Liverpool’s Ambitious Quadruple Quest: Aiming for First Leg Triumph
Liverpool is gearing up for a crucial match as they head into the Carabao Cup final on Sunday. The team is aiming to secure the first of potentially four trophies this season, while Chelsea hopes to win their first domestic trophy in six years. The game is a rematch of the Carabao and FA Cup finals of 2022, both of which Liverpool won on penalties.
Liverpool’s assistant manager, Pep Lijnders, expressed the team’s determination to win the final. He stated, “It’s a special game. Special games need special performances so we have to focus on the performance.” With Lijnders and manager Jurgen Klopp set to leave Anfield this summer, Liverpool fans are eager for them to enjoy a triumphant send-off, especially after winning six major honors since Klopp took charge in 2015.
Defender Virgil van Dijk, who will captain the Reds in a Wembley final for the first time on Sunday, also emphasized the team’s desire to secure their first trophy of the season. He said, “We want to make it a special day and get our first trophy of the season.” Van Dijk acknowledged that the end of the season would be emotional for many people, including the manager, but stressed the importance of focusing on the present.
On the other hand, Chelsea’s last domestic trophy was the 2018 FA Cup. Although they have won four international honors since then, including the Club World Cup in February 2022, they are eager to secure a domestic title under manager Mauricio Pochettino. Pochettino, who took charge at Stamford Bridge last summer, sees this final as an opportunity to win his first prize in England.
In terms of injuries, Liverpool will give Mohamed Salah, Darwin Nunez, and Dominik Szoboszlai as much time as possible to recover before the game. Curtis Jones, however, has joined Alisson Becker, Trent Alexander-Arnold, and Diogo Jota on the sidelines, which means that several young players and fringe players will feature in the Wembley showpiece.
Despite the challenges, Lijnders remains positive and believes in the strength of the squad. He said, “That’s brought us success in the past… Johan Cruyff said that ‘every disadvantage has its advantage,’ and we get young players playing who haven’t been playing [regularly] – it’s a compliment to our squad and our academy.”
As for the statistics, Liverpool’s win over Chelsea in 2022 allowed them to regain the record for most EFL Cup wins with nine. Chelsea, on the other hand, has won the trophy five times. Mauricio Pochettino, Chelsea’s current manager, was the manager of Tottenham when they last won the cup in 2015. Pochettino has only reached one other final while managing in England, which was the 2019 Champions League final where his team lost to Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool.
Chelsea and Liverpool have a history of facing each other in cup finals. They have previously met in two EFL Cup finals (2005 and 2022) and two FA Cup finals (2012 and 2022). Liverpool emerged victorious in both 2022 finals on penalties after the games ended in a goalless draw at the end of extra time.
As Liverpool and Chelsea prepare for their much-anticipated showdown, both teams are determined to secure a victory. Liverpool aims to kickstart their quest for a quadruple, while Chelsea hopes to end their six-year domestic trophy drought. The stage is set for an intense battle at Wembley Stadium on Sunday, where only one team will emerge as the victor.