Carabao Cup final LIVE: Latest team news, line-ups and more as Chelsea face Liverpool

Virgil van Dijk was requested if Jurgen Klopp’s departure on the finish of the season signifies that Liverpool are more decided to win trophies and ship the supervisor off in fashion.

“Yeah, I think everyone reacts obviously differently towards the news, like we all said over the last couple of weeks, all the players have given their reaction,” the Reds captain answered.

“But we need to give attention to the duty forward of us and clearly the final is ready for us, and that’s what we’re trying ahead to all collectively: along with the gamers, along with the employees, along with the supervisor, and we need to make {that a} big day and get our first trophy of the season.

“That’s how we give attention to the scenario and the tip of the season might be in all probability very emotional for lots of people, together with the supervisor, however we aren’t there but. We shouldn’t look too far forward, we must always take a look at what’s in entrance of us and that’s what we need to do.”

The gamers from each have already arrived on the floor and surveyed the turf whereas the followers are making their solution to Wembley filled with cheer and pleasure hoping to their team raise the trophy this afternoon.

Chelsea followers are already arriving within the capital en masse, and some have arrange camp at a pub close to Kings Cross, even hanging flags from lamposts outdoors.

Liverpool have scored the quickest ever objective on this fixture, and it got here in opposition to Chelsea. John Arne Riise struck after simply 45 seconds within the 2005 showpiece, although the Blues gained 3-2 after extra-time.

If as we speak’s match begins in such a style we’ll be in for a cracking sport.

Chilwell is among the survivors of that night time three years in the past, one in every of solely three members of the Chelsea squad together with Reece James and Thiago Silva to have introduced a trophy again to Stamford Bridge.

Virgil van Dijk says that it’s all the time a ‘special feeling’ to take part in a cup final and {that a} victory at Wembley this afternoon would give his team a ‘massive boost’ for the bck finish of the season.

“It’s a special feeling,” mentioned the Liverpool captain,

“Playing finals for this soccer membership is one thing out of this world and clearly you don’t need to lose finals first and foremost, however it’s all the time a particular factor and it’s the first probability for silverware.

“Hopefully, if it occurs, it would give us a large increase for the final a part of the season. It’s wonderful and all of us ought to benefit from the event, however positively be on the market and present the standard that we’ve.”

Mauricio Pochettino believes Chelsea are “ready” to win the Carabao Cup after current outcomes which have altered the course of their season forward of Sunday’s final.

The assembly with Liverpool at Wembley would be the membership’s first final since co-owner Todd Boehly took cost and launched into a radical overhaul that has to date not introduced success.

Of Liverpool’s 9 earlier League Cup final victories, solely two had been achieved inside 90 minutes with these being in opposition to Bolton Wanderers in 1995 and Manchester United in 2003.

The different seven required extra-time, penalty shootouts or replays.

Mauricio Pochettino has urged Chelsea supporters to not choose him on whether or not or not his team lifts the Carabao Cup at Wembley on Sunday.

Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool stand in the way in which of a primary trophy since co-owner Todd Boehly purchased the membership in May 2022 and started a radical overhaul.

The Argentinian can also be aiming to win silverware for the primary time in England, having been runner-up on this competitors to his present membership in 2015 whereas in control of Tottenham.

The two sides go toe-to-toe for the primary home silverware of the season on Sunday 25 February.

Liverpool need to win a record-extending 12th League Cup, whereas Chelsea are chasing their sixth crown.

The Blues are additionally trying to win their first home trophy since 2018 after dropping three Wembley finals in a row – together with each Carabao Cup and FA Cup finals to Liverpool on penalties two years in the past.

Liverpool are aiming to raise the trophy for a file 10th time, which might put them two successes forward of Manchester City. In comparability Chelsea have gained the League Cup 5 instances with their most up-to-date success coming in 2014-15.