Chelsea will be aiming to win their first trophy under the tutelage of Mauricio Pochettino when they face Liverpool at Wembley Stadium for the EFL Cup showdown. The Blues have showcased some of their best form under the Argentine tactician in recent games getting the best out of Crystal Palace and Aston Villa while on the road before earning a spirited 1-1 stalemate against Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium. Chelsea have navigated their way past AFC Wimbledon, Brighton & Hove Albion, Blackburn Rovers, Newcastle United, and most recently Middlesbrough to reach their 10th showpiece event in this competition, coming from behind to thump Boro 6-2 on aggregate in the semi-finals.

The showdown of Chelsea against Liverpool, however, comes just in under three weeks since the Reds crashed Mauricio Pochettino's men at Anfield in the Premier League. The Blues are under immense pressure to lift the trophy if they are to secure a return to Europe for 2024-2025. Chelsea fans will be looking to avoid repeats of the two domestic cup finals the sides shared in 2021/22 which both ended goalless before penalty shootout victories for the Reds. 

Liverpool are after a record-extending 10th triumph in the EFL Cup competition and desire to win tomorrow's title in what they hope will be one out of the four trophies that they will be bagging at the end of the season in Jurgen Klopp's last season as the boss.  Klopp's men are already four points clear at the top of the Premier League table although their closest challengers and current champions Manchester City have got one game in hand. The Reds have gone passed Leicester City, Bournemouth, West Ham United, and most recently Fulham to reach the showpiece event, edging out 3-2 on aggregate in the semi-finals.

(Image: Goal)