Predicted Chelsea line-up for the FA Cup final vs Liverpool. (GETTY Images)
Chelsea will take on Liverpool on Saturday in the FA Cup final at Wembley. This will be the second time that both sides face off this season in a major final after having crossed paths in the Carabao Cup.
Jurgen Klopp’s side came out on top that night and go into the upcoming clash as slight favourites. Liverpool have been excellent this season and are in with a shot of securing all three major cup competitions. Hopefully, Chelsea will rise to the occasion and get the better of their rivals this time around.
This will be Thomas Tuchel’s second straight FA Cup final after having fallen at the final hurdle to Leicester City last season. The German won the UEFA Champions League final on his second time of asking and will hopefully repeat the trick in the FA Cup as well.
Chelsea have been handed a boost as midfielders Mateo Kovacic and N’Golo Kante could be in contention to feature on the night. This will give the Blues a fully fit squad with just Ben Chilwell and Callum Hudson-Odoi missing.
Thomas Tuchel will recall some of the players that he rested for the game against Leeds United, with Chelsea expected to continue in their 3-4-2-1 formation at Wembley.
The Senegalese shot-stopper is a shoo-in between the sticks and should keep his place in the starting XI. Hopefully, Tuchel will have learned from his Carabao Cup miscalculation and will permit Mendy to see out the game.
The German international will be making his final major final appearance for the Blues before preparing for Real Madrid in the summer. Rudiger has enjoyed a mixed season and it remains to be seen if he will enjoy a swansong with the FA Cup in tow.
The Danish international is another player who could be on his way out. He has been part of a rickety Blues backline in recent weeks but will start for the lack of better alternatives. How well he deals with a reborn Sadio Mane could set the stage for the match’s outcome.
The veteran is likely to go up against Luis Diaz and will need to form a good rapport with Reece James on the right flank. His organisational abilities and defensive acumen will prove key against the Colombian’s tricks and flicks.
As Chelsea’s lone fit senior left-back, the Spaniard is a shoo-in to start. He will function as a wing-back and will be tasked with pushing forward and causing Trent Alexander-Arnold problems.
Having made a return from injury against Leeds in midweek, the Italian might be forced to start this game yet again with Chelsea finding themselves extremely understaffed in the area. Kovacic and Kante may have to be content with places on the bench.
Injuries have meant that Ruben Loftus-Cheek has been saying consistent game-time in the team in his preferred position at the base of midfield. Tonight should be no different and the English midfielder will be hoping to put in a defining performance.
Arguably the best right-back in the world alongside Trent Alexander-Arnold, when fit, Reece James is an unstoppable force at both ends of the pitch. Chelsea will need him to make his marauding runs down the right flank as he looks to support the attack with crosses into the box.
The heartbeat of the Chelsea team, everything good that the Blues do goes through Mason Mount. He will undoubtedly start tonight’s clash and will want to help his team to a trophy.
Despite a dip in the past couple of games, Timo Werner has been good form recently. Playing off a natural nine like Romelu Lukaku will help the German and an impressive performance in a final like today will go a long way in resurrecting his faltering Blues career.
The Belgian has scored thrice in the last two games and appears to have hit top form at the right time. Lukaku has come out short at several key games this season and there is no better time than now for him to repay the club record fee Chelsea paid for him.
Inspite of the mixed form the Blues find themselves coming into this clash, a one-off clash of this magnitude generally doesn’t guarantee any favourites.
Having already lost a final against Liverpool, Tuchel’s men will want to get revenge this time around as they look to overcome the Merseysiders to the FA Cup title.
It will however be far from an easy task considering the form Liverpool are in currently and the stakes involved in the match. The Reds are in the race for an unprecedented quadruple and will come out all guns firing tonight.
If Chelsea indeed manage to get the better of Liverpool tonight, it will salvage what has been a very disappointing season and help the Blues win a trophy. It remains to be seen what happens but a mouth-watering clash is surely on the cards.
As long as we can keep Liverpool quiet in the opening 45 minutes, Chelsea will be expected to secure the trophy and end their season on a high.
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