It’s a day for Wembley passion! Liverpool and Chelsea meet in the English League Cup final at the national stadium in what will be one of the last, if not the last, such occasion for the Reds’ long-serving boss, Jurgen Klopp. By contrast, Mauricio Pochettino hopes to live many more days like this with Chelsea. But those things shouldn’t matter when the teams run out on the pitch today at 18.00 EAT.Chelsea’s Argentinean head coach has called on referee Chris Kavanagh and his officials to maintain fairness and avoid being swayed by the emotions surrounding Klopp’s impending departure from Liverpool. Reflecting on Chelsea’s previous encounter with Liverpool at Anfield, Pochettino expressed frustration over what he perceived as unfair officiating, highlighting two denied penalty appeals for his team. Despite acknowledging Liverpool’s superiority in that match, the former PSG coach emphasized the importance of impartial decision-making and urged fairness in every aspect of the game.”I think we need to be sure we are going to compete and be fair in every single decision. When we played against Liverpool at Anfield, I think too many decisions … not one key decision was for us. Two penalties were not given. Duels, 50-50s, always for another colour. Always red. I want to be treated in a fair way.”🇦🇷 Mauricio previews the #CarabaoCupFinal! 🗣️#CFC pic.twitter.com/01tGaeP2Nq— Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) February 24, 2024 While recognizing Klopp’s significance and Liverpool’s desire to secure silverware before his exit, Pochettino emphasized that Chelsea’s focus remains solely on their own performance rather than spoiling Liverpool’s celebrations. “Of course, we are going to celebrate. I am the first who is going to say that Liverpool is amazing and Klopp is one of the best coaches in the world. But I think after my last experience playing there, I think I want to go there and not feel the pressure in Wembley. We are Chelsea, and we need to compete with the same tools. If they are better, well done, and we congratulate them but be fair in every single decision. The pressure is about not delivering the job for Klopp. The pressure is not to be part of the hype.”Pochettino has only won once in their 13 head-to-head matches, with Klopp winning the coveted UEFA Champions League. Chelsea has lost five finals at Wembley, including two against Liverpool in 2021/22. Liverpool fans hope to win a historic quadruple, while Chelsea needs the trophy to lift their season after a poor league campaign.##NAJAVA_MECA_7899754##Klopp, on the other hand, has brushed aside concerns about his celebrations potentially upsetting others, emphasizing that his primary focus is on achieving success with Liverpool in every fixture, including the Carabao Cup final against Chelsea. The German’s passionate approach to each game reflects his commitment to leaving a lasting legacy at Liverpool, regardless of external opinions or criticisms.Acknowledging the challenges posed by injuries to key players like Mohamed Salah and Darwin Nunez, Klopp remains determined to lead Liverpool to victory, aiming to add another chapter to the club’s illustrious history with a memorable triumph at Wembley.”I want to win, but not for me or my trophy cabinet. It is for the boys, for the club, for the people. That is much more important, and everything will go on. What we are doing at the moment is writing a wonderful book, I would say. We wrote, and we are still writing a wonderful book. When I leave, we close that book, put it on the shelf and then someone else will write a wonderful book. That is the idea. I will not leave anything inside. I will give absolutely everything until the last second. Yes, there is space for some chapters. It is long. I am not there and writing the resume already. Not at all. I am 100 per cent committed to trying to create a few special memories on top of what we have done.”Jürgen Klopp: “I want to win on Sunday (today) but not for me or my trophy cabinet. It is for the boys, for the club, for the people. That is much more important. ” ♥️ pic.twitter.com/SC7jk0k2ja— The Second (@BobKasiita) February 25, 2024 Reflecting on his past encounters with Chelsea in domestic cup finals, Klopp recalled the intense and thrilling nature of those matches, highlighting the unpredictable nature of cup competitions. Despite acknowledging Chelsea’s improved form since their last meeting, the former Borussia Dortmund tactician remains confident in Liverpool’s chances and is eager to witness a passionate display from the Reds at Wembley.It’s the final – an occasion to savour.ENGLISH LEAGUE CUPFinalSunday18:00: (2.90) Chelsea (3.50) Liverpool (2.35)***odds are subject to change***
