Why Liverpool’s Fixture Was Rescheduled, but Chelsea’s Wasn’t
Liverpool and Chelsea are set to face each other in the Carabao Cup final on February 25th. While Liverpool has had their fixture against Luton rearranged to just days before the final, Chelsea will have a full week to prepare for the Wembley showdown.
Initially, Liverpool had the entire week leading up to the final clear for preparations. However, that has now changed as their match against Luton, which was originally scheduled for the weekend of the final, has been moved to Wednesday, February 21st.
On the other hand, Chelsea’s home clash with Tottenham, initially slated for February 23rd, will not be rescheduled. This is because the fixture had already been selected by Sky Sports, and broadcasting agreements do not permit it to be moved to clash with Champions League ties on February 20th and 21st.
Broadcasters have chosen to show PSV Eindhoven vs. Dortmund, Inter Milan vs. Atletico Madrid, Porto vs. Arsenal, and Napoli vs. Barcelona live on those two days. Since Liverpool’s match against Luton was not selected for TV coverage in the UK, there is a possibility that it could be rescheduled for that midweek.
The rescheduling of Liverpool’s match means that they will have only one full day of training between that game and the Carabao Cup final. They will have recovery on Thursday, training on Friday, and then travel to London on Saturday. In contrast, Chelsea will have a seven-day gap between their fixture against Man City on February 17th and the Carabao Cup final.
Despite the schedule changes, there are no complaints from those at Anfield. Jurgen Klopp, his staff, and the players are accustomed to the rigors of a packed schedule. Klopp even sees it as a positive, stating that having more players available for different positions is a luxury problem to have.
Liverpool’s upcoming match against Arsenal on Sunday will only see four senior players out injured – Mo Salah, Joel Matip, Stefan Bajcetic, and Ben Doak – with Wataru Endo also absent due to the Asian Cup. This relatively small injury list bodes well for their preparations leading up to the final.
Unlike Liverpool, both Chelsea and Tottenham are not involved in European competition this season. This means that there are plenty of free midweeks for their rescheduled fixture.
In conclusion, Liverpool will have a more hectic schedule leading up to the Carabao Cup final compared to Chelsea. While Liverpool’s match against Luton has been rescheduled just days before the final, Chelsea will enjoy a full week of preparations. However, Klopp and his team are well-equipped to handle the packed schedule and are focused on having all their players in good shape for the final.