There were times during Manchester United’s Treble-winning season of 1998-99 when their road to greatness seemed pre-ordained. Sometimes, winning becomes such a habit for a side that it feels as if an unseen force is making them invincible at critical moments.
It felt like that when Peter Schmeichel saved a late penalty from Dennis Bergkamp in the FA Cup semi-final replay between United and Arsenal. It felt like that when United scored twice in two minutes to beat Bayern Munich at the end of the Champions League final in Barcelona.
And as the last of the day’s spring sunshine sunk behind Wembley’s steepling stands in north west London yesterday, it felt the same way as we watched Liverpool vanquish Chelsea in the 150th Anniversary FA Cup Final to win the grand old competition for the first time in 16 years. When Sadio Mane missed the spot kick that would have won them the game in the shoot-out, other teams would have folded. Not this Liverpool team.
Liverpool’s quadruple hopes are still alive after victory over Chelsea on penalties in a dramatic FA Cup final at Wembley
Substitute Kostas Tsimikas scored the winning penalty for the Reds after Mason Mount’s spot-kick was saved by Alisson
It was the first FA Cup final between two German managers and Jurgen Klopp became the first German boss to lift the trophy
Instead of shrinking when Edouard Mendy saved Mane’s penalty, they stepped up. It is what they do. Alisson saved Mason Mount’s kick to give Kostas Tsimikas the chance to seal victory for Liverpool with the 14th penalty. Tsimikas stepped up, sent Mendy the wrong way and wheeled away in delight. Liverpool’s impossible dream had survived.
They have won two trophies this season now, the Carabao Cup final and the FA Cup final, both against Chelsea, both on penalties. They were clinging on to the dream for dear life by the end, battered and bruised, depleted and exhausted, rocked by losing both Mo Salah and Virgil van Dijk to injuries during a sapping, relentless contest. But they hung on.
And so a Double is theirs already after this game that had ended 0-0 after 120 minutes, but the two most important trophies remain. Liverpool have only an outside chance of overhauling Manchester City at the top of the Premier League and quite what sort of team they will be able to field at Southampton on Tuesday night remains to be seen. ‘Victory,’ Klopp said later, ‘is the best physiotherapist.’
And then there is the small matter of a Champions League final against Real Madrid in Paris a fortnight from now. Madrid will have been encouraged to see Liverpool’s players suffering in the heat here but these are Jurgen Klopp’s ‘mentality monsters’ and so far, they have point-blank refused to be vanquished. Who knows what they may yet conjure.
This was not a classic final even if the occasion, 150 years after Wanderers played Royal Engineers at the Kennington Oval, craved it. It did not lend itself to a nickname although Alisson was as close as it gave us to a hero, producing several crucial saves during the game and saving the critical penalty from Mount to allow Tsimikas his moment.
Luis Diaz was the brightest spark for Liverpool in the opening exchanges and had several chances to open the scoring
It will not be remembered like the White Horse final or even the White Suit final. If anything, it was the Anti-Establishment final. Before the start, the Liverpool fans had booed Abide With Me, then they had booed Prince William and then they had booed the National Anthem. ‘What are you rebelling against, Johnny?’ they ask Marlon Brando’s character in The Wild One. ‘Whaddaya got?’ he replies.
At the end, of course, rebellion gave way to celebration. As the Liverpool players ran to the end where their supporters were massed, they peered at their fans through plumes of red smoke from the flares that had been thrown on to the pitch. When the smoke cleared, they could see the summit of the Premier League, still just in view, and the Stade de France waiting for them on the outskirts of Paris on May 28.
What a result this was for Klopp, too. He is already established in the pantheon of great Liverpool managers but this win brought him a landmark no one else has achieved with the club. Neither Bill Shankly, nor Bob Paisley, nor Kenny Dalglish, nor Rafa Benitez won all four major trophies on offer to English clubs but this victory in his first appearance in English football’s showpiece occasion achieved that for Klopp. One Quadruple, at least, has been conquered.
For Chelsea, who became the first English team to play a Cup final under government sanction and the first to lose in the FA Cup Final three years in succession, this was a miserable end to a difficult season, which saw the fall of their owner Roman Abramovich and an absence of silverware. Todd Boehly, their incoming new owner, was at Wembley to see this clash and he will know there is work to be done to breathe new life into the club.
Liverpool had nearly opened the scoring in the fourth minute when Luis Diaz ran at Reece James on the right edge of the Chelsea box, stole a yard of freedom and whipped the ball across the face of goal. Thiago Alcantara threw himself at it as if he were attempting a flying karate kick but he could not quite reach it. A minute later, another Diaz cross eluded both Sadio Mane and Mo Salah as they tried to apply a finishing touch.
