2024 EFL Cup final

2024 EFL Cup final
Wembley Stadium will host the match
Event2023–24 EFL Cup
Chelsea Liverpool
Date25 February 2024 (2024-02-25)
VenueWembley Stadium, London
← 2023
2025 →

The 2024 EFL Cup final is the upcoming final match of the 2023–24 EFL Cup. It is set to be played between Chelsea and Liverpool, in a repeat of the 2022 final, at Wembley Stadium in London, England, on 25 February 2024.[1]

Route to the final

Main article: 2023–24 EFL Cup

Chelsea

Round Opposition Score
2 AFC Wimbledon (H) 2–1
3 Brighton & Hove Albion (H) 1–0
4 Blackburn Rovers (H) 2–0
QF Newcastle United (H) 1–1 (4–2 p.)
SF Middlesbrough (A) 0–1
Middlesbrough (H) 6–1
Key: (H) = Home; (A) = Away

As a Premier League club not involved in any UEFA competitions, Chelsea entered the cup in the second round where they were drawn at home to EFL League Two club AFC Wimbledon. The match was played at Stamford Bridge on 30 August 2023, where Chelsea won 2–1 thanks to goals from Noni Madueke and Enzo Fernández, with the latter scoring his first goal for the club.[2] In the third round, they were drawn at home to fellow Premier League club Brighton & Hove Albion, played at Stamford Bridge on 27 September. The match finished 1–0, with the lone goal coming from striker Nicolas Jackson in the 50th minute.[3] In the fourth round, Chelsea were drawn at home against EFL Championship club Blackburn Rovers, with the match played on 1 November. The match saw Chelsea comfortably defeat Blackburn by a score of 2–0, with goals coming from both Benoît Badiashile and Raheem Sterling.[4]

In the quarter-finals, Chelsea were drawn at home for the fourth consecutive time to Premier League club and 2023 finalists Newcastle United, with the match played at Stamford Bridge on 19 December. A an early Newcastle goal from Callum Wilson saw them try to maintain the lead, however a defensive mistake from Kieran Trippier led to a stoppage-time equalizer from Chelsea substitute Mykhailo Mudryk, sending the match to a penalty shoot-out. Chelsea won 4–2 on penalties with a 100% conversion rate, with Cole Palmer, Conor Gallagher, Christopher Nkunku, and Mudryk all scoring for the Blues. Wilson and Bruno Guimarães converted their penalties for Newcastle, with Trippier missing the target and Matt Ritchie having his decisive penalty saved by Đorđe Petrović.[5] In the semi-finals, which were played over two legs, Chelsea were drawn against EFL Championship club Middlesbrough with the first-leg played away at Riverside Stadium on 9 January 2024. Middlesbrough shocked the Blues, beating them 1–0 with a goal from Hayden Hackney.[6] The second-leg was played at Stamford Bridge on January 23, with Chelsea winning 6–1 (6–2 on aggregate) in a must-win match, with an own goal from Jonny Howson, goals from Fernández, Axel Disasi, Madueke, and a brace from Palmer securing the victory for Chelsea, despite Middlesbrough's Morgan Rogers earning a consolation goal.[7]

Liverpool

Round Opposition Score
3 Leicester City (H) 3–1
4 Bournemouth (A) 2–1
QF West Ham United (H) 5–1
SF Fulham (H) 2–1
Fulham (A) 1–1
Key: (H) = Home; (A) = Away

