Carabao Cup Final 2023/24 Preview: Chelsea vs Liverpool
All eyes will be on Wembley Stadium on Sunday, February 25, as Chelsea and Liverpool go head-to-head in the final of the Carabao Cup.
Fans across the world will be wagering on the outcome of a fixture that bookmakers are predicting will be a fairly one-sided affair.
A quick look at the prices offered by several leading betting agencies highlights that point to perfection, with Liverpool rated as odds-on favourites to lift the trophy for the tenth time.
Chelsea will be eager to upset the applecart, although their recent form suggests they could have a tough job on their hands at Wembley.
How the teams reached the final
Liverpool got their 2023/24 Carabao Cup campaign underway with a 3-1 third round victory over Championship side Leicester City at Anfield.
They followed up with a hard-fought 2-1 win at Bournemouth in round four, before recording an emphatic 5-1 triumph at home to West Ham United in the fifth round.
The Reds defeated Fulham 2-1 in the first leg of their semi-final tie, before completing the job with a tense 1-1 draw at Craven Cottage.
Chelsea entered the competition in the second round, where they fell behind against AFC Wimbledon before claiming a 2-1 win at Stamford Bridge.
They were paired with Brighton & Hove Albion in the third round, and secured a narrow 1-0 home victory to book a fourth-round tie against Blackburn Rovers.
The Championship side did not make things easy, but Chelsea recorded a 2-0 victory to rack up their third successive home success in the competition. The quarter-final draw was kind to the Blues as they were handed another home tie against fellow Premier League side Newcastle United.
They needed penalties to see off the Magpies to move into the last four. Middlesbrough were then no match for them in the semi-final as they slipped to a 6-2 aggregate defeat.
Liverpool chasing the first of four trophies
After enduring an underwhelming 2022/23 campaign, Liverpool have bounced back in style to mount a challenge on four fronts this season.
They are currently in contention to clinch the Premier League title and are also still in the running to win the FA Cup and Europa League.
However, their first order of business will be to win a competition they have developed a huge affinity with since it was first staged in 1960/61.
Liverpool have reached the League Cup final on 13 previous occasions, and have lifted the trophy nine times (1981, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1995, 2001, 2003, 2012 & 2022).
Their most recent success was two years ago against Chelsea, when famously they clinched victory after a lengthy penalty shoot-out.
Chelsea goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga missed his spot-kick to give Liverpool an 11-10 win and a record ninth League Cup title.
The Reds are one ahead of Manchester City in the all-time standings and will be keen to move into double figures at the end of this month.
Their recent 4-1 Premier League victory over Chelsea highlighted the current disparity between the two sides and it will be a shock if they are beaten in the final.
The Blues were woeful on that occasion and will need to play much better if they are to have any chance of winning the League Cup for the sixth time.
Chelsea struggling to fire under Pochettino
Chelsea's run to the final has been a rare bright spark in a season which has been filled with disappointing performances and bad results.
Mauricio Pochettino's appointment as manager last summer has failed to have the desired effect and he faces an extremely uncertain future.
Despite receiving backing from the club's owners, there is no guarantee Pochettino will still be in the dugout when Chelsea face Liverpool.
A few days after their dismal display at Anfield, Chelsea shipped another four goals at home to Wolverhampton Wanderers to slip into the bottom half of the Premier League.
They are currently closer to the relegation zone than the top four - a sorry state of affairs for a club that has invested heavily in its playing squad.
Pochettino has been unable to get a tune out of his players and the Chelsea board may be forced to act if he fails to address their slide.
While the final against Liverpool gives Pochettino the chance to show he is the right man for the job, you would be hard-pushed to back him to achieve the feat.
He failed to win silverware during his time with Tottenham Hotspur and proved little during a disappointing spell in France with Paris-Saint Germain.
Chelsea's lack of form makes Liverpool overwhelming favourites to win the Carabao Cup and keep their quadruple hopes firmly on track.