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Liverpool Echo
Liverpool Echo
Sport
Nathan Bliss & Lewis Barton

We simulated Chelsea vs Liverpool in Carabao Cup final and this is what happened

Liverpool will travel to Wembley on Sunday afternoon, as they play Chelsea in the 2021/22 Carabao Cup final.

The clash with Chelsea will be Liverpool's first trip to Wembley in the competition since the 2015/2016 season, where the Reds played Man City in Jurgen Klopp's first final with Liverpool, but defeat on penalties saw Man City crowned champions. Liverpool last won this competition a decade ago in the 2011/12 season against Cardiff City, and like against Man City, this final was also decided on penalties, with Kenny Dalglish's Reds emerging victorious.

This will be the Reds' third meeting with Chelsea so far this season, with the first two coming in the Premier League and both ending in draws.

Klopp has been handed a major boost ahead of the final with Diogo Jota set to be fit, but whether he starts or makes the bench is yet to be known.

Roberto Firmino is doubtful to make the matchday squad, whilst Caoimhin Kelleher is confirmed to start in goal ahead of Alisson.

So, what line-up will Klopp select? And, what could the final score be?

We used FIFA 22 to get a Carabao Cup final score prediction for Chelsea vs Liverpool on Sunday afternoon and this is what happened...

Chelsea vs Liverpool score predicted by simulation

We used kick-off mode in FIFA 22, but didn't select a team to control, we then selected the teams and watched the match play out by itself, to give us a score prediction.

We predict that Chelsea could set up in a 3-4-3 formation, with their line-up as follows: Kepa; Christensen, Silva, Rudiger; James, Kante, Jorginho, Azpilicueta ; Ziyech, Havertz, Pulisic.

We predict that Liverpool could set up in a 4-3-3 formation, with their line-up as follows: Kelleher; Alexander-Arnold, Matip, van Dijk, Robertson; Henderson, Fabinho, Thiago; Salah, Mane, Diaz.

Like every meeting between these two sides this season, the game started extremely open, with both sides creating chances but failing to capitalise.

Christian Pulisic came closest in the first half when he was threaded through on goal, but the winger snatched at his shot rather than getting closer to goal, leaving Kelleher to make a strong save to his right.

Kelleher denied Pulisic with a great save in the first-half (EA SPORTS FIFA)

Kelleher was tested from range minutes later when Antonio Rudiger tried his luck, but the 'keeper did well to push the effort wide of goal. The second half continued in the same manner, but it was the Reds who broke the deadlock, with January signing Luis Diaz finding the opener at Wembley.

Some good link-up play down the left between Diaz and Andrew Robertson saw the former find himself in space inside the area.

Luis Diaz made it 1-0 to Liverpool (EA SPORTS FIFA)

The ball worked its way to Thiago in the centre, and the Spaniard found Diaz unmarked, leaving the Colombian to strike across Kepa and into the net.

Virgil van Dijk was forced off with an injury with 20 minutes remaining, and it seemed to give Chelsea a boost, with the Blues pushing for an equaliser. Three minutes of added time were awarded at the end of 90 minutes, and Chelsea grabbed a late equaliser in added time through substitute Hakim Ziyech.

Hakim Ziyech made it 1-1 in added time (EA SPORTS FIFA)

A quick break from Chelsea saw Timo Werner get in behind the Liverpool defence and charge towards goal, and the German squared the ball to Ziyech in the box who tapped past Kelleher to send the game to extra time.

No one could find a winner in the added 30 minutes, so the final was to be settled on penalties.

Fabinho and Mohamed Salah took the first two for Liverpool and scored, but James Milner and Sadio Mane both missed their attempts on the third and fourth kick.

Thiago Silva scored the winning penalty for Chelsea (EA SPORTS FIFA)

Thiago Silva stepped up to take Chelsea's fifth after the Blues had scored three and missed one of their four, and the Brazilian scored to win the Carabao Cup final.

FIFA 22 predicted final score: Chelsea 1-1 Liverpool (Chelsea win 4-2 on penalties)

Here are the full-time match stats.

FT stats from Chelsea's Carabao Cup final win over Liverpool on FIFA 22 (EA SPORTS FIFA)

FIFA 22 predicts that after another tight match-up between Liverpool and Chelsea went to penalties after a 1-1 draw, it was Chelsea who emerged victorious, with Milner and Mane missing the decisive spot kicks for Liverpool.

However, the simulation also shows that the Reds had the game in control until Van Dijk had to go off through injury, so should the Dutchman come through this match in real-life unscathed, Liverpool could secure their first silverware of 2021/22 on Sunday.

What do you think the final score will be? Let us know in the comments!

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