To say that Chelsea’s season has been a failure so far is an understatement. Dropped in the championship, in 10th place, the Blues will have difficulty getting a European ticket this way. The lifeline could come this Sunday. Pochettino’s Londoners face Liverpool in the League Cup final. Ladbrokes Foot prefaces this meeting.
Despite millions spent in all directions on the transfer market, Chelsea cannot do it. This season, the Blues have had a series of poor performances and are in an anonymous tenth place in the Premier League.
Their tasteless performances do not allow the team led by Mauricio Pochettino to take off. Over the last five matches, the record takes the form of a roller coaster with two victories, two defeats and a draw. Over the entire season, the Blues have scored ten victories, as many defeats and five draws.
Deprived of the European Cup this season, Chelsea therefore does not even have a way of catching up on the continental scene. And given the team’s current ranking and its dynamics, it’s difficult to imagine them seeking a European ticket via the Premier League.
The League Cup, the only clearing
But if it is not via the championship, it will perhaps be via a cup. Still involved in the FA Cup, of which it will play the 5th round on February 28 at home against Leeds United, the London team is mainly in the final of the League Cup. A final against Liverpool, record holder of the event with 9 wins, which they will play 3 days before, next Sunday.
The second English Cup is going well for the Blues this season who successively dismissed AFC Wimbledon, Brighton, Blackburn, Newcastle and Middlesbrough to reach the final. Against the latter, Chelsea managed to reverse the situation in the return match after losing the first leg 1-0. The team exudes confidence when they are not playing in the league.
The new ones stand out
Generally, the League Cup like the FA Cup allows coaches to rotate their squads. Chelsea had less need given the absence of the European Cup and certain championship regulars therefore regularly played in this competition.
Several of the team’s new transfers have also stood out. Cole Palmer, with 2 goals and 2 assists, is the team’s most decisive player in the League Cup. Nicolas Jackson, who arrived this summer, like Axel Disasi, each scored a goal for Chelsea.
Favorite Liverpool
However, even if Pochettino’s team is doing well in this competition, the Liverpool Reds remain the big favorites (odds of 2.10 on Ladbrokes Foot). Like in 2022 when the two teams had already faced each other at Wembley and it was Jürgen Klopp’s guys who lifted the trophy after a crazy penalty shootout (11-10).
Will we relive the same incredible scenario? At Liverpool, we would certainly sign with both hands. At Chelsea, on the other hand, we will want to take our revenge to save the season and not definitely be seen as service losers.
But moving this Liverpool will not be an easy thing, far from it. Championship leader, Liverpool are in great form and will continue their momentum. Furthermore, Klopp would not say no to winning a new title before leaving the club and we can therefore count on his players to be motivated like never before to give him this gift.
The difference with… the injured?
For this final, Mauricio Pochettino will have to deal with a busy infirmary since Chukwuemeca, Cucurella, Fofana, James, Lavia and Ugochukwu are out while Badiashile and Silva remain uncertain. At Liverpool, Alexander-Arnold, Alisson, Matip and Szoboszlai should be absent while doubt still hovers around Thiago Alcántara.
This is perhaps where the key to the match lies with the benches necessarily empty and a Chelsea which seems to be a step behind the Reds.
Experience the emotion of this match with Ladbrokes Foot!
2024-02-23 12:23:11
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