Klopp wary of Chelsea's determination for revenge

Coach Jurgen Klopp predicts Chelsea will take to the field with the mindset of avenging their defeat at the hands of Liverpool in 2022, when they meet again in the League Cup final on February 25.

Liverpool and Chelsea met in the 2021-2022 FA Cup and League Cup finals. Both matches ended 0-0 and required penalties, with Jurgen Klopp's side winning.

In the FA Cup final, Liverpool won 6-5 with Cesar Azpilicueta and Mason Mount missing. In the League Cup final, Liverpool won 11-10 with goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga missing the decisive penalty. 10-11 is also the highest penalty shootout score between two Premier League teams in history.

After beating Fulham to reach the League Cup final, Klopp was wary of Chelsea's determination to take revenge. "It will be a fierce match. Chelsea will want to rewrite history after the defeats when facing us in the two Cup finals two years ago," the German coach expressed. "Wembley will be filled with blue and red, it will be a great atmosphere."

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp during the home match against Fulham in the second leg of the English League Cup semi-final at Craven Cottage, London on January 24, 2024. Photo: AP

At Craven Cottage on the evening of January 24, Liverpool started better and took the lead thanks to Luis Diaz's close-range strike. But the visitors then squandered their chances and Fulham equalised thanks to Issa Diop's tap-in. However, the 1-1 score was enough for Liverpool to reach the League Cup final with a 3-2 aggregate score and aim for their 10th title.

Klopp has led Liverpool to the League Cup final for the third time. The previous two were a win over Chelsea in 2022 and a 3-1 penalty shootout defeat to Man City in 2016. History favours Liverpool as they have scored 13 goals on their way to this season's League Cup final. They have won the last four times they have achieved this feat, scoring 16 in 1994-95, 20 in 2000-01, 13 in 2002-03 and 14 in 2011-12.

"It's not a night to shine or play fancy football. It's a night to qualify for the final," Klopp said. "We all know what this game means to Fulham and how they really wanted to come to Wembley. When we came here, we had to work hard and we did the job. It was a really special moment."

Klopp also defended Mohamed Salah - the star who was criticized for leaving the Egyptian national team during the African Cup of Nations (AFCON) to return to Liverpool. Klopp said Liverpool and Egypt had agreed on this decision to help Salah get the best medical treatment. The 56-year-old coach emphasized that Salah will return to play if he recovers in time and Egypt reaches the AFCON final.

Meanwhile, coach Marco Silva sees Liverpool's experience in big matches as a differentiating factor. "I feel Liverpool are much calmer than us," he said. "For them, this is just a normal match. Meanwhile, for most of the Fulham players, playing in the semi-finals of the League Cup is new. I think the club and the players will develop thanks to matches like this."

Liverpool have a chance to win the quadruple this season. In addition to the League Cup final, they are top of the Premier League, face Norwich in the fourth round of the FA Cup on January 28 and are in the last 16 of the Europa League.

Hong Duy

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