4 minutes The season’s first piece of major silverware is up for grabs on Sunday as Liverpool play Chelsea at Wembley Stadium
The season’s first piece of major silverware is up for grabs on Sunday as Liverpool play Chelsea at Wembley Stadium. In a repeat of the 2022 final, Liverpool head into the match as slight favourites but are in the midst of a major injury crisis. Here at betting.bet we’ll provide an in-depth look at the fixture, providing up to date team news, match insights and expert betting tips and opinions. We will also bring the best pre-match odds and exclusive free bet offers from our betting partners at BoyleSports.
Road to Wembley
Due to a lack of European participation, Chelsea joined the competition one round earlier than Liverpool. The Blues had to come from behind to earn a hard-fought 2-1 win over AFC Wimbledon at Stamford Bridge before defeating both Brighton & Hove Albion (1-0) and Blackburn Rovers (2-0). In the quarter-finals, Mykhailo Mudryk scored a 92nd minute equaliser to force extra-time against Newcastle United. The Blues eventually progressed after a 4-2 penalty shootout win.
Chelsea again has to come from behind in the semi-final after losing 1-0 in the first leg against Middlesbrough. Chelsea’s Premier League class finally told back at Stamford Bridge as they charged to a 6-1 second leg win, progressing 6-2 on aggregate.
Liverpool’s route to the EFL Cup final was far more straightforward. The Reds defeated Leicester City 3-1 at Anfield in round three before winning away at AFC Bournemouth (2-1) in the fourth round. A quarter-final fixture against West Ham United at Anfield produced a comfortable 5-1 win before they earned a 3-2 aggregate win over Fulham in the semi-finals, despite going behind in both legs of the tie.
Recent form
Based on Premier League form there is only one winner on Sunday. Table-topping Liverpool have won a massive 25 points more than Chelsea already this season and head to Wembley on a run of just one defeat in 15 matches in all competitions.
Liverpool warmed up for the cup final by coming from behind to defeat Luton Town 4-1 at Anfield. Chelsea held on for a 1-1 draw at Manchester City on Saturday.
Chelsea v Liverpool: head-to-head
Liverpool claimed a convincing 4-1 win when the sides met at Anfield in the Premier League less than four weeks ago. However, prior to that fixture the last seven matches contested between the sides in all competitions finished all-square after 90 minutes. In the 2021/22 season, Liverpool defeated Chelsea on penalties after playing out a 0-0 draw in both the EFL Cup final and FA Cup final.
Betting tips
Given their recent head-to-head meetings, there are worse bets you can make than backing the draw at 11/4. There have been under 2.5 goals in four of the past five EFL Cup finals and BoyleSports have priced under 2.5 match goals on Sunday at 13/10. A repeat of the 0-0 draw in the 2022 final is a very generous 12/1.
However, as a neutral we’re hoping for goals and this year’s cup final has the potential to buck the recent trend and produce plenty of goals. Liverpool’s last six matches in all competitions have all produced over 2.5 match goals without a single clean sheet for or against Jurgen Klopp’s side. There also hasn’t been a clean sheet in any of Chelsea’s last five matches. Both teams to score is excellent value at 4/9.
If we are to see goals at Wembley on Sunday then who is most likely to produce a moment of magic? Cody Gakpo has already netted four goals in the competition and he could prove key for Liverpool, especially if Darwin Nunez and/or Mohamed Salah join Diogo Jota on Liverpool’s ever-increasing injury list. Gakpo is 15/2 to score first or 5/2 to score at any time on Sunday.
Raheem Sterling netted the opening goal in Chelsea’s 1-1 draw at Manchester City last weekend and it would be no surprise to see the England international score against another one of his former clubs on Sunday. Sterling has eight goals in all competitions for Chelsea this season and has plenty of appeal at 3/1 to score at any time this weekend.
Match odds
| Chelsea | Draw | Liverpool |
|---|---|---|
| 9/4 | 11/4 | 21/20 |
