The League Cup final takes place this weekend between Chelsea and Liverpool, with betting tips and a preview from our soccer expert on the game.

 

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Chelsea vs Liverpool (Sunday 15:00 UTC)

London's Wembley Stadium will once again host one of the biggest matches of the English season’s calendar, with a classic red vs blue clash of Premier League giants. Chelsea makes the short hop North across the capitol to garner some much-needed prestige following a wayward interim in league form. Liverpool travels south in what they hope will be the first of four opportunities of gaining silverware, to send off Jurgen Klopp on a high.

First held in the 1960–61 season by the English Football League (EFL), the competition is open to any club within the top four levels of the English football league system, totalling 92 clubs across the Premier League, Championship, League One and League Two. The winner would also qualify for the UEFA Europa Conference League, which could prove an especially tantalising prize for Chelsea fans who desire a return of their club to the European stage.

The Liverpool manager's announcement that he would be stepping down at the end of this season, was a shock to the footballing world, though it does not seem to have slowed down the club's ambitions for the current season. They have won five of their six games since that explosive revelation, with a 4-1 trouncing of relegation-threatened Luton Town midweek the latest. The victory sent them four points clear at the top of the Premier League and kept the pressure on rivals Manchester City, who still have a game in hand. On the scoresheet was U21 England international Harvey Elliott, who also made it the team’s 100th goal of the season with his sides fourth, ending the night on a high in the 90th minute with his 100th appearance for the Merseyside outfit. Liverpool Team Total - Match Over 1.5 at 1.892.

Jurgen will have an interesting time of it making his Cup final squad as the team roster is riddling with absentees through injury. Many first-team regulars and potential battle winners may have to be omitted for this fixture, with the list including first-choice keeper Alisson, Diogo Jota, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Joel Matip and Curtis Jones, while Dominik Szoboszlai is doubtful. Mo Salah and Darwin Núñez were not fielded midweek, though this can likely be a tactical decision to rest them before this match.

 

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The Egyptian international has had another resounding season, scoring fifteen goals and assisting nine. During the side's victory over Brentford last weekend, He joined legends Thierry Henry, Alan Shearer and Wayne Rooney in having scored and assisted in the same game 30+ times in the Premier League following the side's triumph away at Brentford. He and his Uruguayan strike partner will have to work hard to make up the team's shortfall, as Chelsea will be more than happy to take advantage—Liverpool Goals 1st Half - 1 at 2.62.

The Londoners will be keen to make this the first cup to add to their trophy room this season as they are also still in contention for the FA Cup. With their Premier League title hopes dashed for another season, the beleaguered side has taken on a new lease on life in domestic knockout affairs with a solid 3-1 victory over Aston Villa in the 4th round replay being their latest accolade. This was quickly followed up by another 3-1 league victory, this time over city rivals Crystal Palace for three much-needed points as they jostle with Wolves and West Ham at the centre of the table. Correct Score 3:1 to Chelsea at 20.72.

On the scoresheet in both the aforementioned matches was Enzo Fernández, with the Argentinian international midfielder enjoying some recent success following what many believe to be a fairly lukewarm debut season at Stamford Bridge following his £107m transfer from Benfica last summer. He and his compatriots almost hamstrung the Citizens' title bid last weekend after drawing 1-1 away at the Etihad, with Raheem Stirling jubilant that he put one past his old team. However, all was undone late into the second half by a critical strike from talisman Rodri, though fans and pundits alike are starting to see a glimmer of a Chelsea reborn.

This will be a sigh of relief for manager Mauricio Pochettino, as the side seems to be finding more consistency in their runouts and form. He'll be happy to take this and pull the rug from under Jurgen's feet, as the Liverpool manager spoiled the biggest game of his managerial career by beating his Tottenham side in the 2019 Champions League Final. Like his nemesis, he also has several absentees from his squad to make selection trickier. Benoît Badiashile, Wesley Fofana, Marc Cucurella, Roméo Lavia, Lesley Ugochukwu and captain Reece James will all be omitted due to injury. Both Teams To Score? Yes at 1.606.

A classic match beckons this Sunday as two Premier League stalwarts face off once more. The managers will have plenty to think about when they formulate their respective team rosters, and how several key omissions will take an effect on the field of play we will find out in due course. Initial favour goes to the Reds, although the Lions will not be undone so easily as they enjoy good form once more.

 

1x2 3.14 3.71 2.10

 

**Odds are subject to change. Odds accurate as of 10:00 UTC Friday 23rd February**

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