Carabao Cup

LIVERPOOL suffered another injury blow during the Carabao Cup final as Ryan Gravenberch was stretchered off.After just 23 minutes, the Dutch midfielder had to be carried off the field after a late tackle from Moises Caicedo.
Moises Caicedo’s late tackle hurt Ryan GravenberchCredit: Sky Sports
The Liverpool midfielder went down holding his ankleCredit: Sky Sports
Gravenberch went off on a stretcherCredit: Sky Sports
The Chelsea star caught Gravenberch with his studs on the ankle.
Liverpool’s man was down for several minutes receiving treatment before a decision was made that he could not continue.
Caicedo went unpunished for the challenge, which was checked by VAR.
Jurgen Klopp was furious over the tackle and he ranted at the fourth official.
READ MORE IN FOOTBALL
Gravenberch being unable to continue forced the manager into a tactical rethink with defender Joe Gomez coming on.
Liverpool are already in the midst of an injury crisis with ten first-team players already in the treatment room.
Alisson, Joel Matip, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Thiago Alcantara, Dominik Szoboszlai, Curtis Jones, Stefan Bajcetic, Mo Salah, Diogo Jota and Darwin Nunez all missed today’s game with fitness issues.
Caicedo’s tackle on Gravenberch was not the only controversial moment of the first-half.
Most read in Football
HOW TO GET FREE BETS ON FOOTBALL
Raheem Sterling had the ball in the back of the net for Chelsea, only for Nicolas Jackson to be ruled as marginally offside in the build-up.
It is unclear how long Gravenberch will be out for but the Reds will be desperate for the injury to be minor with the Premier League title race hotting up.
Meet the WAGs of Chelsea and Liverpool, from a model to a friend of Messi’s wife
Liverpool are currently top of the table by one point.
They face Southampton next in the FA Cup on Wednesday. More

THOUSANDS of Liverpool fans are at risk of missing the Carabao Cup final due to Wembley ticketing issues, it has been reported. Liverpool are due to kick off against Chelsea at 3pm for a chance at winning the first silverware of the season.
Liverpool fans are reporting major ticket issues at WembleyCredit: Rex
More than 85,000 fans are expected to be in attendance at the match.
However, travelling Reds have experienced problems getting into the stadium.
BBC reporter Nick Parrott said “hundreds if not thousands” of digital tickets were not working for fans trying to get through the turnstile ahead of kick-off.
Fans experiencing issues have subsequently been directed to the ticket office, where paper tickets have been printed.
READ MORE IN FOOTBALL
It was also reported fans with square QR codes were working properly.
SunSport have approached Wembley Stadium for comment.
The match, a repeat of the 2022 final, was moved from its original 4:30pm slot after a Metropolitan Police request.
Police deemed the fixture to be “high risk”.
Most read in Football
CASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO WELCOME OFFERS
On the move, an EFL spokesperson said: “Following representations from the @metpoliceuk, the local safety advisory group has determined the 2024 @Carabao_Cup Final will now kick-off at 3pm.
“Having previously scheduled the usual 4.30pm kick-off time with @wembleystadium and @SkySports, it is disappointing to note the change at this late stage.”
How Chelsea lined up against Liverpool in 2022 Carabao Cup final with just TWO of starting XI still at club
Line-ups for the clash have now been announced, with Jurgen Klopp without the services of talisman Mohamed Salah.
Klopp, who announced he was leaving the club at the end of the season, is also without Darwin Nunez and Dominik Szoboszlai after they were not deemed fit enough to play.
You can see the full line-ups below:
Chelsea XI
Here’s how Chelsea line up at Wembley
Liverpool XI
Here’s how Liverpool line up at Wembley
You can follow all the action with our live blog by clicking here. More

JOHN TERRY showed his excitement for the Carabao Cup final by posting a naked snap of him with the trophy.Chelsea face Liverpool at Wembley this afternoon in a battle to clinch the first piece of silverware this season.
John Terry got into the mood for the Carabao Cup final by posting an unusual throwback snapCredit: @johnterry.26
Blues legend Terry got in the mood for the game by posting a bizarre throwback photo on Instagram.
The former captain is stood in the dressing room without any clothes on with just the trophy covering his private parts.
He cheekily captioned the post: “It’s a good job these tassels are long.”
Fans found it hilarious, one said: “I love this man.”
READ MORE ON FOOTBALL
Another added: “My captain.”
A third joked about him putting his shirt on to celebrate Champions League final victory despite not playing in 2012, saying: “Wears full kit when he don’t play and f**k all when he does.”
Terry won three League Cups during his 19 years at the club.
His first taste of glory in the competition came in 2005 as Chelsea beat Liverpool 3-2.
Most read in Football
HOW TO GET FREE BETS ON FOOTBALL
Two years later he lifted the trophy again as a Didier Drogba double saw off Arsenal 2-1 in the final.
Then his stripping off snap came after Chelsea beat Tottenham 2-0 in 2015.
Meet the WAGs of Chelsea and Liverpool, from a model to a friend of Messi’s wife
The goals that day came from Terry and Diego Costa.
Chelsea have twice been to the final since, losing twice on penalties to Manchester City in 2019 and Liverpool two years ago. More

