Chelsea vs Liverpool LIVE: Latest Carabao Cup final team news, line-ups and more today

Chelsea and Liverpool have met in two previous League Cup finals (2005 and 2022) and two previous FA Cup finals (2012 and 2022).

This will be the first fixture to have been played in five different major domestic finals in English football history.

Here’s a reminder of what happened the last time these two teams met. It was a Premier League game at Anfield back in January and Liverpool were the better side by far.

Diogo Jota, Conor Bradley, Dominik Szoboszlai and Luis Diaz all scored that day as the Reds romped to a 4-1 victory. Will they repeat that type of performance at Wembley?

Liverpool’s two cup final victories in 2022, the Carabao Cup and the FA Cup, both came at the expense of Chelsea. The two teams face off against each other again today though Jurgen Klopp says that past results count for nothing in a final.

“The result we had here [a 4-1 league win over Chelsea at Anfield last month] doesn’t help, of course we have to play the game again and it’s like firing the opponent up slightly,” said the Liverpool boss.

“The final is a completely different game, there’s no home ground obviously. We played them now a couple of times in a final and we know one part is blue and one is red. We know what our people are able to do, but the Chelsea people will be looking forward to it as well.

“But everybody knows, a final, there is no favourite, it starts at nil and for each little advantage you want to have, you have to work incredibly hard.

“The two Chelsea games in the finals [in 2022], I remember as two of the best draws I’ve ever been part of in my entire life because it was from a tactical point of view incredible, from an intensity point of view incredible, and then 0-0, 0-0 – strange one.”

Despite missing the pre-match press conference Liverpool boss, Jurgen Klopp, hasn’t been silent ahead of today’s League Cup showpiece.

Speaking with Liverpoolfc.com Klopp was asked if he thought his team deserved to be in the final and the German was absolutely certain that they did.

“Oh, 100 per cent. I have no doubt about it. Really tough opponents and really great performances.” said Klopp when assessing Liverpool’s route to Wembley.

“We changed a lot, changed the teams a lot. For us the competition was a benefit as well, if you want, because at that time we had pretty much 95 per cent of the squad available and we could play them all and we did. So it’s great.

“It’s the Caoimhin Kelleher competition as well, so he has the chance to win the second trophy of his career, which is absolutely great. He won already a lot, but standing in the goal I know that maybe feels for the boys slightly different. He plays the second final, let me say it like that. That’s all really cool.

“So far, only positives about the competition.”

Liverpool’s assistant manager Pep Lijnders took the pre-match press conference on Friday for the Carabao Cup final and provided an update on the Reds’ state of injuries.

He said: “Dom [Szoboszlai], Darwin [Nunez] and Mo [Salah]: we have to really see. We have two more days, today’s session and tomorrow’s session, and we will check if they can be there. It will be great if they can.”

It also means that Alexander-Arnold will miss England’s games against Brazil and Belgium, while the in-form Jones will be denied the chance of a first senior international call-up.

The last time these two teams met in the League Cup final the match ended in a goalless draw after 120 minutes. It went to penalties with the Reds coming out on top 11-10 in what is remembered a penalty shootout classic.

Since then Mauricio Pochettino has come in as Chelsea boss and attempted to instill a more aggressive flair to their play which has seen limited success.

Jurgen Klopp meanwhile is redeveloping Liverpool after departures from the squad who triumphed in this competition a couple of years ago. They are more raw yet equally exciting and this match is set to be a thrilling affair.

Chelsea 1-1 Liverpool (Liverpool win on penalties).

With both managers juggling injuries and absentees here’s how we think the teams will line up for this afternoon’s final. Chelsea seemingly have the more settled XI though Liverpool’s experience and strong forward line mya prove to be the difference.

Chelsea XI: Petrovic; Gusto, Disasi, Colwill, Chilwell; Caicedo, Fernandez, Gallagher; Sterling, Palmer, Jackson

Liverpool XI: Kelleher; Bradley, Konate, Van Dijk, Robertson; Endo, Mac Allister, Gravenberch; Salah, Nunez, Diaz

Chelsea centre-back Thiago Silva could be available for the Blues but Mauricio Pochettino also has a lenghty list of absentees, with Brenoit Badiashile, Wesley Fofana, Reece James, Romeo Lavia and Carney Chukwuemeka all out.

Mohamed Salah, Darwin Nunez and Dominik Szoboszlai face “last-minute” fitness tests but could be available for Liverpool, but the Reds will be without goalkeeper Alisson Becker, vice-captain Trent Alexander-Arnold, Curtis Jones and Diogo Jota.

Liverpool vs Chelsea will kick-off at 3pm on Sunday 25 February at Wembley Stadium.

It will be shown live on Sky Sports Main Event and Sky Sports Football. Coverage starts from 2pm on Main Event and from 2:30pm on Sky Sports Football.

If you’re not a Sky customer you can grab a NOWTV Day Pass here to watch without a subscription.

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