Carabao Cup final: Chelsea vs Liverpool
Liverpool’s injury list is something to behold, with Alisson, Curtis Jones and Trent Alexander-Arnold, Diogo Jota and Thiago all definitely missing for the Carabao Cup final on Sunday.
The likes of Mo Salah, Darwin Nunez and Dominik Szoboszlai remain injury doubts too. Yet despite that lengthy list of absentees, Liverpool did win 4-1 against Luton earlier this week, despite going a goal down in the first half.
Can Pochettino take advantage at Wembley?
Even with many of their most important players missing, the Merseyside team remain a dangerous prospect. Still, Chelsea are undoubtedly fortunate to be playing the Reds in this weakened state. Can Mauricio Pochettino’s side take advantage of this opportunity at Wembley?
Even at full strength, Liverpool have had their issues seeing off the West London outfit. True, Jurgen Klopp’s side won 4-1 against the Blues at Anfield last month, but that result was an outlier.
Prior to that match, seven meetings between these two sides in all competitions ended in draws. A couple of years ago, Liverpool and Chelsea played Carabao Cup and FA Cup finals that were goalless after extra time; Liverpool ended up winning both finals on penalties.
That was Liverpool’s potential quadruple season, and in the end those two Cup wins felt anticlimactic for Klopp. Now though, in his final season with the club, it would be a bitter finale indeed if the German was unable to sign off without any silverware.
And while Liverpool have the squad depth to cope with their current injury woes, Chelsea remain a real threat, despite their recent erratic record. Pochettino has been unable to recapture Chelsea’s former consistency, with the side currently tenth in the Premier League, and having lost 10 league games so far in this campaign.
Poch may land his first trophy in English football
But Poch’s side have delivered moments to make the fans believe that things are improving, fighting for a 4-4 draw against Man City last year and holding Guardiola’s side to a 1-1 stalemate again last time out.
Liverpool are the better side but also come to this match in a vulnerable state; Chelsea have been vulnerable all season, and have little to lose here.
On the basis that football sometimes throws you a curveball, Chelsea may win the day – and Poch may land his first trophy in English football. It’s not a cast-iron reason to back the Blues, but if you’re tempted, Chelsea are 13/10 to win the trophy.
Maybe a good alternative would be to back Cole Palmer to score for the Blues at 29/10; He’s Chelsea’s leading scorer with 10 goals in the Prem so far, and may relish starring on the big stage.
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