LIVERPOOL have been hit with a potential selection crisis on the day of the Carabao Cup final – after some key stars were noted to be absent from the team’s walk around Wembley.Mohamed Salah, Darwin Nunez and Dominik Szoboszlai were all absent as Jurgen Klopp’s side inspected the Wembley pitch.
Jurgen Klopp led his team around WembleyCredit: Rex
Three key players were absent from Liverpool’s pre-match walkCredit: Rex
Sky Sports News’ Vinny O’Connor brings us an early update from Wembley, with Liverpool potentially short of three key figures for their EFL Cup final clash against Chelsea 🔴 pic.twitter.com/sn85xFMCkx— Sky Sports News (@SkySportsNews) February 25, 2024

All three players were unavailable for Liverpool’s 4-1 win last time out in the Premier League against Luton and were doubts for today’s game.
But there were hopes that at least one of the players would be in contention to play a role in the final today.
Nunez’s injury was thought to be the most minor of the three, and many expected him to be fit enough at least for the bench.
But his absence is likely to see Cody Gakpo lead the line for the Reds again.
READ MORE ON THE CARABAO CUP
The trios potential absence is the latest in a developing injury crisis at Liverpool.
The Reds are without 10 first-team names in total.
Trent Alexander-Arnold, Joel Matip, Alisson, Curtis Jones, Diogo Jota, Thiago Alcantara and Stefan Bajcetic are all also ruled out of the Carabao Cup final with long term injuries.
Klopp has done a remarkable job in dealing with the injuries so far, with the manager still on track to sign off from his time at Liverpool with a quadruple.
Most read in Football
The club currently lead Manchester City in the title race by a point, and could take their first step towards a quad if they beat Chelsea today.
They are also in the fifth round of the FA Cup, where they will be taking on Championship promotion hopefuls Southampton.
Unearthed video shows Xabi Alonso admitting Liverpool job is his DREAM after Jurgen Klopp quit
Their round of 16 Europa League draw also proved to be a kind one, with Liverpool being drawn against Sparta Prague. More

CHELSEA and Liverpool go head to head this weekend in a battle for the season’s first piece of silverware.Both teams will take to the hallowed turf of Wembley with very different motivations to get over the line.
Liverpool and Chelsea come to blows at Wembley in the Carabao Cup final this weekendCredit: Reuters
Both sides are motivated to get their hands on the first piece of silverware of the seasonCredit: Getty
For Chelsea the final represents a chance for a first trophy of their new era under Todd Boehly and an opportunity to alleviate some pressure off the shoulders of Mauricio Pochettino.
While Liverpool are doing everything in their power to give Jurgen Klopp the send off he deserves after the German announced he would be stepping down at the end of the season.
Alongside their differing motivations, both side come into the game with stark differences in their form too.
The Blues are languishing in mid-table in what has been an uninspiring season.
READ MORE ON CHELSEA
Although they will be buoyed by a creditable point against Manchester City on Saturday.
Liverpool, on the other hand, are flying high at the top of the Premier League table having lost just one of their last 15 games in all competitions.
But the Reds have a significant injury list that will hugely impact the team they are able to field this Sunday against Chelsea.
In this article we highlight three key tactical areas that could decide who lifts the league cup aloft this weekend.
Most read in Football
CASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO WELCOME OFFERS
What will Liverpool’s front three look like?
Liverpool’s 4-1 win away to Brentford came at a high price with injuries to Curtis Jones, Diogo Jota and Mohamed Salah.
The trio join a crowded medical room at Anfield which includes the likes of Trent Alexander-Arnold and Dominik Szoboszlai – stretching Liverpool’s squad depth to the limit this weekend.
Chelsea fan Astrid Wett makes very X-rated Carabao Cup final promise
There is also a slight doubt surrounding the fitness of their maverick Uruguayan Darwin Nunez, although he is expected to be fit.
While all five players have had extremely strong seasons so far, it is probably the loss of Jota and Salah that will have the biggest impact on Liverpool’s potential lineup.
Diogo Jota, in particular, was having an superb start to 2024 before suffering a significant injury against Brentford.
His ability to play as a no.9 for Liverpool but to drop back towards the midfield and link the play is similar to the way that Roberto Firmino used to play that role for the Reds.
Jota dropping out of the attack and towards the player in possession allows Cody Gakpo to move inside and leave Arsenal’s defensive line poorly positioned – One through pass is enough to release Gakpo through on goal

