It’s the first piece of silverware of the 2023/24 season, and it will be won at the iconic and world-famous Wembley Stadium in London. Chelsea plays Liverpool in the EFL Cup final on Sunday, a game you can follow from the stadium or live on television and the best streaming apps from 15:00 GMT. But which team will lift the trophy aloft and be crowned 2024 EFL Cup winners, the Blues or the Reds? We can’t wait to find out.
The stats confirm something we already know as fans of English football: Chelsea and Liverpool are no strangers to meeting in cup finals. Liverpool leads the head-to-head stats in all competitions, winning 81 of their previous meetings with Chelsea, who are on 65 victories with 49 games ending in a draw. The most recent was a Premier League clash at Anfield, which Liverpool won by an impressive 4-1 scoreline.
Blues hammer Boro
Chelsea booked its place in the EFL Cup final with a resounding but unsurprising win over lower league Middlesbrough in the semi-finals. The Blues were hot favourites to win that game when the draw was made, and the team from Stamford Bridge did as expected with an impressive 6-1 victory over two legs. It was a landslide win, but the interesting thing about that semi-final was Chelsea lost 1-0 at the Riverside Stadium in the first leg.
Although they beat Boro 6-2 on aggregate following that sublime second-leg win, it’s worth remembering Chelsea did lose to Middlesbrough 1-0 in the first leg, and that was a shock result. The team must perform much better in the final if they are to stand any chance of denying Liverpool another piece of silverware in what’s certain to be a thrilling 90 minutes of cup action from the national stadium.
Reds edge Cottagers
If they’re opponents breezed through the semi-final and into the decisive game, Liverpool didn’t have things all their way in the last four where they were pushed hard by fellow Premier League side Fulham. The Cottagers are improving and came close to pulling off a massive upset in the previous round. Liverpool beat Fulham 3-2 on aggregate following two competitive games on Merseyside and then in London. The game at Anfield ended in a 2-1 home win with the return leg at Craven Cottage producing a 1-1 finish.
Bet hereDespite managing only to draw in the second leg, Liverpool took the lead at the Cottage with an early goal from Diaz, striking inside the opening 11 minutes of play. Diop hit a reply with 76 minutes on the clock to set up a thrilling finish to that semi-final but it was Liverpool that held its nerve the best and they fully deserved a place in the final where Jurgen Klopp aims to win the trophy for the final time as Reds manager.
Chelsea vs Liverpool prediction
What a game we have in store here as two huge names from English football go head-to-head at Wembley Stadium to decide the EFL Cup. Extra time and penalties are available if needed to find a winner of this fixture and crown a champion, but both managers will want to wrap things up inside 90 minutes and avoid the drama of a late battle.
Chelsea will enjoy a huge support at the London venue while Liverpool will bring bus loads of supporters to the capital. If both teams play the way they have been in the Premier League, Liverpool should possess the extra quality to sneak a hard-fought win and lift the first piece of silverware the season has to offer.
EFL Cup odds
If you’re a member of 22Bet, you can take advantage of the pre-match betting odds available to both new and existing customers. Do you fancy Chelsea to win the EFL Cup? You can back the blues to win the game or lift the trophy at 3.43. The draw after 90 minutes trades at 3.72 or you can back Liverpool to leave London with the trophy at 2.04.
As this is a cup final and a game that will attract a global audience, 22Bet has ramped up its pre-game and in-play betting odds. You can gamble on the first goalscorer, handicap, both teams to score, half-time/full-time, total goals and more. There’s something for everyone.
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