For the second time this season, Liverpool will face Chelsea in a domestic cup final, this time at Wembley, as the two sides compete for the FA Cup (4.45pm). The Reds will be without Fabinho, an important holding midfielder. Given the absence of the destructive Brazilian, Express Sport examines three Chelsea players whom Liverpool must be aware of.
Mount Mason
Chelsea would have beaten Liverpool in the Carabao Cup final in February if Mason Mount had been more clinical. Two golden chances to score under the arch were squandered by the England playmaker.Regardless, the 23-year-old has had a fantastic season for the world champions, scoring 13 goals and providing 16 assists in 51 games, with 21 direct goal contributions in 31 Premier League games. In the midweek triumph over Leeds United, he was named Man of the Match.
After linking up the attack at Elland Road, he will aim to make the Blues tick at Wembley. Both a creative and goalscoring danger, Liverpool will miss missing Fabinho to cover the back four, so Mount will aim to exploit the gaps between the lines. Jordan Henderson, the deputy No. 6, will be critical in preventing his international teammate from causing too much harm.
Kai Havertz
Kai Havertz, Chelsea's Champions League-winning hero last season, is a player good at finding space in difficult locations, similar to Mount. When he was chosen ahead of Romelu Lukaku in the League Cup final, the German was key in creating numerous decent chances.
Havertz is Chelsea's joint-second highest goalscorer this season, alongside Mount, with 13 goals and six assists. And Fabinho's absence will be welcomed. With his placement essential, he was Liverpool's finest midfielder in the previous match between the two teams.
Havertz will be tasked with stretching the Liverpool defense and creating spaces between the midfield and defense, and stand-in Henderson will have to be just as focused against the threat of the German as he is against the threat of the Reds' regulars.Lukaku, Romelu
Romelu Lukaku is a strong contender to start against Liverpool after scoring three goals in his last two games. In the League Cup final, the Belgian was a real handful off the bench, and was only denied what could have been the game-winning goal by the tiniest of offside calls.
Lukaku will be a serious threat if he enters the game in the second half, even if he does not start. With five substitutes available, the striker will almost certainly be used in some form.Despite the attributes that Henderson, Thiago Alcantara, and Naby Keita provide to the midfield, Liverpool lack physicality, which will make the physical struggle with Lukaku - who can pin himself against defenders and bring his teammates into play - all the more essential. Virgil van Dijk and his centre-back partner will have to be at their best against a Lukaku who is looking more confident than he has in recent months.
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