The extent of Jota’s injury means we already know that the 27-year-old will definitely miss the match, although Salah may still be passed fit for the final.
Having Darwin Nunez play as the no.9 for Liverpool, however, gives the Merseyside outfit a completely different look compared to Jota.
The 24-year-old is very much a striker that wants to remain as the focal point of the Liverpool attack as he plays on the last defender and looks to use his pace to run behind and attack space.
This means that there is less space centrally for Liverpool’s wide players to attack into.
With that said we are still likely to see the two wide forwards, expected to be Luis Diaz and one of Salah or Gakpo, play in a more narrow shape as they come inside to play in the channels at the very least.
Any of the options in the wide attacking spaces for the Reds will be volume dribblers who want to take control of the ball and attack the opposition area aggressively.
The difference is that Nunez will want to be constantly positioned as the main striker in the 4-3-3.
The reality when facing a team like Liverpool is that any front three that they put on the field will be extremely dangerous.
Here, you can see the kind of positions that Diaz will want to take up in the channel with Andy Robertson wide on the left – in these areas Diaz can attack the opposition by driving through any space that their defenders leave between them

Chelsea need to use Raheem Sterling in transition
Chelsea impressed during their 1-1 draw with treble winners Man City last weekend.
One of the main reasons for their result was the performance of Raheem Sterling – who netted Chelsea’s only goal and provided a consistent threat from the left-wing.
City, as expected, dominated possession throughout the game but they were vulnerable on the counter attack with Sterling’s movement key for Chelsea in taking advantage of their dominance.
We would expect to see a similar story on Sunday as Liverpool are likely to have the lion share of the ball against the Blues.
When Jurgen Klopp’s team attack they typically commit a lot of players into advanced positions as they look to overload the opposition.
This will, in turn, create opportunities for Chelsea to quickly attack in moments of transition and the pace and movement of Sterling will once again be key in their taking advantage of this.
Here Man City have pushed a lot of players forward into the Chelsea half allowing Chelsea to play quickly in transition and attack into space – the first pass releases Nicolas Jackson but it’s the movement and direct running from Sterling that really stretches the attack

Liverpool will likely continue with Conor Bradley at right-back in the absence of Alexander-Arnold.
As impressive as the 20-year-old has been since stepping into the first-team, he is still inexperienced defensively against top wingers.
Sterling will deliberately pull out wide to attack the space that Bradley leaves behind himself when he pushes forward to support the attacking movement. 
While Sterling will occasionally drop in to fill gaps and defend against the ball he will typically remain relatively high so that he can transition quickly to attack space.
This will make it difficult for the right-sided central defender for Liverpool who will have to choose whether to retain his position or move outside to cover the threat of Sterling if he is left in space.
Sterling’s movement will likely be paired with a more direct approach in transition from the Chelsea midfield in order to put pressure on the Liverpool defence early.
When Chelsea attack it is the movement and direct running of Sterling that creates the chance – as the initial pass is played to the near side to release Gusto from right-back the City defence has been caught narrow

Who will win the midfield battle
Both sides are likely to line up for this match in a 4-3-3, although Chelsea’s third midfielder may make it look like a 4-2-3-1 on paper.
As always at the top level the battle for dominance in the midfield area will likely be key.
Szoboszlai and Jones are huge losses for Liverpool’s midfield and they will have their work cut out against a Chelsea midfield with Enzo Fernandez, Moises Caiciedo and Conor Gallagher that is starting to look more settled.
With the likes of Fernandez and Gallagher in particular we are starting to see a more direct and aggressive approach from Chelsea both in and out of possession from the midfield.
Chelsea have become more direct against teams who have the edge in terms of possession – here, we see Gallagher immediately look for a longer pass to release the wide runner
One of the keys for the match is likely to be the presence of Wataru Endo at the base of the Liverpool midfield.
Endo has effectively replaced Fabinho in the Liverpool structure and the Japanese international has gone from strength to strength this season.
He breaks up opposition attacks and is calm and composed in possession.
With the likes of Alexis MacAllister and, probably, Ryan Gravenberch playing further forward for Liverpool we will see Endo having to act as the link between the defence and attack for Liverpool.
The midfield battle will likely be relatively tight given the players that Liverpool have missing through injury but we still expect Liverpool to have the edge.
READ MORE SUN STORIES
This shows the importance of Endo as he sits in front of the two central defenders and guards against transitions – In possession he draws pressure towards him before slipping the ball past the pressing player

Conclusion
Cup finals are notoriously difficult to predict as league form often goes out the window.
The unpredictability is heightened further here with the sheer volume of players who are missing through injury for Liverpool. More