As a Premier League club involved in the 2023–24 UEFA Europa League, Liverpool entered in the third round where they were drawn at home to EFL Championship club Leicester City. The match was played at Anfield on 27 September 2023, where Liverpool won 3–1 thanks to goals from Cody Gakpo, Dominik Szoboszlai and Diogo Jota.[8] In the fourth round, they were drawn away to fellow Premier League club Bournemouth, played at Dean Court on 1 November 2023. The match finished with a 2–1 victory for Liverpool, with Cody Gakpo and Darwin Núñez both getting on the scoresheet.[9] In the quarter-finals, Liverpool were drawn at home to Premier League club West Ham United, played at Anfield on 20 December 2023. Liverpool produced a dominant display to record a 5–1 victory, with goals coming from Dominik Szoboszlai, Curtis Jones, Cody Gakpo and Mohamed Salah. Jones scored twice, his second goal being Liverpool's 500th in the EFL Cup.[10] In the semi-finals, which were played over two legs, Liverpool were drawn against Premier League club Fulham with the first-leg played at home at Anfield on 10 January 2024. Despite going behind in the first-half via a goal from Willian, Liverpool completed a turnaround to win 2–1 after two second-half goals by Curtis Jones and Cody Gakpo.[11] The second-leg was played at Craven Cottage on January 24, with the match ending in a 1–1 draw after Issa Diop cancelled out Luis Díaz's first-half strike. As a result, Liverpool won the tie 3–2 on aggregate to progress to their second EFL Cup final in three seasons.[12]

Pre-match

This will be Chelsea's tenth League Cup final and Liverpool's fourteenth – the latter is the most appearances of any club in this competition.[13] This will be the sides' third meeting in a League Cup final, having met in 2005 and in 2022. The final was initially meant to kick off at 16:30 GMT, but was instead switched to a 15:00 kick off after the match was designated a "high-risk" fixture by the Metropolitan Police.[14]

Match

Details

ChelseavLiverpool
Report

Man of the Match:

Assistant referees:


Fourth official:

Reserve assistant referee:

Video assistant referee:

Assistant video assistant referee:

Match rules[15]

  • 90 minutes
  • 30 minutes of extra time if necessary
  • Penalty shoot-out if scores still level
  • Nine named substitutes
  • Maximum of five substitutions, with a sixth allowed in extra time[note 1]

Notes

  1. ^ Each team will be given only three opportunities to make substitutions, with a fourth opportunity in extra time, excluding substitutions made at half-time, before the start of extra time and at half-time in extra time.

References

  1. ^ Brennan, Feargal (10 January 2024). "When is the 2024 Carabao Cup final? Date, time of League Cup title match at Wembley Stadium | Sporting News United Kingdom". The Sporting News.
  2. ^ Howell, Alex (30 August 2023). "Chelsea survive scare to beat AFC Wimbledon". BBC Sport.
  3. ^ "Chelsea 1-0 Brighton: Nicolas Jackson fires Blues into fourth round of Carabao Cup". Sky Sports. 28 September 2023.
  4. ^ "Chelsea cruise past Blackburn in Carabao Cup". ESPN. 1 November 2023.
  5. ^ "Chelsea 1–1 Newcastle United (4-2 on pens)". BBC Sport. 19 December 2023.
  6. ^ "Middlesbrough shock Chelsea in Carabao Cup semifinal first leg". ESPN. 9 January 2024.
  7. ^ "6-2): Blues blow away Boro to reach Carabao Cup final". BBC Sport. 23 January 2024.
  8. ^ "Dominik Szoboszlai scores stunner in Liverpool win". BBC Sport. 27 September 2023.
  9. ^ Jackson, Bobbie (1 November 2023). "Darwin Nunez continues fine form to send Reds into last eight". BBC Sport.
  10. ^ Stone, Simon (20 December 2023). "Jurgen Klopp's side reach Carabao Cup last four". BBC Sport.
  11. ^ Rose, Gary (10 January 2024). "Cody Gakpo hits winner as Reds fight back to win EFL Cup semi-final first leg". BBC Sport.
  12. ^ Begley, Emlyn (24 January 2024). "Luis Diaz goal sends Reds to Carabao Cup final". BBC Sport.
  13. ^ "Chelsea see off Tottenham to set up Carabao Cup final against Arsenal or Liverpool". Metro. 12 January 2022. Retrieved 14 January 2022.
  14. ^ "Carabao Cup: Chelsea v Liverpool final to kick off at 3pm on police advice". BBC Sport. 29 January 2024. Retrieved 29 January 2024.
  15. ^ "Regulations". EFL.com. English Football League. Archived from the original on 13 January 2022. Retrieved 13 January 2022.

External links