A cup final win already this month brings the badge of burning gold to Chelsea’s shirts, but Sunday’s Carabao Cup final against Liverpool is all about the arrows of desire. Passion and intensity follow whenever these two great adversaries clash, and this is only their third ever meeting as the last two standing in a domestic cup campaign. The spoils went to the Blues in the previous two.

Sunday is the sixth League Cup final appearance this century for both clubs, and a repeat of the final 17 years ago to the day that heralded a new golden age for the Blues. ‘And now,’ the Daily Mirror match report concluded, ‘they will not believe anybody, or anything, can stop them.’

Chelsea’s current run of major finals in successive seasons is the longest in the club’s history and, despite not lifting the tri-handled trophy since 2014/15, the world champions are London’s first and most recent League Cup winners.

This is the first domestic final the Blues have ever reached without leaving the capital. It is also the fifth trophy tilt in just 398 days for head coach Thomas Tuchel, who has already claimed the Champions League, Super Cup and Club World Cup.

In recent contests against his compatriot Jurgen Klopp, Tuchel has won two and drawn two, three of them in England. Something definitely has to give on Sunday as Chelsea have won the last six games across all competitions and Liverpool nine.

Chelsea team news

Did opening goalscorer Kai Havertz show enough against Lille in his third 90 minutes-plus performance of the month to retain his place at the apex, or was Romelu Lukaku kept fresh to be unleashed against Van Dijk and co. at Wembley? The Belgian, who has 10 goals to his name across all competitions, has ‘every chance’ of returning for the cup final according to Thomas Tuchel, whose options are boosted by positive updates.

While Mason Mount took a seat among Tuesday’s subs after injury, Mateo Kovacic and Hakim Ziyech, influential in recent games, hobbled off but both, happily, have recovered and are ready for the final, along with Callum Hudson-Odoi. Longer-term absentee Reece James – controversially sent off against Liverpool in August – returned to training with the team yesterday.

The Blues have managed three clean sheets in the past four games. So far in this competition the Londoners have conceded twice and only one team (Man City in 2018/19) has let in fewer and won the trophy.

Further forward N’Golo Kante, Christian Pulisic as well as Havertz are gradually rediscovering their best form. All three have already had a hand in goals against the Reds.

The big-game German cleverly opened the scoring at Anfield with a deft near-post header. Corner-taker James was then sent off for handball after a VAR review. Mo Salah netted the resulting penalty, but the 10 men held on comfortably to share the points.

January’s pulsating 2-2 draw at the Bridge showcased the tactics each uses against the other. Liverpool’s opening salvos derived from passes aimed into space behind the Chelsea backline.

Mateo Kovacic’s brilliant volley came after Caoimhin Kelleher tried to clear a Marcos Alonso set-piece, and Kante’s pass split open the Reds’ right side for Pulisic to level.

In a game likely to be settled by such moments, both ’keepers will have to be at their best too. Kepa Arrizabalaga may have the honour for Chelsea, having played every match of the campaign, with clean sheets in the last three and a saves-to-shots rate of 90.5 per cent, but Edou Mendy replaced Kepa from the semi-final when we played the Club World Cup final two week’s ago.

*after penalty shoot-out

Reds resurgent

Liverpool’s win at home to Leeds revived their chances of landing the league title, a more coveted prize than the Carabao Cup, but they are unlikely to be distracted on Sunday.

What may play on minds is that since arriving in 2015 Jurgen Klopp has steered the Reds to one other domestic final (this competition in 2016, which they lost to Manchester City). It is 10 years since their last major cup success in England.Roberto Firmino is not expected to be fit for a while but Diogo Jota is likely to make Sunday’s bench if not the starting 11. The absence of both central attacking options would leave Liverpool lighter upfront, despite the midweek thrashing of Leeds.

Frustrated by Norwich’s 1-0 lead after an hour of last weekend’s game, Klopp changed to 4-4-2. Luis Diaz, initially selected as a wide forward with Sadio Mane through the middle, moved alongside incoming striker Divock Origi. Clever on the ball, the January signing is not yet as well-drilled on pressing and defending as the Klopp’s first choices.

The usual 4-3-3 was more successful against Leeds, but the Reds have found it harder to create chances against the Blues in our two meetings this term. They needed a disputed penalty to draw with 10 men at Anfield, and Mane was lucky to stay on the pitch after a challenge on Cesar Azpilicueta seconds into the 2-2 draw at the Bridge.

Klopp has suggested Caoimhin Kelleher will wear the gloves this weekend though usual no.1 Alisson played the first semi-final against Arsenal.

How to watch Chelsea in the Carabao Cup final

This match will be covered by Sky Sports in the UK. To find the relevant broadcaster where you are, see the Football League’s international partners page

Chelsea TV’s Matchday Live show, on this website and the 5th Stand app, comes from Wembley and features Joe Cole and Glen Johnson who played for both sides. It starts at 3.15pm.

Carabao Cup regulations

The VAR system will be in operation. Seven substitutes can be named and five used in the normal course of events, with up to six allowed if extra time is needed. Two concussion replacements are also permitted. If the aggregate scores are level at the end of stoppage time the winners will be decided by extra time played or, if necessary, penalty kicks.

Chelsea have won our past three shoot-outs, including this season’s Super Cup victory over Villarreal. The Merseysiders have lost two of their last three but beat the Blues 7-6 in the 2019 Super Cup when Adrian saved Tammy Abraham’s effort.

We have history

This is the ninth time the two teams have met in the League Cup, the second final, and the first to be played at Wembley. Chelsea have won four of our previous ties, Liverpool three.

The Blues’ successes include our past two meetings as well as the 2004/05 showpiece at the Millennium Stadium in February 2005. Under a roof closed against intemperate weather, the Blues conceded an early goal then took control of the game without scoring. With 10 minutes to go Steven Gerrard, widely linked with a move to Stamford Bridge, equalised with a misdirected header that scored an own-goal, prompting extra time.

Didier Drogba dispatched from Glen Johnson’s long throw, then substitute Mateja Kezman prodded in a third, his fourth goal since arriving the previous summer. Antonio Nunez made it 3-2 but the first silverware of the Roman Abramovich era had been secured.

Stamford Bridge North

This will be the Blues’ 26th appearance at the new Wembley Stadium when used as a neutral venue – the most by any club – and Liverpool’s eighth. The Reds have tasted victory in one of their previous seven visits since the twin towers were replaced by an illuminated arch. The Blues have lost our last three finals at the national stadium.

Cup appearances at new Wembley

Chelsea 25Manchester City 19Manchester United 18Arsenal 15Tottenham 8Aston Villa 7Liverpool 7Portsmouth 7

Premier League fixtures

FridaySouthampton v Norwich 8pm (Sky Sports)

SaturdayLeeds v Tottenham 12.30pm (BT Sport)Brentford v Newcastle 3pmBrighton v Aston Villa 3pmCrystal Palace v Burnley 3pmMan Utd v Watford 3pmEverton v Man City 5.30pm (Sky Sports)

SundayWest Ham v Wolves 2pm (Sky Sports)

TuesdayBurnley v Leicester 7.45pm