Less than three months after their heartbreaking defeat to Liverpool in the EFL Cup final, Chelsea will have the opportunity to exact revenge as they lock horns with the Reds in the FA Cup title clash on Saturday.
Both sides had a goal disallowed in what was one of the most entertaining goalless draws of the season, before a missed penalty from goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga handed Liverpool their first title of the campaign.
The Blues have faded away since that night at Wembley, crashing out of the Champions League and barely holding on to a top-four spot, while Jurgen Klopp’s side have gone from strength to strength, staying on course for an unprecedented quadruple.
This will be Chelsea’s third straight appearance in the FA Cup final and they will be desperate to avoid a hat-trick of defeats, having lost to Arsenal and Leicester City in the last two editions.
Liverpool, meanwhile, are chasing their first FA Cup title since 2006, when they beat West Ham United on penalties after Steven Gerrard had equalised deep into injury time.
Chelsea
Chelsea are sweating over the fitness of N’Golo Kante and Mateo Kovacic. The Frenchman missed the game against Leeds United in midweek due to injury, while Kovacic had to be withdrawn after sustaining a nasty knock to his ankle.
Thomas Tuchel has suggested that he could risk at least one of the two given the magnitude of the fixture, although it seems unlikely. Callum Hudson-Odoi and Ben Chilwell remain sidelined.
Romelu Lukaku could lead the line for Chelsea once again after scoring three goals in his last two matches.
Liverpool
Jurgen Klopp will be without midfielder Fabinho due to a hamstring problem, meaning Jordan Henderson will return to the Liverpool lineup. Mohamed Salah and Thiago, who were benched in the win against Aston Villa, are also expected to start at Wembley.
Andy Robertson will replace Kostas Tsimikas at left-back, while Joel Matip should retain his spot in central defence ahead of Ibrahima Konate after scoring against Villa.
Chelsea predicted starting lineup (3-4-2-1): Mendy; Azpilicueta, Silva, Rudiger; James, Jorginho, Loftus-Cheek, Alonso; Mount, Pulisic; Lukaku
Liverpool predicted starting lineup (4-3-3): Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Matip, Van Dijk, Robertson; Keita, Henderson, Thiago; Salah, Mane, Diaz
Chelsea – Mason Mount
Mount has hit a purple patch in front of goal for Chelsea in recent weeks. The England midfielder has netted five times in his last eight games in all competitions, including in the 2-0 win against Crystal Palace in the FA Cup semifinals.
Liverpool – Mohamed Salah
The Egyptian has had a turbulent couple of months in a Liverpool shirt, but he remains one of the best attackers in world football and has the ability to raise his game in crunch fixtures. Salah will be hoping to end a six-game goal drought when he takes the field at Wembley.
Prediction: Chelsea 1-2 Liverpool
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