by Liverpool aim to claim the first of four goals when they face Chelsea in the Carabao Cup final at Wembley. With Jürgen Klopp leaving at the end of the season, the players have extra motivation to get into the game.
For Chelsea, Mauricio Pochettino will be desperate to win his first trophy in English football and start his reign at Stamford Bridge with silverware.
The match is a replay of the 2022 League Cup final, which ended 0-0 after extra time before Liverpool won 11-10 on penalties.
When is the Carabao Cup final?
The final will take place this evening.
What time is kick off?
The game starts at 3pm (GMT). There will be 30 minutes of extra time if the scores are level after 90 minutes. If the scores remain level after extra time, penalty kicks will decide the winner.
What TV channel is it on?
The final will be shown on Sky Sports Main Event from 2pm and Sky Sports Football from 2.30pm. Or, follow all the action live on the Telegraph Sport website.
Highlights will be shown on ITV 1 at 10.50pm tonight.
What is the latest team news?
It was confirmed on Tuesday that Diogo Jota and Alisson would be out for significant periods while Curtis Jones joins Trent Alexander-Arnold, Thiago Alcantara and Joel Matip on the absentee list.
There is no guarantee that Darwin Nunez, who is like Jones and Jota in Saturday’s win over Brentford, has been withdrawn, or that Dominik Szoboszlai will be fit as there is a risk that Klopp’s squad will be very stretched on the run.
Thiago Silva is a possible injury doubt for Chelsea after pulling off with a groin injury in the 3-1 win over Crystal Palace on 12 February.
Who is the referee?
Chris Kavanagh has been named as the referee. Kavanagh will be assisted by James Mainwaring and Mark Scholes, Tim Robinson will be named as the fourth official and Wade Smith as the back-up assistant referee.
The game will benefit from video assistant referees (VAR). John Brooks will be the VAR official, supported by Marc Perry as VAR Assistant.
Key fan information
-
Brent Council has implemented a no-street drinking zone in and around the Olympic Way for all events at Wembley Stadium.
-
The game starts at 3pm. General admission to the stadium will be available from 1pm. Hospitality doors will open an hour earlier at 12pm.
-
Both teams have dedicated Fan Zone areas where supporters have the opportunity to join other fans to enjoy a drink, including alcohol, food and a DJ.
-
The Liverpool Fan Zone is located on the East Concourse area of the stadium and the Chelsea Fan Zone is on the West side of the stadium. They will be open from 11am and will stop serving alcohol one hour before kick-off at 2pm.
-
For full information about the Carabao Cup Final, the Supporters’ Guide can be viewed here
The final game of the 21st Century
By Joel Mians
This match will be the most frequent match between two English teams in a major final of this century, as they face each other for the trophy for the sixth time.
Here are the previous five times:
2005: League Cup final – Liverpool 2 Chelsea 3 aet
This is where this intense series began. John Arne Riise’s thunderous volley put Liverpool ahead after 45 seconds but Chelsea equalized in the second half through Steven Gerrard’s own goal. Didier Drogba and Mateja Kezman put Chelsea 3-1 up in extra time, and despite Antonio Nunez’s consolation goal, Jose Mourinho claimed his first piece of silverware.
2012: FA Cup Final – Chelsea 2 Liverpool 1
Chelsea midfielder Ramires opened the scoring before Didier Drogba scored his fourth goal in four FA Cup finals. Liverpool striker Andy Carroll came off the bench to score, but Petr Cech miraculously saved his header as Chelsea held on for a seventh FA Cup victory.
2019: Uefa Super Cup – Liverpool 2 Chelsea 2 aet (Liverpool win on pins 5-4)
In Frank Lampard’s second competitive game as Chelsea manager, Olivier Giroud’s slot finish put his side 1-0 up but Sadio Mané then equalized with a superb second in stoppage time, before Jorginho’s leveler from the spot sealed the game to punishments.
Tammy Abraham missed the decisive kick to spark more joy for Liverpool in Istanbul after a famous Champions League night in 2005.
2022: League Cup final – Liverpool 0 Chelsea 0 aet (Liverpool won on pins 11-10)
Liverpool’s Caoimhin Kelleher made a great save and Chelsea goalkeeper Édouard Mendy was in a league with a great double save in the first half and a great triple save in the second half.
However, Chelsea manager Thomas Tuchel confronted Kepa Arrizabalaga for the kick-off and he made a brilliant comeback.
With the entire Liverpool XI, including Kelleher, sending their penalty past Kepa, the Spaniard sent his effort over the bar.
2022: FA Cup final – Liverpool 0 Chelsea 0 aet (Liverpool win on penalties 6-5)
Liverpool were chasing a fourth and Chelsea were looking to become the first team to lose three FA Cup finals in a row.
After another entertaining goalless final between them, penalties were again called for. Chelsea captain Cesar Azpilicueta hit the post from the spot, but Mendy’s save from compatriot Mané sent the shot into sudden death.
