Chelsea have been advised on the importance of Cole Palmer and Conor Gallagher to their chances of clinching victory in the Carabao Cup.
Ahead of the final against Liverpool at Wembley Stadium on Sunday, Mauricio Pochettino is eyeing his first trophy as the club’s manager. Chelsea secured a spot in the final by defeating Middlesbrough in the semi-final, while Liverpool overcame Fulham over two legs.
In Pochettino’s inaugural season at Stamford Bridge, the club has seen success in cup competitions but has faced inconsistency in the Premier League. Despite reaching the fifth round of the FA Cup and the Carabao Cup final, Chelsea currently sit in 10th place in the top-flight standings, far from the top-four spots.
Palmer and Gallagher have emerged as pivotal figures in Chelsea’s midfield this season. Gallagher has impressed with three goals in his last three appearances for the Blues, while Palmer, following his summer transfer from Manchester City, has contributed 14 goals in all competitions.
Chelsea legend Pat Nevin has expressed his pleasant surprise at seeing his former club back at Wembley for a major final and highlighted the importance of strong performances from Palmer and Gallagher in securing victory against Liverpool.
“After Roman Abramovich left, I remember saying that I didn’t think I’d be at a Chelsea final in my lifetime,” Nevin told Lucky Block.
“Chelsea will need to be at the top of their game and they’ll need their best players to perform. They need players like Cole Palmer – players with energy.
“Cole Palmer could be the new Kevin De Bruyne. I’ve said that before and took a lot of stick for it. I even said it on national radio when he was still at Manchester City!
“I don’t make hyperbolic statements and I don’t exaggerate, so it was a big statement. If you watch Palmer, you can see it now. He picks the right ball and he’s the one who creates everything. He’s the one who makes Chelsea special.
“If Palmer stays fit and Conor Gallagher maintains his energetic performances, then it wouldn’t be beyond the realm of possibility to see Chelsea win the League Cup.
“However, it’s imperative that their midfield plays the way it did against Aston Villa. Moises Caicedo and Enzo Fernandez have to maintain that level, as they were taught a lesson at Anfield. They can’t afford to do that again.”
