Jürgen Klopp’s farewell tour as Liverpool manager is in full swing, and the Reds have an excellent opportunity to kickstart his departure with a victory in the Carabao Cup final against Chelsea this Sunday. The Carabao Cup represents English football’s secondary cup competition following the FA Cup, and securing silverware at this stage would provide a significant boost for both teams.
Liverpool currently leads the Premier League, and their campaign has been galvanized since Klopp unexpectedly announced his departure at the end of the season. The Reds have a chance to win an impressive four trophies this campaign, including the Carabao Cup, Europa League, FA Cup, and Premier League. Liverpool is the favorite according to bookmakers, but Klopp downplayed his side’s chances after their comeback win over Luton Town in the Premier League.
“We have to see [who will be fit for the final], but I said it before the game [against Luton] as long as we have 11 players, we will go for it,” Klopp stated, referring to Liverpool’s extensive injury list. Several key players such as Joel Matip, Diogo Jota, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Alisson, and Thiago will miss the final. Mo Salah, Darwin Nuñez, and Dominik Szoboszlai are also facing late fitness tests.
Although Liverpool is the favorite, Chelsea has its challenges as well with their own injury list. Wesley Fofana, Reece James, Marc Cucurella, Romeo Lavia, and Benoit Badiashile are out for the Blues. Thiago Silva and Robert Sánchez might return to the lineup.
While silverware is a desirable goal for Klopp as he prepares to leave Liverpool, Mauricio Pochettino has his own reasons for aiming for a victory. The Argentine coach has faced scrutiny regarding his future at Chelsea as the team languishes in 10th place in the Premier League despite a substantial financial investment from American owner Todd Boehly.
Pochettino’s job Website security appears to be holding steady for now, with Boehly expressing patience due to the long-term vision of developing young players at the club. A win in the Carabao Cup final would provide a valuable boost for Pochettino and ensure his tenure isn’t cut short.
At Thursday’s pre-media press conference, Pochettino shared his excitement about the opportunity to challenge Liverpool and potentially win Chelsea’s first title at Wembley in 11 years. “It means a lot for us, me and my coaching staff to have the possibility to arrive in a final and challenge a team like Liverpool to win our first title here,” Pochettino stated. “We have 90 minutes to achieve that, and we are going to fight.”
Both managers understand the importance of this game not only for their team’s morale but also as a farewell gift from fans. The Carabao Cup final is set to be an exhilarating and emotional match with both teams vying for the coveted trophy.
