Premier League: League Cup Final Dress Rehearsal has Many Sub-Plots

Liverpool vs Chelsea

The long goodbye has begun.

This Premier League encounter—a dress rehearsal for next month’s League Cup Final—will mark the first home league match at Anfield since Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp announced his intentions to step down at the end of the season.

In this SBOTOP writer’s view, the German is the best manager the club has had since the halcyon days of Bob Paisley.

So, as the shock amongst the red half of Merseyside subsides, the question is: can his team send him out on a high?

Talking Points

Premier League 2024 highlights against an inconsistent Chelsea would certainly keep them at the top of the table.

The backdrop, of course, remains that a universally adored figure at the club will soon be bidding them ‘auf wiedersehen’ and the wider impact that could have.

Certainly, they could have done without the public admission from their captain, Virgil van Dijk, this week that he is unsure if he will stay at the club once the manager who recruited him in 2018 departs.

Talk about a double whammy in a little over 48 hours for Liverpool fans.

They have had better news with Trent Alexander-Arnold and another regular this season, Dominik Szoboszlai, both making the substitutes bench for the FA Cup win over Norwich after a few weeks out with injury.

Left-back Andy Robertson also made his return in that game, which suggests Klopp should have a near-full-strength squad to select from.

Although it doesn’t necessarily feel like it, Chelsea are actually enjoying their most consistent spell of the season and have won seven of their last 10 fixtures in all competitions.

They travel north without a host of first-team players and a lengthy injury list, which includes Wesley Fofana, Marc Cucurella, and Reece James.

Romeo Lavia is also doubtful.

The young Belgian was one of two midfielders to turn down a move to Anfield in the summer, and it will be interesting to see what reaction the other, Moises Caicedo, receives.

Liverpool agreed a British record deal with Brighton in August for the Ecuadorian player, but Caicedo’s preference was always for west London and Stamford Bridge.

Certainly, while he has not enjoyed a dominant start to life at his new club – no surprise given the sheer turnover of players over the past 18 months – he has the potential to become one of the world’s greatest defensive midfielders, an area where Liverpool are arguably lacking a top-class operator.

When the sides met on the opening day of this season, a highly entertaining encounter showcased the attacking qualities of both sides, while the defensive deficiencies illustrated why Caicedo had become such a prized target.

He will have a key role to play if Chelsea are to continue their fine run against their fellow big boys this term (draws at home to Liverpool, Arsenal, and Manchester City and victory away to Spurs).

It could also set the tone for what could be a feisty League Cup encounter in a little under a month from now.

History

Since the two domestic cup finals two seasons ago, when Liverpool both times defeated Chelsea in a penalty shoot-out, there have been three draws between the sides in the league.

Both games last season ended goalless, and it was also honours even on the opening day of this campaign.

Then Luis Diaz opened the scoring for the Merseysiders before Chelsea, in their first game under new manager Mauricio Pochettino, rallied and drew level with an equaliser from new signing Axel Disasi.

As a result he became the 26^th different Chelsea player to score on his Premier League debut.

Overall, Chelsea have 65 victories in all competitions in their head-to-head meetings, Liverpool have 84 successes and there have been 47 draws.

Betting Tip

The Premier League 2024 betting odds naturally make the home side clear favourites.

Liverpool are priced 1X2 @ 1.60 and Asian Handicap -1.00 @ 1.97.

Chelsea, on the other hand, are available 1X2 @ 4.49 and Asian Handicap +0.50 @ 2.42.

A fourth successive draw between the sides is on offer @ 3.95, with another 1-1 paying out @ 8.50 with Correct Score.

If you count the League and FA Cup finals of two seasons ago, over 90 minutes the teams have played out goalless draws in four of their last five meetings, and another one will earn you a pay day @ 20.00

If you fancy a few goals instead, then look at total goal 0-1 @ 5.10, 2-3 @ 2.13, 4-6 @ 2.50 or over 3.25 @ 2.04.

 

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