Chelsea v Liverpool | Sunday 25 February | Wembley | 17:00
The first final of the regular season greets us on Sunday and given the performances of these two sides, I’m not sure anyone will find too much offence in me saying it has come as a surprise.
Chelsea and Liverpool meet on England’s greatest stage to contest this year’s edition of the EFL Cup…these are my thoughts!
To Win (90 mins)
Chelsea 9/4
Draw 26/10
Liverpool 21/20
Chelsea
If ever there was a result, which would have been the source for immense confidence, it surely would have been Chelsea’s performance against City at the weekend. I know a lot has been made about Cole Palmer – I mean I am guilty of thinking he is the be and end all of this Chelsea team at times – but I thought he had a quiet game and still Chelsea were able to frustrate City and earn a massively important point.
Mauricio Pochettino’s side see themselves as one of the very few teams in the League to avoid defeat against City in both fixtures this season and given that on Sunday, they face a Liverpool side riddled with attacking quality and a confident impotence of taking games to their opponents I think Chelsea’s defensive attributes will be largely under pressure.
At the risk of sounding somewhat delusional, I think Chelsea are a far better side when they play the so-called big guns of the League. They won’t be intimidated by Liverpool and if they stay in the game long enough, I think they could get something from it…
Liverpool
I know the narrative around Liverpool at the moment has had a lot to do with Jurgen Klopp, his last season and the added incentive of ending on a ‘high’. Personally, I think Klopp’s public announcement was somewhat distracting from the season…not to mention it will certainly become a scapegoat should the Reds continue to flatter to deceive.
Liverpool have earned positive results leading up to this game, but I don’t think they have been tremendously convincing to be honest. They got past Burnley in a somewhat haphazard manner and blew Brentford away without even having to go into fourth gear.
Injuries have marred this Liverpool side, but that truly does little to the quality they still boast. Trent Alexander-Arnold has been a blow, but I think they miss him more here than anywhere else so far.
Mo Salah is likely going to be gamechanger here though, he will be firing on all cylinders and likely frothing for a chance to earn silverware again. I think Liverpool can have it all their own way here, but I doubt it will be straightforward – after all it is a final!
Predicted Line-ups:
Chelsea: Petrovic, Chillwell, Colwill, Disasi, Gusto, Fernandez, Caicedo, Palmer, Gallagher, Sterling, Jackson.
Liverpool: Kelleher, Robertson, van Dijk, Konate, Bradley, Jones, Endo, Mac Allister, Salah, Nunez, Diaz.
Prediction: Draw (26/10)
These two sides will benefit a great deal from winning this final. Of course, the fans and supporters would be in dreamland, but the confidence and even attitude adjustment it would have is being grossly underestimated.
It is for that reason I think it will be horribly cagey during the 90 minutes and likely require an additional 30 minutes or even penalties. Back the draw.
@Mr_R_Liberty