The History of Liverpool FC in the Carabao Cup Finals: Omens Reveal Likeliest Winner

Liverpool are gearing up for the Carabao Cup final on Sunday when they face Chelsea at Wembley for the third time in two years. Jurgen Klopp will be hoping for a third straight cup final win over the Blues and, fortunately for Liverpool fans, history suggests he will.

With nine, Liverpool are the record title holders in the EFL Cup, currently named the Carabao Cup for sponsorship reasons, and they could extend that record to ten with a win this weekend.

The Reds are hoping for key players to return from injury in time for the clash but as their 4-1 win over Luton Town proved, they can get the job done with whoever is available.

A history and Overview of Liverpool FC in the Carabao Cup Final

Sunday will mark the fourth time Liverpool and Chelsea have clashed horns at Wembley.

Aside from the 2021/22 Carabao Cup and FA Cup finals (LFC win both finals on penalties), they also met at Wembley in the 2012 FA Cup final which Chelsea won controversially after Andy Carroll's goal was not adjudged to have fully crossed the goal line before being cleared by Petr Cech.

It will also be the first time two English clubs have played each other in five domestic cup finals and Liverpool's 14th time reaching the final of the EFL Cup. Should they win it, 10 titles in 14 attempts will mark an incredible record in the tournament.

History suggests that the final will go to penalties. Not based solely on the two cup finals in 2022 against Chelsea that went to a shoot-out, the Reds have also been involved in the most EFL Cup final penalty shootouts. Of the six finals that went to penalties, Liverpool were involved on four occasions with their last three final appearances being decided on spot kicks.

Sunday will also mark the second major final played between Jurgen Klopp and Chelsea boss Mauricio Pochettino after the Reds beat Spurs 2-0 to win the UEFA Champions League in 2019 - their sixth European Cup title.

Chelsea Beware Of The Omens

If you want to predict Sunday's final at Wembley based on historical omens, don't put your money on Chelsea.

The Blues have lost their last five domestic cup finals (the FA Cup in 2020, 2021, 2022 and the Carabao Cup in 2019 and 2022). One omen that could save them, however, is that there has never been a team in English history to lose six successive domestic cup finals.

This season has been one of growth for Chelsea despite still being rooted to 10th place in the Premier League. The Blues have also battled with injuries this season and yet, signs are beginning to show that Poch's philosophy is taking hold at Stamford Bridge.

They have some wonderful players and as their 1-1 draw with Manchester City showcased, they are more than capable of putting up a good fight with the elite Premier League teams of the moment.

The likes of Cole Palmer will be very dangerous for the Reds on Sunday with the English forward named by Liverpool assistant manager Pepijn Lijnders as one of the best signings of the season. Since moving to Chelsea, the 21-year-old has 14 goals and 9 assists, vindicating his decision to leave Man City.

Speaking ahead of the final, Lijnders raved about Palmer, telling his pre-match press conference: "I think one of the best signings this year in the Premier League is Palmer; taking him from a rival, a young player, and performing like that."

The Englishman will undoubtedly be the Blues' most dangerous player going into the game but the likes of Virgil van Dijk and Ibrahima Konate should be able to handle him.