Mauricio Pochettino will right now have a rough idea of the Chelsea team he would ideally like to name for the League Cup final against Liverpool.
He will have seen more than enough in the draw against Manchester City in the Premier League last weekend to suggest that his side have what it takes to help him win his first trophy in English football.
While they only picked up a 1-1 draw against the reigning champions, the defensive grit and determination will have inspired many to believe they have more than a fighting chance on Sunday.
Pundit Gary Neville is one of those who has hinted he has already seen a way for the Blues to get at a Liverpool team who will also be missing a number of key players.
It is likely the manager does not look too far from the side who started the game at the Etihad at the weekend, and this would mean a number of top players are forced to watch from the bench.
Christopher Nkunku has seen his minutes managed since his return from injury setback, and if he is forced off to watch from the bench he may be sat alongside a potentially returning Carney Chukwuemeka.
Another player who could be about to make his return to first team selection is Robert Sanchez, who was expected to at least be in the squad last weekend.
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Pochettino has already hinted he and Djordje Petrovic are in for a spell of sharing minutes, however for this big game it is crucial the manager rewards recent form.
Petrovic’s kicking is certainly an area that needs work, however he has proven to be a seriously impressive shot stopper.
He already has good history against Liverpool on a personal level, even if the team performance left little to be desired at the time.
It is crucial for his confidence that the boss sticks by him for what will surely be the biggest game of the campaign at Wembley.
