Anyone else getting bored of playing Liverpool yet?
Chelsea will face Jurgen Klopp’s side for the fourth time this season on Saturday, with the added incentive of the FA Cup trophy on the line.
Thomas Tuchel shared the points in both Premier League games with his fellow countryman, but couldn’t quite get the upper hand in the Carabao Cup final.
Now back at Wembley once again, revenge must be on the mind of Chelsea’s masterful manager.
Whilst attention still remains on securing a Champions League spot for next year, all focus must now be on winning domestic silverware for the first time since 2018.
Which is why we believe Tuchel will put out the strongest team available to him tomorrow.
Here’s our predicted Chelsea XI for the FA Cup final.
Defence
This pretty much picks itself.
Edouard Mendy of course keeps the gloves.
Antonio Rudiger is re-joined by Thiago Silva at the back, after the Brazilian sat out Wednesday’s comfortable win against Leeds United.
Andreas Christensen drops to the bench, along with Trevoh Chalobah, who is replaced by Cesar Azpilicueta.
Chalobah should feel hard done if Tuchel recalls the captain, as he’s hardly put a foot wrong when called upon since his senior debut last August.
But for the big occasion, Azpilicueta probably just gets the nod for his added experience.
Midfield
Again, selecting the midfield might be straightforward for Tuchel, mainly because of unforeseen and unwanted circumstances.
Marcos Alonso and Reece James remain as the two wing-backs, whilst Jorginho stays put from the win at Leeds.
His central partner could be Ruben Loftus-Cheek, who joined Jorginho early in the first half in mid-week.
The 26-year-old came on prematurely due to the damages suffered by Mateo Kovacic.
Kovacic had to hobble off the Elland Road pitch, with his place in the cup final squad seriously in doubt.
N’Golo Kante is in a similar boat, having missed the last three league games through injury.
Tuchel said he would know by today whether or not the Frenchman would be available for the final.
Even if Kante and Kovacic are fit, we believe the boss will avoid any unnecessary risks and start Jorginho and Loftus-Cheek.
Attack
Having all rippled Leeds’ net, it would feel massively unfair for Romelu Lukaku, Mason Mount and Christian Pulisic not to link up once more against Liverpool.
Each forward dispatched their goal expertly well, with some of their link-up play very easy on the eye.
Mount’s position is pretty much secured, but Pulisic and Lukaku will probably, and rather unfairly, be left hanging until the last minute.
Chelsea predicted XI vs Liverpool: Mendy; Rudiger, Silva, Azpilicueta; Alonso, Jorginho, Loftus-Cheek, James; Mount, Lukaku, Pulisic
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