It will be a rollercoaster as Chelsea and Liverpool trade tackles at the curved arch of Wembley for the 2024 Carabao Cup trophy on Saturday, February 24, 2024.
Match Preview
With two days left to the epic clash, the enthusiasm and excitement among fans have gone sky-high as they await another thriller in the Liverpool-Chelsea rivalry in English football.
The atmosphere will be electrifying at Wembley Stadium as the two teams locked horns at the biggest stage in English football. Recently, Liverpool seems to have won the bragging rights over Chelsea. The Blues are struggling for consistency this season while the Reds are chasing a historic quadruple and leading the race for the Premier League title.
Chelsea have managed just a point from their two-legged Premier League fixtures against Liverpool this season with the Reds raking home 4 points from the double-header.
After settling for a draw at Stamford Bridge in the first leg, the Reds pummeled the Blues 4-1 in the reverse fixture. Away from the Premier League double-header, the Blues are not expected to give in easily for the Merseyside club at Wembley.
While Liverpool are brilliantly chasing a historic quadruple, Mauricio Pochettino’s Chelsea are teetering on the brink of a trophyless campaign with the EFL Cup being their last hope of a silverware this season.
The two teams have met 195 times in all competitions, with Chelsea winning 65 times, losing 84 times, and drawing 46 times.
Their last seven meetings have been far more competitive than any other football rivalry in England. It has resulted in five draws and a win apiece.
Team News
Liverpool will go into the clash with an injury-stricken squad. Darwin Nunez is a doubt for the match having picked up a muscle injury against Brentford and missed their last Premier League game against Luton Town at Anfield.
Diogo Jota and Curtis Jones, who also picked up injuries vs Brentford, have been sidelined and will miss weeks of action for the Reds. First-choice goalkeeper Alisson Becker will also miss the clash due to a hamstring issue. England right-back Alexander-Arnold aggravated his knee injury. Szosboszlai, Thiago Alcantara, Stefan Bajcetic, and Ben Doak will all miss the clash.
Conor Bradley and Gomez are expected to wrestle for the right-back role while Mohamed Salah, Cody Gakpo, Gravenberch, and Wataru Endo, including Marc Allister, will be available as well.
Chelsea are also struggling with a piling injury list with the likes of Thiago Silva (groin issue), Reece James (thigh injury), Carney Chukwuemeka (ankle injury), Bernoit Badashile (groin injury), Lesley Ugochukkwu (thigh injury), and Wesley Fofana (ACL injury) all ruled out of the game.
Enzo Fernandez, Nicolas Jackson, Raheem Sterling, Cole Palmer, Axel Disasi, Petrovic, Moises Caicedo, Conor Gallagher, and other regular first-team names are available for the clash
Prediction and kickoff
It was a barren draw when the two teams last met in the EFL Cup final with Liverpool winning on penalties. The match is likely to end in a draw again but this time goals will be hurled in. The most possible outcome is a 1-1 draw with the winner decided on penalties.
The match will kick off by 15:00GMT at Wembley on Sunday, February 25, 2024.
