Who will win at Wembley? Which players are key?

Top Premier League Teams may only have to win six games to lift the men’s team FA Cupbut Saturday’s final (11:45 a.m. ET; stream on ESPN+, US only) would still be more of a marathon than a sprint for Chelsea and Liverpool. This weekend’s fixtures wrap up the 150th edition of the world’s oldest cup competition, a milestone the Royal Mint said was huge enough to create a special £2 coin to commemorate.

The result is like a coin flip. Chelsea and Liverpool had contested an extremely exciting Carabao Cup final at Wembley just 76 days earlier, goalless at the end of 120 minutes and decided by best score – the penalty shootout ended in a scoreline. 11-10 by the goalkeeper of the Blues. Kepa Arrizabalaga His spot free kick missed the crossbar.

For Chelsea, it will be the 61st game of a grueling season that began with a Winning the UEFA Super Cup in Belfastcontinue with Successful Club World Cup in Abu Dhabiand is currently ending under sanctions in the midst of a dramatic takeover follow U, K, government decision to punish current owner Roman Abramovich for alleged ties to Russian President Putin.

Blues head coach Thomas Tuchel has admitted his players show signs of fatigue after such a demanding campaign, and Jurgen Klopp can sympathize; Saturday will be Liverpool’s 60th game between 2021-22 and both clubs will wrap up 63 games as the Reds’ season ends in Paris with a Champions League finally against Real Madrid on May 28.

Although Liverpool’s hopes of winning the Premier League are starting to fade when City of Manchester Continuing to win non-stop, Klopp’s army still has the opportunity to extend the unprecedented treble. The next leg could be guaranteed at Wembley.

– O’Hanlon: 6 key questions for Saturday’s FA Cup final (E+)
– Daily ESPN FC live stream on ESPN+ (US only)
– No ESPN? Instant access

Who needs this more?

With history at stake, perhaps Liverpool. Klopp has managed to deflect all speculation, but success in four leagues will elevate this Liverpool team to undisputed status as one of the greatest in English football history. However, the prize they most covet is the Premier League and the Champions League are still going on.

Tuchel will feel his players deserve something to show for the professionalism they have shown while the club’s existence is uncertain. Abramovich made his first statement trying to distance himself from the club on the eve of the Carabao Cup final on February 23. Since then, Tuchel has had to question everything from war to morality in football. While maintaining morale among a group of players and staff faces restrictions on day-to-day operations due to the terms of a special government license to continue completing stationary equipment.

A corporation partly owned by the Los Angeles Dodgers by Todd Boehly is currently seeking UK government and Premier League approval to complete the takeover. Boehly will most likely be at Wembley on Saturday as Chelsea prepare for a new era. What better way to start with the club’s ninth FA Cup win? For their part, Liverpool will level Chelsea with eight wins if they win.

Any trauma issues to consider?

Saturday will be the fourth meeting between the two teams this season, with the three previous encounters all technically ending in draws, and Chelsea’s rivalry with Liverpool based on a tight tie. closely with the 3-4-2-1 diagram. It was for this reason, more than any other, that Tuchel would be tempted to restore Kai Havertz lead the attack at the cost Romelu Lukakuwho has started the last two Premier League matches, scoring three goals.

Lukaku gave Liverpool a problem with the bench in the Carabao Cup final, and that “impact substitution” role could prove effective once again. Tuchel must decide Christian Pulisic, Timo Werneror Hakim Ziyech Play with Mount. Werner’s finishing ability is often questioned but his pace is not, and that pace will be a useful weapon against Liverpool’s high line.

The absence of Mateo Kovacic is a significant blow as Tuchel considers his possessive intelligence a key factor in Chelsea’s ability to control the game. N’Golo Kante and Jorginho will most likely receive a nod in the central midfield position.

Jurgen Klopp made five changes to Tuesday’s win at Aston Villa and left-back Andrew Robertson will definitely be withdrawn, as is Mohamed Salah after 18 minutes of his guest at Villa Park. No Liverpool player has scored more goals Sadio Mane (12) since the beginning of February and so he is certain to start, leaving Klopp to decide whether to go livewire or not Luis Diaz, Diogo Jotaor Roberto Firmino is his third striker. In midfield, Fabinho would be a big miss after injuring his hamstring against Aston Villa on Tuesday, but he must at least be fit for the Champions League final.

Who are the main players?

Salah, Mane and Diaz are all obvious threats for Liverpool but look a little deeper, Chelsea Mason Mountain will feel he has a special point to prove. The 23-year-old made two terrible mistakes in the Carabao Cup final on either side of the first half, which should have been goalless in favor of the Blues.

Mount was in fine form with one goal and one assist in Wednesday’s 3-0 win at Leeds and although Tuchel will make changes to that XI, Mount is expected to keep his place. He will be looking for space in an area of ​​the pitch that Fabinho is sure to vacate.

Jordan Henderson replaced Fabinho at Villa Park and England Internationals will play a key role in blocking supply lines for Chelsea’s strikers while also helping Liverpool disrupt the Blues’ press. Thiago Alcantara was one of the first to rest at Villa Park before continuing Curtis Jones with the score against Villa and it was the Spaniard’s pass that launched the attack that led to Mane’s decisive goal.

Thiago is believed to have produced his best performance for Liverpool in their FA Cup semi-final win over Manchester City last month and will be working hard to get through, after missing out on the Carabao Cup final after Injured hamstring during the warm-up.

Watch manager

This is the first time two German coaches have competed in an FA Cup final. This is the 19th meeting between the pair, with Klopp staying on top with 10 wins and 5 draws. Both are establishing themselves as one of the greats at their respective clubs, with Klopp became only the second Liverpool manager to lead a team to four major finals (League Cup, Europa League, Champions League and FA Cup) while Tuchel has achieved the same feat at Chelsea, something that has been done before. Only Jose Mourinho can do it.

Impressively, Tuchel’s success came after just one year and 108 days as head coach. Chelsea have lost their past two FA Cup finals but only one of them has been under Tuchel, as predecessor Frank Lampard has been beaten Arsenal in an empty Wembley due to COVID-19 restrictions.

Klopp’s status as one of the game’s great modern-day managers is guaranteed regardless of the outcome, but for Tuchel, a win would be a validation of his methods and a A reminder of what will be a busy transfer window at Stamford Bridge that Chelsea can remain the best opponents despite a change of ownership and a somewhat disappointing Premier League campaign.

Prediction: Chelsea 1-2 Liverpool

Hard to see this match without goals as the Carabao Cup final did. Although Chelsea beat Leeds in the middle of the week comfortably, it is their recent form that is worrisome. The superior plans on Liverpool’s attack will bring them an advantage.