FA Cup Final: Chelsea v Liverpool - Will Torres break Kop hearts at Wembley?
The FA Cup used to be the showpiece finale of the English football season. A chance for everyone to gather round the telly once last time before heading off on their summer holidays. Not any more. Not only is the coveted final now played on the same day as a league fixture, it is two weeks earlier than it should be and been moved from its traditional 3pm kick off.
However, regardless of the changes, this final between Chelsea and Liverpool should prove to be a cracker.
Liverpool already have the League Cup in the bag and are now chasing a cup double. Chelsea too could also be celebrating a cup double in a few weeks time as they take on the might of Bayern Munich at the Allianz in the Champions League final. But first they must beat Kenny Dalglish's Reds.
Both Chelsea and Liverpool go into the cup final on the back of defeats in the league. Liverpool lost their first ever league game to Fulham on Tuesday while Chelsea were gunned down by two sensational strikes by Newcastle's Papiss Cisse. That result at the Bridge has killed off Chelsea's chances of finishing fourth so the pressure is all on Roberto Di Matteo's shoulders. He knows he must give the fans something to celebrate.
The FA Cup has come in for a lot of criticism over the past decade or so, with clubs playing weakened teams and losing appeal with the fans. You can't say that about Chelsea and Liverpool. Both teams have given the cup the respect it deserves and both Kenny and Robbie will be desperate to add it to their haul of trophies.
Liverpool have the edge over Chelsea in recent meetings. They have won the past four meetings and even knocked them out of the Carling Cup earlier this season at the Bridge. Chelsea's last win over Liverpool came more than two years ago at Anfield in the league, but this is Wembley, this is the FA Cup final. Who wants it the most?
Surprisingly Chelsea have the edge in previous FA Cup clashes. The Blues have won five compared to Liverpool's four. Will this be the day Liverpool draw level with Chelsea and clinch FA Cup number eight or will the blue ribbons be back on the trophy for a seventh time?
One player who could have a huge say in the matter is former Liverpool striker Fernando Torres. The Spaniard scored Chelsea's decisive goal in the Nou Camp and followed it up with a hat-trick against QPR. Life at the Bridge has not been smooth for the hitman since his £50m move to Chelsea, but he has shown signs of his old self recently. He may not start the game, but you wouldn't bet against Torres popping up with a last-minute winner.
Liverpool's Andy Carroll, their hero in the semi-final, also has something to prove. He, like Torres, has been in amongst the goals recently and scoring the winner against Chelsea in the FA Cup final would go a long way to repaying that £35m transfer fee.
But will it be John Terry or Steven Gerrard hoisting aloft the famous cup on Saturday evening? Our pundits believe it will be a Blue day for Liverpool.
* For the purpose of our Predict the Premier League competition, points will only be awarded for scores after 90 minutes.
Chelsea v Liverpool; Kick Off 5.15pm May 5 2012
Prediction Panel
|
Arsenal |
Don McMahon |
1 |
V |
0 |
|
Aston Villa |
Frank Pattison |
3 |
V |
1 |
|
Blackburn |
Terry Kennedy |
2 |
V |
1 |
|
Bolton |
Dave Blackburn |
1 |
V |
1 |
|
Chelsea |
Joe Tyler |
4 |
V |
0 |
|
Everton |
Chris Goodwin |
0 |
V |
3 |
|
Fulham |
Neil Springate |
2 |
V |
1 |
|
Liverpool |
Mark Williams |
1 |
V |
2 |
|
Man City |
Callum Rothwell |
2 |
V |
1 |
|
Man Utd |
Peter Lee |
2 |
V |
1 |
|
Newcastle |
Michael Stout |
2 |
V |
1 |
|
Norwich City |
Sue Read |
1 |
V |
1 |
|
QPR |
Arjun Swaminathan |
TBA |
V |
TBA |
|
Stoke City |
Philip Eccleston |
2 |
V |
1 |
|
Sunderland |
Tony Ratton |
1 |
V |
2 |
|
Tottenham |
Mike Richards |
1 |
V |
3 |
|
Swansea |
Jim White |
2 |
V |
1 |
|
West Brom |
Andy Wakeman |
2 |
V |
0 |
|
Wigan |
Alan Moore |
2 |
V |
2 |
|
Wolves |
Chris Cox |
2 |
V |
0 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
OUR EXPERTS |
|
|
|
|
|
Writer |
Colin Illingworth |
1 |
V |
2 |
|
Writer |
Steve Coulter |
2 |
V |
1 |
|
Writer |
Phil Bundy |
2 |
V |
0 |
|
Writer |
Mitch Waddon |
2 |
V |
1 |
|
Writer |
Matt Turner |
TBA |
V |
TBA |
|
Writer |
Chris Pettitt |
1 |
V |
1 |
|
Writer |
Hugh Larkin |
1 |
V |
1 |
|
Villa fan |
Lynette Ranson |
TBA |
V |
TBA |
|
Blackpool fan |
Phil Trow |
2 |
V |
1 |
|
Boro fan |
Sue Gardener |
3 |
V |
1 |
|
Fulham fan |
Russell Goldman |
2 |
V |
3 |
|
Pompey fan |
Dan Taylor |
2 |
V |
1 |
|
Pompey fan |
Peter Rendle |
1 |
V |
0 |
|
West Ham fan |
Matthew Beeby |
3 |
V |
1 |
|
West Ham fan |
Nigel Telfer |
2 |
V |
1 |
|
Editor |
Antony Melvin |
TBA |
V |
TBA |
Panel Verdict
It looks like Chelsea’s name is on the cup.
Home: 21; Draw: 5; Away: 6. TBA 4
* Do we have it right or do you know better? We’d love to hear your views.
Related articles:
Liverpool: Farewell Kuyt - Here are your best bits