Mohamed Salah’s cup final was over with little over half an hour played, as he limped off the pitch after suffering an injury
Alisson was as close as we got to a hero in this goalless final, as he made several key saves and kept out Mount’s spot-kick
Liverpool were rampant. Chelsea were being overrun. Trent Alexander-Arnold played a magnificent defence-splitting pass through to Diaz, who advanced on goal and tried to slide the ball under Mendy. Mendy slowed the pace of the shot with his legs and as the ball dawdled towards the goal, Trevoh Chalobah sprinted back and hacked it away before Salah could tap it home.
Chelsea searched for respite. They tried to stop the bleeding. They tried to stop Chalobah being so mercilessly exposed on the right flank. They tried to stop Diaz being given the freedom of Wembley. And gradually they began to find a foothold. They even created a chance midway through the half when Mason Mount turned a cross into the box and Christian Pulisic clipped it just wide.
A few minutes later, Chelsea should have been ahead. Pulisic was the creator this time, advancing in space towards the edge of the Liverpool box and slipping a neat through ball into the path of Marcos Alonso. Alonso’s first touch was poor and it allowed Alisson time to come out to narrow the angle and block Alonso’s shot. The Brazil goalkeeper needed treatment after colliding with Alonso as he made the save.
Worse was to come for Liverpool. A couple of minutes later, Salah went down in the centre circle to receive treatment for what looked like a groin injury. It soon became apparent he would not be able to carry on and he walked disconsolately to the sideline to be replaced by Diogo Jota. His demeanour was not that of a man who feared his season was over but with so much left to play for in the next two weeks, his injury was a huge concern.
Liverpool were deflated by his withdrawal and Chelsea started to look like the superior team but on the stroke of half time, Liverpool wasted another chance. Andrew Robertson was the provider this time, chipping a ball to the near post to Jota, who had escaped his marker. Jota only had Mendy to beat but he volleyed his shot high over the bar.
Thomas Tuchel was left frustrated after seeing his Chelsea side lose a cup final to Liverpool for the second time this season
Liverpool play Real Madrid in the Champions League final and currently trail league leaders Manchester City by three points
It was the first time that the Reds had lifted the FA Cup since 2006, which was also the last time the final went to penalties
Lukaku fired over in first-half stoppage time but it felt as if he was not asking nearly enough questions of Van Dijk at the heart of the Liverpool defence. And when Chelsea started the second half strongly, the danger to Klopp’s side came from elsewhere.
First Alonso dragged a shot just wide after a cross eluded Alexander-Arnold at the back post, then Alisson saved well from Pulisic before a vicious, swerving, dipping free kick from wide by Alonso beat Alisson but cannoned away to safety off the face of the crossbar.
The game swung one way then the other. Both teams had periods when they were on top without creating clear-cut chances. As Chelsea pressed for the opener, so Liverpool seemed to enjoy hitting them on the counter-attack. Mount fired wide for Chelsea, Alexander-Arnold made a crucial last-ditch interception when Pulisic seemed to be through, Diaz pulled a shot wide of Mendy’s right hand post and James was shown the first yellow card of the game for a late tackle on Thiago.
Extra-time began to beckon but eight minutes from the end, Liverpool hit the post twice in quick succession. First, Diaz blasted a shot off the outside of the upright and then second-half substitute James Milner curled a cross to the back post where it was met on the volley by Robertson but his effort cannoned off the other post at point-blank range.
As the fourth official walked to the touchline to hold up the board showing the number of minutes added on, Diaz broke free one more time down the Liverpool left and tested the pace of Thiago Silva to its limit. Then Diaz checked and turned inside his man. He measured his shot and curled it towards the far corner. The stadium held its breath, waiting for the net to ripple. It sailed agonisingly wide.
Tsimikas sends Edouard Mendy the wrong way with his penalty to earn Liverpool the FA Cup for the eighth time in their history
Mason Mount missed his spot-kick and the England midfielder has now suffered six successive final defeats at Wembley
Chelsea have broken the unwanted record of becoming the first ever club to lose the FA Cup final in three successive years
Both sides began to feel the pace and the heat in extra time. Van Dijk was substituted before it began. He was said to be not moving freely, another concern for Liverpool. Their defence stood firm, though, A teasing cross from Hakim Ziyech was a test for Alexander-Arnold but he hooked it clear at the back post as a Chelsea forward waited to pounce.
Robertson, who had run himself into the ground as usual, began to limp in the second half of extra time and was substituted. The attrition rate went up. Ruben Loftus-Cheek, who had only been brought on as a substitute at half time of extra-time was substituted in the last minute so Ross Barkley, a penalty-taker, could replace him.
