Liverpool to battle Chelsea in Carabao Cup final

By Peter Ochieng

Liverpool and Chelsea are up for an epic battle in the 2023/2024 Carabao Cup final.

Liverpool cruised to the final on Wednesday night, despite a 1-1 draw away to Fulham in the second leg of the semi final clash.

It took just 11 minutes for Luis Diaz to power his side into the lead at the Craven Cottage, after he won an aerial battle and drove towards the Fulham goal, unleashing a shot beyond goal keeper Bernd Leno.

The home team equalised in the 77th minute after Harry Wilson found Issa Diop who made no mistake.

Liverpool will now face Chelsea in the final at the Wembley Stadium on 25th February, 2024.

The Blues booked a final spot after a 7-2 win over Championship side, Middlesbrough, popularly known as Boro.

The sides last met in the Carabao Cup final in 2022, where Liverpool beat Chelsea 11-10 via post match penalties.

In his post match reaction, Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp said he was satisfied with the performance against Fulham.

"I would think everybody would say they would prefer the second game at home, but we play our home game first and we win 2-1 and we are all long enough in the business to really know that nothing was decided. Half-time, all good. You would expect that Fulham comes here today flying out of the blocks. I liked our first 30 minutes, really a lot. We were just ready for this game, that's the most important thing," said the German tactician.

He said they expected a tough match after Fulham manager Marco Silva, said it was the most important game of the season for them.

"I heard Marco Silva's press conference yesterday and I love it. I respect him so much, that's why I had a look at it: when you see he said it is the most important game, maybe of the season, and stuff like this. They want to go for the final and all these kind of things and I know what it means to them. I told the boys I know what it means to us, but we have to show it to the outside world, that we want it as much as they want it. I saw that."

The Reds once again missed the services of Egyptian Mohamed Salah who is nursing an injury, sustained during Egypt's ongoing Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) campaign in Ivory Coast.