Match Preview - Liverpool vs Chelsea - FA Cup final - Key Battle, Team News, Prediction

Liverpool will face Chelsea in the FA Cup final at Wembley Stadium tomorrow. Kick-off is at 4:45pm BST.

The Reds defeated Manchester City 3-2 to progress to the final. Sadio Mane scored two goals for Liverpool on the day.

The Blues on the other hand beat Crystal Palace 2-0 to secure their place in this season's final. Ruben Loftus-Cheek and Mason Mount were Chelsea's goalscorers against the Eagles.

Below is a preview of tomorrow's clash.

Key Battle

Both Liverpool and Chelsea are very good going forward. Reds boss Jurgen Klopp has the likes of Mohamed Salah, Luis Diaz, Diogo Jota, Roberto Firmino and Mane available for selection.

Blues manager Thomas Tuchel has Romelu Lukaku, Timo Werner, Mason Mount, Kai Havertz and Christian Pulisic at his disposal.

In terms of this season, Liverpool have scored 89 goals in 36 Premier League fixtures. Chelsea on the other hand have found the back of the net 73 times across 36 top-flight matches.

Both teams are also good defensively. Liverpool and Chelsea have conceded less than a goal a game across the 2021-22 Premier League campaign.

Therefore, the side that can cancel out the opposition forward line should win the match.

Team News

In team news for Liverpool, Klopp has confirmed that Fabinho will miss the final after picking up a muscle injury against Aston Villa at Villa Park midweek.

The Brazil international is a huge loss for Liverpool. He is Klopp's only natural holding midfielder.

In team news for Chelsea, Tuchel has made it clear that Mateo Kovacic could miss the game after suffering an ankle injury against Leeds United at Elland Road earlier this week.

The 48-year-old also said that N'Golo Kante, who has missed Chelsea's last few matches with an injury, is not a certainty to feature against Liverpool.

Previous Meeting

Liverpool last met Chelsea in the League Cup final, which took place at Wembley Stadium at the backend of February.

The game finished in a 0-0 draw after extra-time. So, penalties were required to separate both sides.

The shootout was tense, but, Liverpool managed to secure an 11-10 victory. The Reds had not won the League Cup since 2012, so it was a special day for the club.

Liverpool's reserve goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher was the hero. Klopp started the Irishman ahead of first-choice shot-stopper Alisson due to the fact that he had been the club's goalkeeper for the League Cup campaign.

The German had the following to say about Kelleher post-match.

"Caoimhin Kelleher is the best No.2 in the world as well, especially for the way we play," Klopp told the club's official website.

"He had an incredible game. People asked me rightly two weeks ago or something if we will give Caoimhin another game to get some rhythm or whatever. To be 100 per cent honest, it was the first time I thought about it, 'Yeah, he has rhythm.' But that's the life of a No.2, especially for a young No.2, that you just have to be ready when you are called.

"The game he played tonight was absolutely incredible. I'm not 100 per cent sure I have the full story of the whole game but I can remember at least two incredible saves – probably there were more.

"So, he proved that the decision to line him up was absolutely right. And then in a very spectacular penalty shootout, he showed the whole range of his skillset. First and foremost, he's a goalkeeper but he finished one off with his really skilled feet. Top-class."

Prediction

Cup finals are always tense. So, similar to the League Cup final, we can see Saturday being another stressful afternoon.

We do believe that both sides will score. Klopp and Tuchel possess terrific forward lines. But, Liverpool are slightly more potent.

We are backing the Reds to get the job done.

Liverpool 2 Chelsea 1