Chelsea will have a complete week to ready themselves for the Carabao Cup final, whereas Liverpool must contend with a match against Luton on Wednesday owing to fixture changes.
The Reds clinched their place in the Carabao Cup final by defeating Fulham in the semifinals, marking their inaugural trip to Wembley this campaign. Originally, Liverpool had a clear week leading up to the final for preparation. However, recent adjustments to the fixture list have thrown a wrench into their plans.
Liverpool’s match against Luton Town, initially set for the weekend of the final, has been moved to Wednesday, February 21. This swift change requires recovery on Thursday, training on Friday, and travel to London on Saturday, leaving Jurgen Klopp and his squad with minimal preparation time. In contrast, Chelsea enjoys an uninterrupted week leading up to the final, with their home game against Tottenham, originally planned for February 23, unaffected.
The alterations in fixtures are a result of broadcasting agreements and the selection of televised matches. Chelsea’s upcoming fixture against Tottenham has already been earmarked by Sky Sports, preventing any rearrangements due to conflicting Champions League engagements. Conversely, Liverpool’s game against Luton was not chosen for television broadcast in the UK, leaving room for potential rescheduling to midweek slots.
While Chelsea and Tottenham largely benefit from open midweeks, Liverpool faces a demanding schedule, compounded by their commitments in the Europa League. Nonetheless, with Mohamed Salah back in full fitness, Jurgen Klopp can approach the challenge with confidence as they aim to secure their first silverware of the season and sustain their hopes for a quadruple.