Chelsea predicted line-up vs Liverpool as Pochettino drops £25m summer signing for impressive youngster

Chelsea manager Mauricio Pochettino is likely to keep Robert Sanchez who was signed in the summer for £25million from Brighton on the bench and play the impressive Dorđe Petrovic in post for the final at Wembley. 

Sanchez is back in the squad for the first time this year after recovering from injury, but Petrovic has been brilliant in his absence.

The Chelsea boss also has a decision to make defence too after confirming Thiago Silva was in line to return to the team after suffering from a groin injury that kept him out against Manchester City last week.

Pochettino said: "I think we need to assess to see whether they can be involved on Sunday. Yes, I will communicate tomorrow if we recover players from training. Yes, he [Thiago Silva] has the chance. Tomorrow, we will see."

Despite the positive news on Silva, Chelsea could still be without eight players for the Carabao Cup final and Liverpool could also be without 10 including Mohamed Salah who missed the win against Luton Town in midweek.

Benoit Badiashile, Wesley Fofana, Reece James and Marc Cucurella are all sidelined which leaves Pochettino with limited options in defence while Klopp has to deal with the absence of Trent Alexander-Arnold, Diogo Jota and Alisson Becker.

The game is a rematch of both the Carabao and FA Cup finals of 2022, with Liverpool winning both on penalties, so Pochettino will be hoping for better luck and performance. Here is the team we anticipate the Blues manager will pick on Sunday.