Chelsea stopped their slump by picking up a 3-0 win over Leeds United in midweek and this win will be really vital because next up, they have to face Liverpool.
Chelsea take on Liverpool in the FA Cup final at Wembley and this will be Tuchel’s only chance to pick up a silverware this season. The Blues lost the Carabao Cup final to Liverpool in February so this Saturday’s match will be a shot at redemption.
This is the fourth meeting between these two sides this season and all the previous matches have ended in draws(Liverpool won the EFL Cup via penalties). Tuchel’s side is very much the underdogs this weekend but the win against Leeds United will have given them some much-needed confidence before this final.
The manager had no chance to rest his players in midweek so the ones who played at Elland Road will also start at Wembley. Fatigue will obviously be an issue for the Chelsea boys but Liverpool have played a lot more games so the Blues actually have the better end of the deal right now.
Chelsea’s tactics for the FA Cup final:
Thomas Tuchel has played with a three-man defensive line at Chelsea so he’s not going to make any radical and unwanted changes in that department but the forward line might just see a slight reshuffle.
Tuchel has sometimes played with two strikers and in other matches, he has put up a single centre-forward and this dilemma is something the manager needs to sort out.
Three is the magic number. pic.twitter.com/4mwLhIkqT7
— Mason Mount (@masonmount_10) May 11, 2022
Using a 3-4-1-2 formation will put added pressure on Liverpool’s defence but since Fabinho is ruled out, using two attacking midfielders can help Chelsea take control of the midfield.
Chelsea team news vs Liverpool:
Thiago Silva was one of the lone players who was rested against Leeds United but he will come back into the side on Saturday. Azpilicueta has been underwhelming in his previous few matches and we expect him to remain on the bench.
Marcos Alonso had a slight disagreement with Thomas Tuchel during the Wolves game but thankfully this has not affected their relationship as the wing-back started at Elland Road.
The manager told the press, as quoted by Metro: ‘It started and ended in the first half and was not continued at half-time and nothing else.
‘It was not continued at half-time and things are solved. That happens.’
Mateo Kovacic picked up an ankle injury in midweek and he’s going to be absentee for the FA Cup final which is a major blow for the manager’s plans because N’Golo Kante is also sidelined with an injury.
Speaking on Kovacic’s ankle injury, Tuchel said: “It looks swollen and painful. It’s the same ankle he had injured already. It doesn’t look good.”
Christian Pulisic's goal against Leeds United is the first time in Premier League history that an American has scored against a team coached by an American 🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/iUBSherUfK
— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) May 11, 2022
We are not yet sure if Kante will be fit for Saturday or not because if he is missing then Thomas Tuchel will come under major pressure. Ruben Loftus-Cheek might have done brilliantly in his previous few outings but he along with Jorginho simply does not have what it takes to outmuscle Liverpool’s midfield.
Pulisic and Mason Mount had two goals and one assist between themselves on Wednesday night and if the Chelsea boss is using two attacking midfielders then these two will certainly be the first names on the teamsheet.
Romelu Lukaku has scored three goals in his last two outings so the Belgian will be the first-choice centre-forward. Both Timo Werner and Kai Havertz have seen a dip in form recently so the Chelsea boss will have to keep his faith in the in-form Lukaku.
Recent form:
Chelsea: WDLDW
Liverpool: WWWDW
Head-to-head:
Chelsea wins: 10
Draws: 10
Liverpool wins: 13