The penalties were taken in front of the Chelsea fans and Marcos Alonso was the first to step up and the first to score, sending Alisson the wrong way. But after Milner had scored for Liverpool, Cesar Azpilicueta hit the post with Chelsea’s second kick. Thiago, Roberto Firmino and Alexander-Arnold scored the rest of Liverpool’s penalties and it was left to Mane to administer the coup de grace.
It didn’t happen. Mendy dived low to his left and pushed the shot away. At the other end, Liverpool fans had thrown a red smoke bomb on to the pitch in premature celebration. Now it was sudden death. Ziyech scored, then Jota scored before Alisson saved from Mount to give Tsimikas the chance to be the hero. He took it.
Recap our live coverage of the final, brought to you throughout by Sportsmail‘s OLLY ALLEN…
That brings to an end Sportsmail’s live coverage of a dramatic FA Cup final, which Liverpool have won on penalties.
We were certainly entertained and it was remarkable that we didn’t see a goal in 90 minutes despite plenty of quality chances for both sides. Extra-time was unsurprisingly more of a slow affair, with penalties becoming inevitable.
The spot-kicks went to sudden death, before Mason Mount missed for Chelsea and Konstantinos Tsimikas scored for Liverpool.
The Reds’ hopes of an unprecedented quadruple are still alive and they are FA Cup winners for the eighth time. Jurgen Klopp is the first ever German manager to lift the trophy.
Thank you for joining me throughout the afternoon and into the evening. Stay tuned for our match report from Wembley and all of the reaction over the next few days. Goodnight!
Jordan Henderson lifts more silverware for Liverpool, a feeling he has got quite used to in recent years! The Reds will need to create some space in an already packed trophy cabinet.
For Chelsea, it’s defeat in the FA Cup final for the third year in a row – they are the first team to suffer that unfortunate fate.
The Blues are still odds-on to finish in the top four this season, but they will likely look back on the campaign with immense disappointing after losing two finals.
Liverpool are halfway to the quadruple! They have now beaten Chelsea in both the League Cup and FA Cup finals this season.
The Reds will play Real Madrid in the Champions League final at the end of the month, while they trail Premier League leaders Manchester City by three points with two games left to play.
Heartbreak for Mason Mount, who has now lost six finals in a row at Wembley. His penalty was saved by Alisson, allowing Konstantinos Tsimikas to slot home the winning spot-kick for Liverpool.
Congratulations to the Reds!
Liverpool have an unlikely hero in Konstantinos Tsimikas!! The substitute sends Mendy the wrong way and the Reds have won the FA Cup!
Alisson saves from Mount!
Liverpool have another chance to win it and it’ll be Tsimikas…
Jota scores! It doesn’t get any more intense than this.
Ziyech puts Chelsea in front!
Mane’s penalty is saved by compatriot Mendy!
We’re going to sudden death!
Jorginho scores. Chelsea stay alive.
Sadio Mane to win it…
Trent scores and Liverpool are on the brink of victory.
If Jorginho misses for Chelsea then it’s all over.
Barkley scores! I’m not even sure he got a touch after coming on, but he smashed that home.
Liverpool’s perfect run continues. Firmino scores but again Mendy gets a touch. Agonising for Chelsea.
Cool as you like from Reece James! Straight down the middle.
Thiago… SCORES! The Reds in front for the first time in the shoot-out.
Azpilicueta…. hits the post! Advantage Liverpool!
James Milner scores Liverpool’s first spot-kick! Mendy got a touch though.
Marcos Alonso…
SCORES! 1-0 Chelsea
The shoot-out will take place in front of the Chelsea fans. The Blues will go first.
Liverpool won on penalties after the League Cup final finished goalless in February. Will history repeat itself?
That’s it. After 120 minutes of entertainment, but crucially no goals, we are heading to penalties for the second time between these teams in a cup final this season.
The last time an FA Cup final went to penalties? 2006, when Liverpool beat West Ham.
Chelsea make their final change. It’s not Kepa and it’s not Timo Werner either. Forgotten man Ross Barkley will come on and replace Ruben Loftus-Cheek, who was only subbed on himself at the start of the second period of extra-time.
It’s Barkley’s first appearance since January. Will he be the unlikely hero?
These two men will be wondering how on earth their teams haven’t scored today. Now they’ll be busy deciding an order for spot-kicks…
Andy Robertson seems to have cramp and can’t continue. It’s a like-for-like change as Konstantinos Tsimikas comes on in his place.
