Chelsea face Liverpool in the EFL Cup final on Sunday and are 90 minutes from silverware in Mauricio Pochettino’s first season. The Blues are underdogs this weekend as Liverpool boast a better domestic campaign, but Chelsea tend to shine at Wembley.
The Blues have reached three EFL Cup finals in five years and haven’t been beaten in normal time, so Liverpool shouldn’t underestimate them. Chelsea boast five FA Cup finals in seven years too, so Pochettino’s continued a proud tradition in getting to Wembley.
Chelsea have been inconsistent in the Premier League this season but have looked far more convincing in the cups.
August 30, 2023 – Chelsea 2-1 AFC Wimbledon
Chelsea began their EFL Cup campaign at home to AFC Wimbledon and made it to Round Three after a scare. James Tilley opened the scoring for the visitors from League Two, but Noni Madueke levelled before the break. Enzo Fernandez turned the game on its head after the restart, scoring Chelsea’s winner midway through the second half.
September 27 – Chelsea 1-0 Brighton & Hove Albion
Chelsea faced a test against Brighton as the visitors were coming off the back of five wins from seven. The Blues held firm, however, and came out on top thanks to a second-half Nicolas Jackson goal.
November 1 – Chelsea 2-0 Blackburn Rovers
Chelsea had an easier test in the fourth round, facing a Blackburn side struggling in the Championship. Benoît Badiashile opened the scoring after half an hour while Raheem Sterling wrapped up the game on the hour mark.
December 19 – Chelsea *1-1 Newcastle United
Chelsea had their biggest test in the quarter-finals, being taken to penalties by Newcastle. The Blues were thrashed by the Magpies in the Premier League a month earlier but fought back after going behind. Callum Wilson gave Newcastle the lead, but Mykhailo Mudryk struck at the death to send the game to extra time. The two sides remained level, so it took penalties to separate them. Cole Palmer, Conor Gallagher, Christopher Nkunku and Mudryk scored from the spot to send Chelsea into the semis.
January 9, 2024 – Middlesbrough 1-0 Chelsea
Chelsea suffered a shock 1-0 defeat in the first leg of their semi-final clash at Middlesbrough. Hayden Hackney scored before half-time to give Boro a surprise lead going into the second leg.
January 23 – Chelsea 6-1 Middlesbrough
Chelsea were 90 minutes from elimination before their second-leg clash with Middlesbrough, but they responded perfectly. A Jonny Howson own goal just 15 minutes in levelled the tie on aggregate. Enzo Fernandez then doubled Chelsea’s lead on the night and put them ahead on aggregate. Alex Disasi scored minutes later and the game was running away from Boro. Cole Palmer struck before half-time to make it 4-0, and he netted a second in the second-half. Noni Madueke scored Chelsea’s sixth before Morgan Rogers pulled one back for the visitors late on.
