Liverpool aim to claim the first of a possible quadruple when they take on Chelsea in the Carabao Cup final at Wembley on Sunday. With Jürgen Klopp leaving at the end of the season, the players have an extra incentive to start the game.
For Chelsea, Mauricio Pochettino will be desperate to win his first trophy in English football and kick-start his reign at Stamford Bridge with silverware.
The match is a repeat of the 2022 League Cup final, which ended 0-0 after extra time before Liverpool won 11-10 on penalties.
When is the Carabao Cup final?
The final will take place on Sunday, February 25, 2024.
What time is the kick-off?
The match starts at 3:00 PM (GMT). If the scores are equal after 90 minutes, 30 minutes of extra time will be provided. If the scores remain tied after extra time, a penalty shootout will take place to determine the winner.
What TV channel is it on?
The final will be shown on Sky Sports Main Event from 2pm and on Sky Sports Football from 2.30pm. You can also catch all the live action on the Telegraph Sport website.
Highlights can be seen on ITV 1 on Sunday evening at 10.50pm.
What’s the latest team news?
It was confirmed on Tuesday that Diogo Jota and Alisson would be absent for an extended period, while Curtis Jones will join Trent Alexander-Arnold, Thiago Alcantara and Joel Matip on the absentee list on Sunday.
There is no guarantee that Darwin Nunez, who like Jones and Jota was withdrawn in Saturday’s win over Brentford, or Dominik Szoboszlai will be fit as Klopp’s side are at risk of being stretched in the run-in, starting with the Sunday’s final.
Thiago Silva is a potential injury doubt for Chelsea after limping off with a groin injury in the 3-1 win over Crystal Palace on February 12.
Who is the referee?
Chris Kavanagh has been appointed as referee for Saturday’s showpiece match at Wembley.
Kavanagh will be assisted by James Mainwaring and Mark Scholes, with Tim Robinson becoming the fourth official and Wade Smith the reserve assistant referee.
The match will use video assistant referees (VAR). The VAR official is John Brooks and he will be supported by Marc Perry as assistant VAR.
Important fan information
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Brent Council has introduced a ban on street drinking in Olympic Way and the surrounding area for all events at Wembley Stadium.
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The game starts at 3:00 PM. There is general admission to the stadium from 1 p.m. The doors for hospitality open one hour earlier at 12:00.
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Both teams have dedicated Fan Zone areas where supporters get the chance to enjoy drinks with other fans, including alcohol, food and a DJ.
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The Liverpool Fan Zone is located on the East Concourse of the stadium and the Chelsea Fan Zone is located on the west side of the stadium. They open from 11am and stop serving alcohol an hour before kick-off at 2pm.
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For full information on the Carabao Cup Final, view the Supporters Guide here
Liverpool’s route to the final
Third round: vs Leicester (h) 3-1, September 27
Dominik Szoboszlai’s brilliant strike from the edge of the penalty area capped a second-half comeback after falling behind to Kasey McAteer’s goal in the third minute. Cody Gakpo’s shot on the turn leveled the score just after the break, Szoboszlai whipped the ball home and Diogo Jota’s cheeky backheel sealed the win.
Fourth round: vs Bournemouth (a) 2-1, November 1
Darwin Nunez’s goal was worth winning any cup match on a nasty evening on the south coast. Gakpo opened the scoring with a scrappy finish from close range, only for Justin Kluivert’s header to hit the far post to level matters just after the hour mark. Nunez’s poor first touch was jeered by the home fans, but he made them pay by cutting in from the left flank and hitting a vicious shot over Andrei Radu.
Quarter-final: vs West Ham(h) 5-1, December 20
Gakpo scored three in as many cup games, but Curtis Jones was the real star with two goals. Szoboszlai opened the scoring with another long-range strike and Mohamed Salah scored a trademark breakaway before Jones’ driving run completed the scoring. Jarrod Bowen’s curling effort had briefly made it 3-1.
Semi-final, first leg: vs Fulham (h) 2-1, January 10
Gakpo’s winner was his fourth consecutive goal appearance in the competition and his neat effort in the post gave Liverpool the lead over Craven Cottage. Jones’ deflected shot from the edge of the penalty area in the second half canceled out Willian’s opener and Gakpo smashed home the ball in the 71st minute to turn things around.
Semi-final, second leg: vs Fulham (a) 1-1, January 24 (Liverpool win 3-2 on aggregate)
Luis Diaz’s early deflected shot beat Bernd Leno at his near post and set Jurgen Klopp’s side on their way to Wembley. Issa Diop’s quick improvisation saw him guide home a cross with his thigh, but they could not penetrate further.
Chelsea’s route to the final
Second round: vs AFC Wimbledon (h) 2-1, August 30
Pochettino’s side went into a round earlier than they were used to due to no European football and suffered a shock when their League Two opponents took the lead through James Tilley’s first-half penalty, awarded after goalkeeper Robert Sanchez his goal had flown with a ball. reckless punch on a free kick. Chelsea responded with a penalty of their own, converted by Noni Madueke in stoppage time before half-time. In the second half, Enzo Fernandez took advantage of an Alex Bass error in the visitors’ goal to score for the first time since his £105 million move from Benfica, sparing his side’s blushes.
Third round: vs Brighton (h) 1-0, September 27
The Blues had lost at home to Brighton in the final weeks of the 2022/2023 season, but as Roberto De Zerbi’s side combined Premier League commitments with a maiden European campaign, Chelsea came out on top and advanced to the fourth round thanks to Nicolas Jackson’s goal. early in the second half. The match was notable for the full debut for Manchester City’s summer signing Cole Palmer, the 21-year-old who set up the winning goal. He goes into Sunday’s final as the club’s top scorer with 12 in all competitions.
Fourth round: vs Blackburn (h) 2-0, November 1
Benoit Badiashile marked his first appearance of the season after injury by scoring his second Chelsea goal as Blackburn were sent off to Stamford Bridge. The defender encountered an error from Rovers goalkeeper Leopold Wahlstedt, who failed to deal with Palmer’s corner and tapped in from close range. Raheem Sterling scored in the second half, again set up by the increasingly influential Palmer, to put his team in the last eight.
Quarter-final: vs Newcastle (h) 1-1 (Chelsea win 4-2 on pins), December 19
Chelsea looked to be on their way when Callum Wilson took advantage of the chaos in their defense to put Newcastle ahead in the first half as indifferent Premier League form appeared to have overtaken the team’s cup progress. It remained that way until stoppage time, when Kieran Trippier hesitated to deal with a cross and Mykhailo Mudryk sneaked in to save his side. A penalty shoot-out followed, with Trippier again the villain for the visitors before goalkeeper Djordje Petrovic saved from Matt Ritchie to send Chelsea through.
Semi-final, first leg: vs Middlesbrough (a) 0-1, January 9
A disastrous first leg at the Riverside Stadium saw Pochettino’s team return south in shame after missing a host of chances against the Championship team, with Palmer the main culprit. Hayden Hackney’s goal made the difference and left boss Michael Carrick and his players dreaming of Wembley.
Semi-final, second leg: vs Middlesbrough (h) 6-1, January 23 (Chelsea win 6-2 on aggregate)
Middlesbrough’s aspirations were extinguished at half-time in the second leg in west London, with Chelsea leading 4-0 at half-time on their way to a 6-1 win that ensured they and not Boro would face Liverpool on Sunday.
What are the best opportunities?
Chelsea wins: 6/4
Liverpool wins: 8/13
The odds are correct as of February 23