Final 2012 - Destiny to Win

By Joe, bettingexpert.com | Published 00:47 03.05.2012

Chelsea vs. Liverpool

Ambitions between the two teams, one is loyal and already won the league cup, the other left the former in search for some silverware, but both players, Steven Gerrard and Fernando Torres, once team mates, will go head to head to see who will lift a trophy putting one claim to bed. Liverpool will be facing Chelsea in the 2012 FA Cup Final with lots of history between the two teams that will be on stake.

Chelsea vs. Liverpool

Wembley Stadium – Kickoff 17:15 BST

Two of most illustrated clubs in England will be facing each other in the FA Cup final on Saturday 5^th at the New Wembley Stadium where kickoff is set to a 17:15 BST. One of the most successful teams in the last few years, Chelsea will be hunting their 7^th FA Cup silverware while Liverpool will be looking to lift yet another cup this season and also making this their 8^th FA Cup trophy.

Good memories of lifting the FA Cup, Chelsea has been successful in both occasions at the New Wembley stadium back in 2006/07, beating Manchester United, and 2009/10,beating Portsmouth. They are a successful team when it comes to silverware in the last few season, lifting in total of 6 FA Cups while two of them came since the New Wembley stadium was erected. This season has seen their ups and downs, but Chelsea will not care much because they are still within the hunt to lift silverware in both the Champions League and FA Cup, also needing to get that fourth place in the Premier League. All those priority will see caretaker Roberto Di Matteo, scorer in the 2-0 win over Middlesbrough in 1996/97, needing to put out his best eleven to compete on the day. Their quest to qualify for next season Champions League came to a halt as they were defeated 2-0 at home by Newcastle, now four points away from both the Geordies and London rivals, Tottenham with just two games to go. Their Champions League saw their cup strategy see some good results by beating Barcelona in two legs and in the FA Cup semi-final, disposing Spurs with an emphatic 5-1 win. The players have belief and trust in Di Matteo, both strikers Drogba and Torres are hitting the target while their midfield seems to have the attack prowess. The only concerns that Di Matteo will have to comtemplate is his defence four, both Gary Cahill and David Luiz are rate doubtful leaving only captain John Terry and Ivanovic in the central of defence. Chelsea rested Ashley Cole, Michael Essien, Frank Lampard, Mata and Drogba in the midweek game. This could show that Chelsea is intended to pick up their first silverware this season.

Liverpool has come with a different commitment to their domestic duties this season. They have not played in the New Wembley ever since they opened doors but this season, Liverpool managed to be the most visited team in the Premiership. After waiting six for a trophy, the League Cup came back in February, semi-finals 2-1 win over Everton at Wembley and now returning for the third time this season to face Chelsea who could see manager Kenny Daglish winning could yet win another silverware. However, in the Premier League, Liverpool have been disappointing, especially at Anfield, they have not shown their potential and mis-firing in front of goal, leaving their latest defeat 1-0 at home to Fulham. There were countless of first team players that were absent, Steven Gerrard, Glen Johnson, Pepe Reina and Luis Suarez, while Jamie Carragher, Stuart Downing and Jose Enrique all started from the bench. The last time Liverpool fielded a strong eleven, they completed outrun Norwich City at Carrow Road and Suarez taking their first hat trick, also a stunning 45-yard goal to round things up. Daglish praised his team last weekend but fall short in the midweek, serving him his fourth defeat at Anfield. Liverpool have been better on the travels and especially at the New Wembley, whether this team has turned out as a cup team, their transition period has given two Finals and that could give them confidence in the coming season. Don’t let the Premiership form deceive you, Liverpool are another beast when it comes to lifting silverware, something that they have in their history.

Verdict:

The stakes are high for both teams. Chelsea will use this as a spring board to gain confidence in cup matches if they are going for another top prize in the Champions League. What more are two former Liverpool players, Fernando Torres and Raul Meireles, are there to make the statement of leaving them for the better. Both are out to get into the starting line up on Saturday. On the other hand, Liverpool knows that they are facing an in-form Chelsea team and a defensive formation could be practice. Both Steven Gerrard and Luis Suarez will return and a 4-5-1 could be deployed just like the 3-0 win over Norwich. Liverpool has already beaten Chelsea twice, once in the league cup (2-0) and also 2-1 at Stamford Bridge in the Premier League. A highly charge game that could end up in a draw in the regular time and the game being decided on penalty, then Liverpool could nick.

Man to watch – for Chelsea, it is Mata, he is the one threading the balls to Drogba and Torres, if he gets his chance, not many back four can stop it. While for Liverpool, Luis Suarez is seeing goals of the late but also Andy Carroll could set himself up to score the odd goal that no one expects.

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