Chelsea vs Liverpool – Carabao Cup final: Live score, team news and updates as injury-ravaged Reds take on Mauricio Pochettino’s men with season’s first silverware on the line 

You have to say Liverpool have done incredibly to keep up the pace in all four competitions despite being hit by an injury list that is growing lengthier by the week.

They could have as many as TEN first team stars out today in what is a huge blow for Jurgen Klopp.

Here’s how their treatment table currently looks.

It’s fair to say Chelsea haven’t had much luck with the Carabao Cup in recent times.

Along with that epic penalty shootout defeat to Liverpool in 2022, they also lost on spot kicks to Man City in 2019.

However, that game is better rememebred for the bizarre moment when Kepa refused to be subbed off.

Perhaps it is a positive for Chelsea fans that Kepa – a seemingly bad luck charm in this competition – won’t be on the pitch today. He’s out on loan at Real Madrid.

Just two years ago, these teams faced off in the Carabao Cup final.

In what you could call a quirk, they also both reached the FA Cup final that season, with Liverpool winning on penalties in both occasions.

In terms of the Carabao Cup though, a competitive 0-0 draw was followed by an epic penalty shootout, with Chelsea keeper Kepa – who has his own chequered relationship with this competition – blazing a decisive penalty over the bar, with the Reds winning 11-10 on spot kicks.

You can relive that dramatic final below (although you perhaps might want to give it a miss if you’re of the Chelsea persuasion!)

Speaking of Mauricio Pochettino’s trophy drought, Mail Sport’s CHRIS SUTTON couldn’t emphasize how important he felt this game was for the Argentine.

Speaking on Mail Sport’s It’s All Kicking Off podcast, the former Premier League winner claimed it was ‘like a World Cup final’ for the Chelsea boss.

He also insisted that despite Liverpool being major favourites for the clash, he believes it is a ’50-50 game’.

You can read his full thoughts below…

Given how highly Mauricio Pochettino is regarded in management, it is often quite a surprise when you remind yourself he’s yet to win a trophy in English football.

The Argentine was close twice during his five-year spell at Tottenham, with Spurs coming runners-up in the League Cup in 2014-15, ironically losing to Chelsea, while they also lost the 2018-19 Champions League final to Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool.

He did win Ligue 1 and the French Cup at PSG, but that is seen as a given for the Parisiens.

Pochettino will be desperate to get that monkey off his back today!

Pat Nevin earned legendary status at Chelsea after playing 193 times for the club between 1983 to 1988.

He managed to lift two trophies while with the Blues – the Second Division and Full Members’ Cup – in the days before they were backed by billionaires.

But he seems pretty optimistic for this afternoon and felt Chelsea were actually ahead of where they should be at this stage of the Pochettino project.

You can hear his full thoughts below…

There are few walks as a fan quite as exciting as the stroll up Wembley Way and towards the iconic stadium ahead of watching your team in a final.

We’re still two hours away from kick off, but supporters are already making their way into the ground and the atmosphere is building.

It promises to be an enthralling game.

There will be plenty of talent on show today on the Wembley pitch, given these two teams are giants off English football.

Several stars are likely to miss out through injury (more on that later), but both teams are coached by two top-class managers.

But, how do the players compare when it comes to silverware and experience?

Mail Sport’s TUM BALOGUN takes a look…

What a scintilating match-up we have on our hands today as Liverpool and Chelsea battle it out for the first trophy of the season.

The Reds are looking to get the long farewell to Jurgen Klopp off to the best possible start ahead of his departure in the summer.

They are enjoying a fine campaign and also remain in the running for the Premier League, FA Cup and Europa League.

Meanwhile, Chelsea have had a mixed and chaotic campaign, but recent games suggest they’re starting to turn the corner.

While victory today wouldn’t justify the £1billion transfer spend since Todd Boehly took over the club in May 2022, it feels like it could be a pivotal moment in Mauricio Pochettino’s tenure at the club.

And welcome to Mail Sport’s live coverage of the Carabao Cup final between Chelsea and Liverpool.

Stay with us throughout the afternoon for all the build-up, team news and live updates from the showpiece event at Wembley.