Harvey Elliott is likely to start on the right with Luis Dias on the left.
Probable Lineup (4-3-3): Kelleher; Bradley, Konate, Van Dijk, Robertson; Mac Allister, Endo, Gravenberch; Elliott, Gakpo, Diaz
Key Stats
- Chelsea have drawn their last five home matches against Liverpool in all competitions.
- Chelsea have failed to win any of the last six matches against Liverpool.
- Four of the last six matches between these two teams have ended with a 0-0 scoreline after normal time.
- Liverpool have picked up five wins from the last six matches across all competitions.
- Liverpool have scored 21 goals in their last six outings.
Player to Watch
Alexis Mac Allister
The Argentine international has been phenomenal since joining Liverpool this season, and he has chipped in with two assists and a goal in his last two outings. The Reds will depend on him for creativity, and it remains to be seen whether he can unlock the opposition defence with his ingenuity, technical ability and vision.
Prediction
Chelsea 2-1 Liverpool
Although the Blues have not been at their best this season, they are likely to have an advantage here because of the depth in their squad. Liverpool are currently played with injuries and missing several key players will weaken them. Regardless, this is likely to be a close contest.
However, Liverpool might choose to focus on the Premier League and the Europa League more than the League Cup and the Blues will feel that this is their best opportunity to win a trophy this season. Chelsea are likely to edge this one.
