Pochettino fires back over ‘clever’ Klopp claim for Carabao Cup final

Mauricio Pochettino believes that Liverpool are the top pick to win the Carabao Cup final, but he thinks Chelsea will put up a fight after gaining momentum.

The Argentine coach shared his thoughts in response to Jurgen Klopp’s recent statement, where Klopp said his injury-hit Liverpool team isn’t the favorite for Sunday’s big match at Wembley.

Liverpool will be missing between seven to ten players due to injuries, including key players like Mohamed Salah, Darwin Nunez, and Dominik Szoboszlai, who are all undergoing last-minute fitness tests. On the other hand, Chelsea also has eight players out and is currently 25 points behind Liverpool in the Premier League.

When asked about Klopp’s remarks made after Liverpool’s 4-1 comeback win against Luton, Pochettino insisted that Klopp knows what he’s doing. Pochettino said, “I believe Liverpool are the favorites. They have more experience in these situations, having been in finals in recent years. Our players are relatively new to this level of competition, so I consider Liverpool the favorites. But Klopp is smart to say it’s 50/50. Yes, they are the favorites. That’s usually how it goes.”

However, Pochettino is optimistic about Chelsea’s chances, noting their recent improvement in performances against Aston Villa, Crystal Palace, and a commendable draw against Manchester City. He said, “We’ve been learning a lot in the past few weeks. We’ve stepped up our game. We’re coming into the final with good momentum and form. After our game against Wolves, we’ve shown strong performances against Aston Villa, Palace, and City. It has given the team confidence and belief. The team is now fully focused and ready. There’s been a shift in how we approach games, which was lacking in the earlier part of the season.”