The FA Cup Final - Chelsea Vs Liverpool

KICK-OFF: 16:15 GMT

This is the first time in decades that the final has not kicked off at the traditional 3 o'clock. It is the latest time the final has kicked off since 1872.

FACTS:
Liverpool have won the FA Cup seven times, Chelsea have won it six times, but neither club won it for the first 94 years of the competition's existence until Liverpool's 1965 win over Leeds United.

CHELSEA
Chelsea's first win was not until 1970 - also against Leeds United - 99 years after the competition started in the 1871-72 season.

Chelsea beat Liverpool 3-2 in the 2005 League Cup final but this will be the first time they have faced each other in the FA Cup final. Their last FA Cup meeting was in April 2006 when Liverpool beat Chelsea 2-1 in the semi-final.

The clubs have met twice this season with Liverpool winning both times - 2-0 at Chelsea in the League Cup fifth round, and 2-1 away in the Premier League.

The clubs were also scheduled to meet again in the Premier League this weekend, but will now play that fixture at Anfield next Wednesday. Coincidentally, last season's finalists Manchester City and Stoke City were also scheduled to meet on cup final day - and that fixture was played in the weeks following the final.

This will be their 31st meeting against each other since October 2004 - a total that includes 10 meetings in the Champions League.

This will be Chelsea's 11th appearance in an FA Cup final having won six times in 1970, 1997, 2000, 2007, 2009 and 2010. They were runners-up in 1915, 1967, 1994 and 2002.

Chelsea's interim manager Roberto Di Matteo won two FA Cups with the club as a player - in 1997 he scored the fastest goal at the old Wembley stadium, after just 43 seconds in their 2-0 win over Middlesbrough and in 2000 he netted the last-ever Cup final goal at the old Wembley in their 1-0 win over Aston Villa.

The last two managers to win the FA Cup have been Italian - Roberto Mancini with Manchester City in their 1-0 win over Stoke City last year and Carlo Ancelotti for Chelsea in their 1-0 win over Portsmouth in 2010.

He can also become the fourth Italian, and the third for the club, to win the FA Cup after Ancelotti and Gianluca Vialli in 2000.

Ashley Cole has won the FA Cup six times (three with Chelsea, three with Arsenal), more than any other player.

Didier Drogba has scored seven goals in seven Wembley appearances and has scored three goals in FA Cup finals.

Liverpool's Ian Rush holds the record with five goals in the Cup final scoring twice in 1986, twice in 1989 and once in 1992.

LIVERPOOL
Liverpool are taking part in their 14th FA Cup final having won it in 1965, 1974, 1986, 1989, 1992, 2001 and 2006. Their six defeats were in 1914, 1950, 1971, 1977, 1988 and 1996.

In Kenny Dalglish's last FA Cup final as manager, his Newcastle United side lost 2-0 to Arsenal in 1998.

Dalglish has previously won two FA Cups with the club - in 1986 (as player/manager) and in 1989 (as manager).

Like Drogba, Liverpool's Steven Gerrard has scored in a previous final, netting twice in 2006 when Liverpool beat West Ham United on penalties after the match ended in a 3-3 draw.



Chelsea's Fernando Torres and Raul Meireles are former Liverpool players while Liverpool's Glen Johnson had a spell at Chelsea and played as a substitute when Chelsea beat Liverpool in the League Cup final seven years ago.

PROBABLE LINEUPS:
Chelsea: Cech, Ivanovic, Luiz, Terry, Cole, Mikel, Lampard, Ramires, Mata, Kalou, Drogba

Liverpool: Reina, Johnson, Agger, Carragher, Enrique, Adam, Henderson, Gerrard, Downing, Suarez, Carroll

PREDICTION: Chelsea 2-1 Liverpool(Drogba, Lampard; Bellamy)

C'MON YOU BLUUUUUUUUUUEEEEEEEESSSSSSSS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

i feel sorry for the players, i cant even keep up with these games anymore!

still its time to bounce back, beat the scousers in the cup, beat them in the league and get some momentum heading into the CL!

That is nowhere near the Liverpool line up that we will see in the game.

Nishank wrote:That is nowhere near the Liverpool line up that we will see in the game.

Its just a prediction. Calm down.

Barrettinator wrote:

Nishank wrote:That is nowhere near the Liverpool line up that we will see in the game.

Its just a prediction. Calm down.

Calm Down?
Just stating the obvious. Oh well..

I have high hopes for this match, IMO we are in better form than Pool and I feel the old guard will really be up for this clash. Maybe Drogs last appearence at Wembely, hope it is a good one!

Nishank wrote:

Barrettinator wrote:

Nishank wrote:That is nowhere near the Liverpool line up that we will see in the game.

Its just a prediction. Calm down.

Calm Down?
Just stating the obvious. Oh well..

Just Get Lost Nishank

Rebelles.REUS.rex wrote:

Nishank wrote:

Barrettinator wrote:

Nishank wrote:That is nowhere near the Liverpool line up that we will see in the game.

Its just a prediction. Calm down.

Calm Down?
Just stating the obvious. Oh well..

Just Get Lost Nishank

Why?

ignore him.

draw- ET- penalties - ?

Chelsea win.

This was our last FA Cup.



C'mon you blues!!! You can do this!

Luiz and Cahill not available?

Wow. So Terry and Ivano at CB, Who at RB? Bosingwa or Ferreira?

Nishank wrote:Luiz and Cahill not available?

Wow. So Terry and Ivano at CB, Who at RB? Bosingwa or Ferreira?

Either of them.

Bos will be RB, as bad as he is, Ferreira is slower and can be beaten easier, Bosingwa just has to keep his concentration for 90 minutes and hopefully Ramires helps him out.


Anyone else think Essien could be a beast CB? He was always a great defender and what is stopping him being a great midfielder is his lack of movement and attacking skills which are getting worse.

I would be tempted to play him in CB with Terry and Ivan at RB.

Kick wrote:Bos will be RB, as bad as he is, Ferreira is slower and can be beaten easier, Bosingwa just has to keep his concentration for 90 minutes and hopefully Ramires helps him out.


Anyone else think Essien could be a beast CB? He was always a great defender and what is stopping him being a great midfielder is his lack of movement and attacking skills which are getting worse.

I would be tempted to play him in CB with Terry and Ivan at RB.

LOL wut? Expect us to concede a penalty most likely from Suarez then.

Good luck. Expecting a great game. LFC has conceded one goal in every game throughout this FA cup campaign. So don't get cocky if you're 1-0 up at half time.

It's better than having Bos at RB Barret.

I am expecting a 2-1 or 3-1 win for one team, not sure who will win though YNWA.

Kick wrote:It's better than having Bos at RB Barret.

I am expecting a 2-1 or 3-1 win for one team, not sure who will win though YNWA.

Bos can be really good whenever he gets focused. See Barcelona @ Camp Nou. He was a BOSS in that match. I don't see why RDM can't do a little motivational tweaking in his neurons just to get him going.

Also, A slap on the head won't hurt.

Kick wrote:Also, A slap on the head won't hurt.

Hahahaha

Is that Marin's bird?

Not sure, it is Marin though. I just liked the photo


EDIT: just checked, it is.

Hmmm.....not bad for the little man.