Carabao Cup Final: Chelsea dare Klopp's Kops at Wembley

 

Romelu Lukaku has a point to prove at Chelsea, but Liverpool's super stars lie in wait, who will come out tops? (Photo credit: Sky Sports)

Chelsea are in their 5^th final in the space of one year, a phenomenal feat that deserves applauses from all quarters, and regardless of what happens at Wembley on Sunday, they deserve all the respect in the world of football.

Liverpool beat Arsenal over two legs to book a date in the EFL Cup final against Chelsea, a goalless draw against ten men in the first leg and a tidy 2-0 victory at the Emirates in the second leg, on paper you’d call them the favorite for this but football has a way of humbling everyone.

Chelsea are the reigning world champions after their Club World Cup triumph in Abudhabi only a fortnight ago but the momentum is with Liverpool who suddenly are back in the title race following City’s recent slip ups.

Chelsea’s route to the final wasn’t as easy as their performances made it seem but the peak of the bunch would be the two-legged wins over Tottenham Hotspur, they also had to beat Westham on the way to Wembley, talk is over and it’s time to walk the talk.

Both sides met in the league twice already with points shared on both occasions; Reece James was sent off in the first leg at Anfield to aid Liverpool’s cause as the Blues seemed to have them in the box but it was a late first half rally that got Chelsea back into the game in the second leg at Stamford Bridge.

There’s a bit of unrest in the Blue’s camp following Roman Abrahamovic’s statement on Saturday. The situation in Ukraine has thrown the Russian billionaire under the spotlight, he has surrendered the reigns to the board in the mean time but how much would that affect the players?

Liverpool are possibly eyeing an unprecedented quadruple, it’s not impossible but it starts here. They’re well placed to advance in the champions league after a firm 2-0 win in the first leg against Inter Milan at the San Siro, they are still in the FA Cup and they’re well placed as well for a premier league title charge.

You can argue that Chelsea needs this more and here’s why: The Blues are not well positioned to fight for the title, it’s not mathematically out of their reach but it is in reality, they’re closer to being drawn into the top four battle than the top of the tree.

FA Cup is slippery and Champions League will stretch them, this is their most likely opportunity to land a trophy, will they let it slip? Tuchel’s job isn’t unsafe at the moment but he needs to continue to impress on an ever demanding job.

Romelu Lukaku is expected to start for Chelsea, but Liverpool have the superior players to be honest, only desire and grit will help Chelsea in this game, but Jurgen Klopp will remind you that he always wins it on the third attempt…