bet365 Football Betting Show: Chelsea seek cup final revenge against Liverpool

Chelsea and Liverpool will lock horns at Wembley, with Sam Matterface and Steve Freeth discussing all of the talking points ahead of the EFL Cup final.

Repeat or revenge?

Liverpool prevailed over Chelsea on penalties in both the FA Cup final and EFL Cup final in 2022, with the two sides set to lock horns in a Wembley showpiece once again in the latest EFL Cup final.

Playing out two goalless draws at Wembley two years ago, Jurgen Klopp’s side were able to get their hands on both domestic cups by coming out on top on penalties, and Chelsea will be desperate for a different outcome when they contest for the first piece of silverware on offer in English football this term.

The Blues will need to improve markedly in performance levels from their last meeting with Liverpool last month, with the Reds running rampant in a 4-1 win at Anfield in the Premier League.

Favourites Liverpool are 8/13 to lift the trophy at Wembley, with Chelsea 13/10 outsiders.

Poch aims to salvage season

It’s been a difficult first season in charge of Chelsea for Mauricio Pochettino to say the least, with the Blues some distance from the top six despite unprecedented levels of investment on transfers.

The EFL Cup final provides the Argentina with a big opportunity to gain some much needed credit in the bank, with the Blues having last claimed silverware in 2021 when clinching their second Champions League title.

Despite enjoying largely successful tenures at Southampton and Tottenham in the Premier League, Pochettino has yet to win a major trophy in English football and will be desperate to break this duck in the EFL Cup final against Liverpool.

Defender for Player of the Match?

The Player of the Match market is always popular ahead of cup finals, with an open field of contenders ahead of the latest Wembley meeting of Chelsea and Liverpool.

There is often value to be sniffed out in this market, with a defender having been named player of the match in four of the past five EFL Cup Finals – John Terry in 2015, Vincent Kompany on two occasions in 2016 and 2018 and Liverpool skipper Virgil van Dijk in 2022.

Dutchman Van Dijk is priced at 16/1 to win the award for a second time, whilst academy graduate Conor Bradley could be a worthwhile punt at 20/1 with the Northern Irishman expected to continue deputising for the injured Trent Alexander-Arnold at right-back at Wembley.