The pace of the game has slowed right down now. Penalties seem inevitable.
Two changes for Chelsea at the start of the second half of extra-time. Cesar Azpilicueta and semi-final goalscorer Ruben Loftus-Cheek are on, replacing Christian Pulisic and Trevoh Chalobah.
The Blues have one sub left. Someone keep an eye on Kepa…
Tiredness is becoming a factor now and extra-time has not been as full of chances as normal time was. Chelsea have had the better of these first 15 minutes, but didn’t really test Alisson.
Chelsea have three corners in quick succession, but nothing comes of any of them. A penalty shoot-out is looking more and more likely here…
It’s a Liverpool change and it seems a slightly strange one. Roberto Firmino is coming on, but he’s replacing Luis Diaz who has arguably been the Reds’ best attacking spark today.
The Brazilian is a threat in his own right though, can he be the hero?
Should that have been a penalty? Ziyech appears to be pushed over by Konate as Alonso delivers a low cross into the Liverpool box. Craig Pawson is unmoved, despite a few Chelsea appeals. Probably the right decision.
Liverpool have made a substitution at the start of extra-time and it looks to be enforced due to injury. Virgil van Dijk is off and Joel Matip is on.
Here we go then. 30 more minutes to find a goal. It’s been a thoroughly entertaining final so far, but just one crucial ingredient is missing.
Goalless FA Cup finals are pretty rare indeed…
We’re going into extra-time.
It’s quite remarkable how this final has ended goalless after 90 minutes. Both teams have had a multitude of chances – there’s been 24 shots in total – but the net has never bulged.
30 more minutes to come and then…
Just as the clock ticks over the 90 minute mark, Luis Diaz nearly provides a sensational winner for Liverpool. The Colombian has been cutting inside from the left all day and this time he bends an effort agonisingly wide of the post.
Three added minutes here.
Virgil van Dijk adds his name to the list of players who have missed a chance today. The defender heads over after a free-kick is delivered in.
Romelu Lukaku’s final is over and in truth he has struggled. The Belgian striker is replaced by Hakim Ziyech.
Liverpool hit the post twice in the space of a minute! Diaz strikes the left post from a tight angle, before Robertson’s close-range effort smacks the right post.
77 minutes in and we have our first yellow card. Reece James goes into the book for a foul on Thiago.
Liverpool turn to the bench and bring on 36-year-old James Milner, who replaces Naby Keita. Milner won the FA Cup with Manchester City 11 years ago.
Now it’s Diaz’s turn to go close again. He bends a shot high and wide after cutting in from the left.
Not the best chance of the game, but it’s yet another shot. Pulisic curls an effort wide first time after James cuts it back.
First Chelsea change of the afternoon, as N’Golo Kante replaces Mateo Kovacic – who has done well to last this long with an ankle issue.
Jota goes close now for Liverpool as he drags a shot wide from the right hand side of the box.
That’s 17 shots for both teams combined so far at Wembley, but no goals yet.
Now it’s Chelsea’s turn to utilise their full-backs, as James whips the ball to the far post, where Alonso stretches to try to connect but he can’t quite get a touch.
It’s end-to-end stuff, surely a goal isn’t too far away…
It’s full-back to full-back for Liverpool, as Alexander-Arnold delivers a cross to the back post where Robertson is arriving – but he can’t get a clean connection and it goes wide.
Moments later, Diaz fires just wide of the post. Mendy was beaten.
Crossbar! Alonso stands over a free-kick on the left hand side, he whips it in with pace and it strikes the woodwork after catching Alisson out. It was obviously some half-time team talk from Thomas Tuchel!
A pair of early second half chances for Chelsea as first Alonso fires wide from the left of the box, before Pulisic forces a good save from Alisson.
We’re back under way at Wembley. Will we see a goal in the next 45 minutes or will extra-time be required?
Two images that sum up the first half. Both sides had chances, but neither found a breakthrough.
No goals so far, but there’s been plenty of entertainment at Wembley. Liverpool started quickly with Luis Diaz looking particularly lively, before Chelsea grew into the contest.
The Reds ended the half on top again despite Mohamed Salah being forced off injured, but it’s still all to play for.
Nothing has separated these two sides in normal time in their previous meetings this season and it’s similarly close again.
Now Chelsea see a chance go over the bar! Lukaku fires high after being played in on his left foot.
Mane robs Kovacic of the ball and Liverpool break forward. Robertson eventually delivers a cross into the box, but substitute Jota can only flick it over the bar.
Four added minutes.
Konate has the ball 35 yards out and gives in to the cries of ‘Shoooot’ from the Liverpool fans, but his strike flies over. That’s why he’s a centre-back.
