Chelsea v Liverpool: Latest team news and predicted line-ups for Carabao Cup final

The countdown is on for the first piece of silverware of the 2023/24 season in England - with Chelsea and Liverpool set to once again go head-to-head in the Carabao Cup final.

Both sides reached Wembley two years ago and it was the Reds who emerged triumphant on that occasion after a penalty shootout.

Fast forward to this term and Chelsea have a new boss in Mauricio Pochettino, while Liverpool are also on the lookout for a new head coach after Jurgen Klopp opted to announce his intention to step down at the end of the campaign.

While the Reds still have another game to play before heading to Wembley, with a home Premier League clash with Luton on Wednesday, team news is already filtering through as they battle with injuries and Chelsea try to find the right combination after an inconsistent season so far.

Here’s all the latest line-up news and our predicted XIs for the Carabao Cup final - updated each day throughout the week.

Confirmed team news and latest predicted lineups:

Long-term absentees Wes Fofana, Reece James and Marc Cucurella are all definitely out for the Blues.

While the Reds are certainly without Alisson Becker, Joel Matip, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Diogo Jota and Curtis Jones at a minimum.

Chelsea: Petrovic; Gusto, Disasi, Colwill, Chilwell; Enzo, Caicedo, Gallagher; Sterling, Palmer, Jackson

Liverpool: Kelleher; Bradley, Konate, Van Dijk, Robertson; Endo, Mac Allister, Gravenberch; Salah, Nunez, Diaz

Monday - Reds face concerns after three weekend injuries:

Liverpool lost Curtis Jones and Diogo Jota to injury in the first half against Brentford on Saturday, while Darwin Nunez was subbed at half-time as a precaution. While there are fewer fears over the striker, Jota will now miss “months” with a knee injury and Jones is also out with an ankle problem.

Alisson Becker missed the Brentford match after injuring his hamstring and faces another week on the sidelines, but the Brazilian would not start the final anyway, with Caoimhin Kelleher in as the Reds’ Carabao Cup keeper.

Joel Matip is on the long-term injury list, so too Stefan Bajcetic and Thiago Alcantara, while before the weekend Klopp explained Trent Alexander-Arnold will not recover in time for the final and Dominik Szoboszlai will face a late fitness test.

As for Chelsea, their long-term injury list is unchanged with Reece James, Wes Fofana and Marc Cucurella all out for the foreseeable future. Romeo Lavia is back in training, but there is no update yet on Thiago Silva, while Carney Chukwuemeka has an ankle injury and Benoit Badiashile is out until March.

Robert Sanchez has returned, however, Pochettino may opt to continue with Djordje Petrovic in goal.