For the fourth time this season, Chelsea and Liverpool prepare to battle each other, this time in the Finals of the FA Cup this Saturday....CONTINUE READING THE FULL ARTICLE>>>
After crashing out of the UEFA Champions league, the Carabao Cup and the title race, the FA Cup is now the only trophy the Blues can win this season, and they have done well to set themselves up in the final after beating Crystal Palace 2-0 in the last four.
Meanwhile, Liverpool saw off Manchester City 3-2 in the semi-finals to book themselves in the final and they will be seeking the win to keep their relentless hope for the quadruple alive.
Match Preview
Jurgen Klopp’s side are in a good position to win the quadruple this season – even though Manchester City’s chance of dropping any more points in the league looks slim-the Reds will not stop fighting.
For all the successes Klopp has achieved with this Liverpool side, he had never taken the Reds beyond the fifth round of the FA Cup until this season, as the Reds saw off Shrewsbury Town, Cardiff City, Norwich City, Nottingham Forest and Man City to set themselves up in the final.
They will go into the game on Saturday on the back of a 15-game unbeaten run, and the Reds will be seeking to extend that run to 16 as they hope to give their manager his first ever FA Cup trophy.
After losing on penalties to Liverpool in the Carabao Cup final, Thomas Tuchel will do everything in his power as he hopes to stop the Reds from completing the domestic double over the Blues.
Chelsea will go into the game on the back of a thumphing 3-0 triumph over relegation-threatened Leeds at the weekend, and with the FA Cup being the only possible trophy in their line of success this term, the Blues will bring on everything but they have to the table on Saturday as they seek to win the trophy.
Kick Off
The match is set to kick off at 16:45pm West African Standard Time and will mark the 192th meeting between these two sides in all competitions.
Team News
Liverpool have enjoyed an injury-free squad for most of the season and they have their medical team to thank for the tireless work done.
However, Fabinho hobbled off in his side’s 2-1 comeback success on Tuesday and Jurgen Klopp confirmed that the midfielder will not be available for the clash on Saturday, but he is hopeful that he will return before the Champions League final later this month in Paris.
Klopp is set to hand over Allison his first appearance in the FA Cup this term, and he is likely to retain the back four of Matip, Van Dijk, Arnold and Tsimikas.
Thiago Alcentara, who started the game against Villa from the bench, is likely to start at Wembley, while Naby Keita comes in for the injured Fabinho to partner Jordan Henderson in midfield.
Mohamed Salah is also a contender to lead the line at Wembley, while Sadio Mane and Luiz Daiz return to the flanks.
As for Chelsea, Mateo Kovacic was the victim of an awful challenge from Daniel James and Tuchel has confirmed that the Croatian is unlikely to be fit before the game on Saturday.
Long-term absentees Ben Chilwell and Callum Hudson-odoi remain sidelined, while Kante and Jorginho are likely to start in midfield, as the latter made a timely return from an issue of his own in midweek.
Thomas Tuchel will not be hesitant to start Romelu Lukaku as the striker has now found fine form, while Timo Werner and a well rested Kai Havertz move to the flanks.
Liverpool Possible Starting XI
Allison; Arnold, Konate, Virgil, Tsimikas; Henderson, Keita, Thiago; Luiz Daiz, Mane, Salah.
Chelsea Possible Starting XI
Kepa; Caser, Silver, Rudiger; Recce, Ruben, Jorginho, Alonso; Werner, Lukaku, Havertz.
Who do you think will come out top in this game at Wembley?