che vs liv Chelsea vs Liverpool Prediction: EFL Cup Final Preview
The first major domestic trophy of 2023-24 is on the line as two familiar foes meet at Wembley Stadium, London. We look ahead to the EFL Cup final with our Chelsea vs Liverpool prediction and preview.
Chelsea vs Liverpool Stats: The Quick Hits
- The Opta supercomputer makes Liverpool favourites to lift the EFL Cup for a record-extending 10th time, with the Reds beating Chelsea in 62.1% of match simulations.
- With Chelsea and Liverpool meeting in two previous EFL Cup finals and two FA Cup showpiece games, this will be the first fixture to take place in five major English cup finals.
- Chelsea’s former Liverpool winger Raheem Sterling could become the 12th player to feature in five EFL Cup finals. He has won the previous four, in 2016, 2019, 2020 and 2021.
Match Preview
As was the case in 2021-22, Liverpool remain in the hunt for four major trophies as we approach the season’s decisive months. On that occasion, the Reds overcame Chelsea in two tense penalty shootouts to lift the EFL and FA Cups, and Jürgen Klopp will be eyeing a repeat when he takes his side to Wembley Stadium again on Sunday. However, with Liverpool’s selection problems piling up, Mauricio Pochettino’s men might fancy their chances of ending the Reds’ dream of a quadruple.
While it has been a smooth week for Liverpool on the pitch, with 4-1 wins over Brentford and Luton Town keeping them ahead of Manchester City and Arsenal in the Premier League title race, those victories came at a cost. Diogo Jota and Curtis Jones will miss Sunday’s game with injuries suffered at the Gtech Community Stadium, while Darwin Núñez and Mohamed Salah will be assessed after sitting out Wednesday’s win over the Hatters.
Dominik Szoboszlai is also a doubt in midfield, while Trent Alexander-Arnold and Alisson will definitely miss out. Those absences, though, should open the door for others to shine, as they have done throughout Liverpool’s League Cup campaign to date.