Manchester United won’t be in the EFL Cup final this season. Last year it was the highlight of our season as Erik ten Hag ended a six-year trophy drought for the football club.
Following a third-round win over Crystal Palace at Old Trafford in September, the Reds were eliminated from the EFL Cup after a 3-0 defeat against Newcastle in the Round of 16.
Some Reds are still of the mentality that they couldn’t care less about the League Cup. Perhaps it had more significance last season because it meant the new manager lifted silverware in his first campaign, but I would argue that it gives match-going fans a day out at Wembley where memories can be made. It’s the first piece of silverware waiting to be lifted under the famous Wembley arch.
Sadly, it’s a repeat of the 2022 final, so it will be either Liverpool or Chelsea fans enjoying a day out at Wembley on 25 February.
Liverpool are one match away from becoming the first club to win the League Cup 10 times after beating Fulham 3-2 on aggregate to book their place in the final, which gives Jurgen Klopp a chance to win silverware before he leaves Anfield at the end of the season.
The German coach has previously won the EFL Cup twice.
The EFL Cup final will kick off at 3pm.
The bookies have Liverpool as favourites
- Liverpool 4/9
- Chelsea 7/4
Liverpool are 4/9 to win the League Cup ahead of their Wembley meeting with Chelsea.
When the two sides met in the 2022 final they failed to produce a goal for 120 minutes. The subsequent penalty shoot-out failed to produce a save or a miss until the 21st kick. It had to be Chelsea goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga that sent his spot-kick over the cross bar, while Liverpool’s stand-in keeper Caoimhin Kelleher made no mistake to make it 11-10.
It bodes well for Liverpool that they are on top of the Premier League – having lost just one domestic match all season – because Chelsea are struggling in their first season under Mauricio Pochettino. That is essentially why the Blues are priced as 7/4 underdogs with the bookmakers.
Without the likes of Cole Palmer and Raheem Sterling, Chelsea would not be in a position where they would be looking forward to a cup final at the end of the month.
