Liverpool vs Chelsea
It is the most magical day of the football season for many.
The FA Cup Final – the showpiece of the campaign as Wembley stages the most famous final of them all.
Some critics will say the competition has lost some of its allure.
They have a point, and the Football Association has hardly helped its own competition by staging semi-finals regularly at the national stadium – taking some gloss off it being a venue solely for the final – and also hosting the game before the league campaign has concluded.
Still, that will be on few minds on Saturday when two of the biggest clubs go head-to-head in front of a capacity crowd.
Talking Points
This is, of course, the second domestic cup final of the season and it is being contested by the same clubs.
Chelsea and Liverpool meet again, less than three months after the League Cup Final produced as exciting a goalless draw as you can get before Liverpool emerged triumphant in a marathon penalty shoot-out.
Will that give the Merseysiders a psychological advantage this weekend or will it make Chelsea more determined to exact revenge?
Both teams will arrive at Wembley Way with question marks against key midfielders.
Fabinho pulled up during Liverpool’s league win at Aston Villa on Tuesday night with a reported hamstring injury which, if, confirmed, will surely see him absent from the cup final squad.
Likewise, Chelsea lost Mateo Kovacic in the first half of their success at Leeds 24 hours later and he also must be a doubt.
Not that either side are short on quality replacements.
Liverpool are expected to recall both their captain Jordan Henderson and Thiago for the final, as well as Mohamed Salah in attack, while Chelsea will hope the influential N’Golo Kante can be back and firing on all cylinders after missing the last three matches.
Leading their line could be Romelu Lukaku. That may have seemed unlikely a few weeks ago but the Belgian international continued his revival with his third goal in two Premier League games on Wednesday night – all this after he had netted four in his first 22.
In Mason Mount, Chelsea also have a potential star. With 11 goals and 10 assists, he is only the fifth (and youngest) Chelsea player to reach double figures in both in a Premier League season, after Frank Lampard, Didier Drogba, Juan Mata and Eden Hazard.
With such talent on both sides, this final should be evenly matched and even more eagerly fought.
Expect FA Cup 2022 highlights.
History
Both teams have claimed one win apiece and two draws in their last four meetings over the past 14 months.
Chelsea won at Anfield last March, courtesy of a Mount strike and then, of course, there was the early season fixture in late August when both sides earned a point but 10-man Chelsea took the plaudits.
It was also level-pegging in January when the Merseysiders raced into a 2-0 lead at Stamford Bridge before two goals in three minutes hauled the west Londoners level again in what I dubbed a simply spectacular start to 2022.
Then, of course, came the League Cup Final and that marathon penalty shoot-out.
Overall, Chelsea have 65 victories in all competitions in their head-to-head meetings, Liverpool have 83 successes and there have been 44 draws.
Betting Tip
The SBOTOP FA Cup 2022 betting odds make Liverpool clear favourites.
They are available to tip 1X2 @ 2.03, Asian Handicap -0.50 @ 2.04 and -0.75 @ 2.35.
Chelsea are offered at an attractive 1X2 @ 3.40 and Asian Handicap +0.25 @ 2.20.
Given the fact both league meetings this season, plus 120 minutes of the League Cup Final, could not separate the two teams, then the offer of 1X2 Draw @ 3.40 is perhaps no surprise.
Another 0-0 draw is available @ 10.00, a re-run of their 1-1 draw from last August will pay out @ 5.80, and a repeat of the New Year 2-2 thriller is on offer @ 13.50 with Correct Score.
Will there be goals? I think so. Will there be many? Probably not.
The odds of total goal 0-1 @ 3.25 and 4-6 @ 3.30 reflect that too.
There is such an array of odds to consider, including a number of special deals, you need to go here before you place your bets.
In the end, though, you may want a prediction from me.
I think Kante will be key and, if he returns, I am going to edge towards Thomas Tuchel getting the better of his German compatriot Jurgen Klopp.
Enjoy Cup Final Day!
A SHORT EXPLANATION ON HOW OUR (⭐) BETS ARE WORTH:
⭐⭐⭐= €20 (HIGHLY CONFIDENT)
⭐⭐= €10 (CONFIDENT))
⭐= €5 (SOMEWHAT CONFIDENT)
Disclaimer: Odds are correct at time of publish.
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