For the second time this season, both Liverpool and Chelsea will challenge at Wembley with a trophy in line, this time it’s the FA Cup final.
After a hard-fought game against Aston Villa, Liverpool are setting their eyes on the final at Wembley. For Liverpool, they have upset Man City to reach the final, keeping the prospect of a four-trophy haul still lingering in mind.
Meanwhile, for Chelsea, FA Cup remains the only domestic silverware left on the line this season. Tuchel’s men defeated Crystal Palace in the semis to book a Wembley date against the Merseysiders.
FA Cup final – Liverpool vs Chelsea: Preview
Liverpool’s quest for the quadruple continues, but surely the team is sick of hearing the word quadruple by now. But the prospect of Man City dropping points in the last two Premier League looks very slim. Yet the Liverpool fans won’t stop dreaming.
Meanwhile, in the 141st FA Cup final, Liverpool will surely look to add the second trophy of the season. Having already seen better of the Blues in the EFL Cup final, now the oldest football competition is up to grab for Klopp’s men.
Since Klopp’s appointment in 2015, the German has delivered five trophies. Moreover, if he wins the FA Cup on Saturday, he will “complete the set” of all six trophies – the Premier League, FA Cup, EFL Cup, Champions League, Super Cup, and Fifa Club World Cup.
The Reds are potentially only 90 minutes away from ending a 16-year drought in the FA Cup. Previously won it in 2006 under Rafa Benitez, where Steven Gerrard scored the infamous stunner.
The prospect of completing a domestic cup double for the first time since the 2000-01 season, seems intriguing. Therefore, Liverpool are in no mood to slip this opportunity.
But having played so many games and keeping performances at the highest level week in and week out, fatigue may have started to become apparent in their last few fixtures.
The League title is out of their own hands, but the EFL Cup has been conquered. A journey to Paris for another Champions League final with Real Madrid awaits, and the Reds are potentially only 90 minutes away from ending a 16-year drought in the FA Cup.
Meanwhile, for Chelsea, in the previous two FA Cup finals, Arsenal and Leicester City have dashed their FA Cup dreams. However, under Todd Boehly’s era, Thomas Tuchel would like to deliver the first silverware in terms of the FA Cup.
Last time, when both sides met at the Wembley for the FA Cup final, the Blues defeated the Reds 2-0 in the 2011-12 edition. Since then, Chelsea have one FA Cup under Antonio Conte.
For head coach Thomas Tuchel, now equals Jose Mourinho’s record having registered the fourth domestic final. The German now eyes a top four finish and a FA Cup to end this hard-fought Chelsea season. Also the German wants to write his name into the new owners’ good books early doors.
Team News
Liverpool have been blown apart after Fabinho’s hamstring problem. The extent of the midfielder’s problem is currently unclear, but the Brazilian is sure to miss the final at Wembley.
Meanwhile, Roberto Firmino was seen back on the bench at Villa Park following his foot injury, and the number 9 should be back on the bench on Saturday.
Thiago Alcantara, Ibrahima Konate, Jordan Henderson, and Mohamed Salah are to return to the first XI. Moreover, after enjoying the week off, Andy Robertson will surely take his left-back duties at the starting XI.
Liverpool possible starting lineup:
Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Konate, Van Dijk, Robertson; Keita, Henderson, Thiago; Salah, Mane, Diaz
Liverpool vs Chelsea: What Anfield Home Predicts
A tight contest in the capital awaits, with both sides unlikely to put their favourable midfield combinations on the Wembley turf.
Thomas Tuchel’s side are masters of this kind of football. Under his watch, Chelsea have reached the final of every competition and it’s worth remembering they beat City in the Champions League showpiece despite some patchy league form.
However, Liverpool rested many of their star names a midweek moreover, taught Man City a lesson in attacking dominance in the semi-finals.
Therefore, the Reds seem favorites to lift the trophy after 90 minutes.
Liverpool looks very likely to prevail over Chelsea with a 3-2 win.
