Carabao Cup Final prediction, lineups, odds and tips for Chelsea vs Liverpool
The first domestic prize of the season is up for grabs at Wembley on Sunday afternoon, as Chelsea and Liverpool lock horns in the Carabao Cup final.
These two clubs have become familiar foes under the Wembley arch in recent years, having contested the 2022 showpiece as well as the FA Cup final later that same season, with the Reds reigning supreme on both occasions.
Jurgen Klopp’s Premier League leaders warmed up for Sunday’s Carabao Cup final by producing a storming second-half comeback to beat Luton 4-1 at Anfield on Wednesday night.
Chelsea have also been in pretty decent shape in the build up to this showdown, having beaten both Aston Villa and Crystal Palace away from home before battling to a well-deserved 1-1 draw against Man City at the Etihad last weekend.
Chelsea vs Liverpool Prediction
Liverpool cruised to a 4-1 win against Chelsea at Anfield in the Premier League last month but Sunday’s Carabao Cup final should be a much closer contest between the pair.
Cup finals can often be cagey affairs and that has certainly been the case when these two heavyweights have gone toe-to-toe for silverware at Wembley in recent seasons, with both the 2022 Carabao Cup and FA Cup finals finishing goalless and going all the way to penalties.
What’s more, both teams are carrying two of the longest injury lists in the Premier League at the moment. As such, Sunday’s showpiece does appear to have all the makings of a slow burner where maybe a single goal or moment of magic decides it.
While Chelsea finally seem to be moving in the right direction under Mauricio Pochettino, Premier League leaders Liverpool are the superior outfit and are therefore the more likely team to edge a tight contest (4/7 to lift the trophy on Ladbrokes).
Chelsea vs Liverpool Lineups
How are both teams expected to line up on Sunday? Here are the predicted lineups from WhoScored.com with all the relevant team news.
Chelsea Predicted Lineup vs Liverpool
Petrovic; Gusto, Disasi, Colwill, Chilwell; Caicedo, Fernandez; Palmer, Gallagher, Sterling; Jackson
Liverpool Predicted Lineup vs Chelsea
Kelleher; Bradley, Konate, van Dijk, Robertson; Mac Allister, Endo, Gravenberch; Salah, Nunez, Diaz
Chelsea vs Liverpool Team News
Chelsea's once-lengthy number of absentees has reduced to as few as six in recent weeks.
Mauricio Pochettino could opt to remain unchanged from the draw at Manchester City last weekend.
Liverpool are set to be without as many as 10 players for the Carabao Cup final.
Mohamed Salah and Darwin Nunez both missed the victory over Luton in midweek, but are expected to come in here.
Chelsea vs Liverpool Odds
Having lost each of their last five domestic cup finals, Chelsea are 11/5 outsiders on Ladbrokes to win the match in regulation time. Liverpool are 23/20 favourites, while the 90 minute draw can be backed at 5/2.
Carabao Cup Final Tips
Liverpool to Win @ 23/20 on Ladbrokes
Liverpool look worth taking to triumph inside normal time at Wembley on Sunday afternoon.
The Reds roll into London looking to tick off the first trophy in their pursuit of an unprecedented quadruple. Jurgen Klopp’s side have been in fine form all season, losing just two of their 33 domestic fixtures to date, whereas Chelsea have already lost 10 times in the Premier League.
Whilst there is plenty of reason to believe the Blues can keep this cup final competitive, their leaky defence could prove to be their undoing against opposition of the highest calibre.
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