And when Alisson saved Mason Mount’s penalty, Liverpool left-back Kostas Tsimikas slotted in the decisive penalty.
Liverpool’s way to the final
Third round: vs Leicester (h) 3-1, 27 September
Dominik Szoboszlai’s superb strike from the edge of the penalty area was the highlight of a second-half comeback after falling behind Kasey McAteer’s goal in the third minute. Cody Gakpo’s shot rose on the turn just after the break, Szoboszlai tapped home and Diogo Jota’s back-heel sealed the win.
Fourth round: vs Bournemouth (a) 2-1, 1 November
Darwin Nunez’s goal deserved to win any cup match on a false night on the south coast. Gakpo opened the scoring with a curling finish only for Justin Kluivert to get the better of him to level things just after the hour mark. Nunez’s poor first touch was jeered by the home fans but he made them pay for cutting in from the left flank to unleash a vicious shot past Andrei Radu.
Quarter-final: vs West Ham (h) 5-1, 20 December
Gakpo made it a cup tie treble but Curtis Jones was the real star with two goals. Szoboszlai opened the scoring with another long-range strike and Mohamed Salah scored a trademark breakaway before Jones’ driving run completed the scoring. Jarrod Bowen’s curling effort briefly made it 3-1.
Semi-final, first leg: vs Fulham (h) 2-1, 10 January
Gakpo’s winner was his fourth successive goal of the competition and his neat near-post effort gave Liverpool the advantage at Craven Cottage. Jones’ chipped shot from the edge of the area in the second half canceled out Willian’s opener and Gakpo swept home in the 71st minute to turn things around.
Semi-final, second leg: vs Fulham (a) 1-1, 24 January (Liverpool won 3-2 on agg)
Luis Diaz’s early shot struck Bernd Leno at the near post and sent Jurgen Klopp’s side on their way to Wembley. Issa Diop’s quick set-up sent a cross home with his thighs but they were unable to make any further progress.
Chelsea’s way to the final
Second round: vs AFC Wimbledon (h) 2-1, 30 August
Heading into the round earlier than usual due to their lack of European football, Pochettino’s side suffered a shock when their League Two opponents took the lead through James Tilley’s first-half penalty, awarded after the goal goalkeeper Robert Sanchez flew from behind to behind. reckless punch at a free kick. Chelsea responded with a penalty kick of their own which Noni Madueke converted in stoppage time before the break. In the second half, Enzo Fernandez capitalized on a mistake by Alex Bass in the visitors’ goal to score for the first time since his £105million move from Benfica, sparing his team blushes.
Third round: vs Brighton (h) 1-0, 27 September
The Blues lost at home to Brighton in the final weeks of the 2022/23 season, but with Roberto De Zerbi’s side juggling Premier League commitments with a first-ever European campaign, Chelsea came out on top to progress to the fourth round thanks to that’s Nicolas Jackson’s goal. early in the second half. The game was notable for the full debut of summer signing from Manchester City, Cole Palmer, the 21-year-old who set up the winning goal. He goes into Sunday’s final as the club’s top scorer with 12 in all competitions.
Fourth round: vs Blackburn (h) 2-0, 1 November
Benoit Badishile marked his first appearance of the season after injury by scoring his second Chelsea goal, as Blackburn were sent to Stamford Bridge. The defender pounced on an error from Rovers goalkeeper Leopold Wahlstedt, who failed to deal with Palmer’s corner, tapping home from close range. Raheem Sterling scored in the second half, again set up by an increasingly influential Palmer, to send his side into the last eight.
Quarter-final: vs Newcastle (h) 1-1 (Chelsea won 4-2 on penalties), 19 December
Chelsea looked to have taken the lead when Callum Wilson capitalized on defensive chaos to put Newcastle ahead in the first half, with the team seemingly indifferent in the second half. Premier League after the team progressed. That’s how it remained until stoppage time, when Kieran Trippier hesitated to deal with a cross and Mykhailo Mudryk stole in to rescue his side. A penalty followed, with Trippier again the villain for the visitors before goalkeeper Djordje Petrovic saved from Matt Ritchie to put Chelsea through.
Semi-final, first leg: vs Middlesbrough (a) 0-1, 9 January
In an abysmal first leg at the Riverside Stadium, Pochettino’s side came back down south in embarrassment after missing numerous chances against the Championship outfit, with Palmer the main culprit. The difference in Hayden Hackney’s goal was to leave boss Michael Carrick and his players dreaming of Wembley.
Semi-final, second leg: vs Middlesbrough (h) 6-1, 23 January (Chelsea won 6-2 on agg)
Middlesbrough’s aspirations were dashed at half-time in the return leg in west London, with Chelsea leading 4-0 at the break en route to a 6-1 victory that ensured they and not Boro will face Liverpool on Sunday.
What are the best options?
Chelsea to win: 6/4
Liverpool to win: 8/13
Correct choice from 23 February