Will he be fit for Liverpool’s last two league fixtures… and the Champions League final?
Salah can’t continue. A huge blow for Liverpool as they lose their top scorer with just over half an hour played. Diogo Jota is on to replace him. In fairness, there are worse players to bring on.
Mohamed Salah is down, with Liverpool’s physios on to provide treatment. The Egyptian has struggled to make an impact so far, but the Reds will hope his issue isn’t too serious.
Another good opportunity for Chelsea, who are certainly growing into this game. Pulisic plays in Alonso, whose first touch is slightly too strong and it allows Alisson to come out and make a good save when the defender releases a close range shot.
BIG chance for Chelsea! Mount plays a low ball from the right into the box, which is met in the middle by Pulisic who slides a shot just wide of the post.
Space opens up for Robertson on the left, he drives towards goal but fires a shot way over the bar.
And now a first shot for the Blues as Alonso takes a free-kick from the right hand side, but it’s straight into the gloves of Alisson.
It’s the first hint of an opportunity for Chelsea as James delivers a good ball into the box, but Lukaku controls the ball with his hand and the ref blows his whistle.
Liverpool’s onslaught continues. Diaz is so dangerous down that left hand side and he sees a shot blocked after cutting inside. Alexander-Arnold has also an effort blocked, before Mane wins the Reds a corner.
Another Liverpool chance! Alexander-Arnold produces a stunning through ball with the outside of his boot to play in Diaz, who bears down on a goal but his shot is saved by Mendy. That would have been a special goal.
Thiago Silva is down receiving treatment.
Liverpool have started much stronger here. Diaz bursts down the left hand side, gets to the byline and cuts the ball back, but it’s just behind Salah who was arriving in the box.
Liverpool have the first corner of the game, but Lukaku helps out defensively for Chelsea as he heads clear Alexander-Arnold’s delivery.
The first real pressure comes from Liverpool, with Luis Diaz delivering a dangerous cross in but Thiago can’t quite connect with it. Mo Salah heads over from Trent Alexander Arnold’s cross moments later.
The 141st FA Cup final is under way, Liverpool in red and Chelsea in yellow. Buckle up, we should be in for a treat.
Jordan Henderson and Jorginho lead their teams out onto the Wembley turf.
A quick reminder of today’s starting line-ups before we begin.
Chelsea (3-4-2-1): Mendy; Chalobah, Silva, Rudiger; James, Kovacic, Jorginho, Alonso; Mount, Pulisic; Lukaku
Liverpool (4-3-3): Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, van Dijk, Konate, Robertson; Henderson, Thiago, Keita; Salah, Mane, Diaz
Liverpool's Jordan Henderson, foreground, and his teammates exercise during warmup before the English FA Cup final soccer match between Chelsea and Liverpool, at Wembley stadium, in London, Saturday, May 14, 2022. (AP Photo/Ian Walton)
As always, ‘Abide With Me’ is sung as kick-off approaches. A great cup tradition.
A brilliant atmosphere at Wembley, with both sets of fans loving their day so far. Who will be celebrating come this evening?
It will be a full house under the arch for the first time since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Chelsea will wear their yellow away kit today, with Thomas Tuchel believing the strip will help the Blues to victory.
It’s fair to say that ITV’s pundits aren’t too impressed…
‘It would seem so (to be a superstition),’ Joe Cole said. ‘It will have no relevance on the game. The results will be on the performances of the players and the tactics the managers choose.
‘But footballers and football managers, naturally we’re superstitious at heart. He would have had a chat with his players. I prefer Chelsea to be playing a cup final in blue, if available.’
‘He’s very confident in saying that they will win in yellow,’ Ian Wright added. ‘If they don’t win in yellow, what happens then? You’d have to go back to blue! Just go and play the game.’
Both teams are out on the pitch and busy with their preparations.
Romelu Lukaku has enjoyed somewhat of a revival in recent weeks, scoring three goals in his last two games. But there will still be plenty of eyes on him today at the end of a frustrating season for the striker.
‘This could be his Chelsea career,’ Joe Cole said on ITV. ‘Obviously, Erling Haaland has gone to Manchester City. Chelsea are going to need a number nine.
‘There’s been a bit of a resurgence in the last couple of weeks. There aren’t many clubs that will be banging down Chelsea’s door to take Lukaku.
‘For him, this could be reset, re-evaluate, win a trophy for Chelsea – and then it’s a new season to start again. It’s a massive game for Lukaku.’
Thomas Tuchel and Jurgen Klopp meet in the tunnel before today’s game.
It’s the first ever FA Cup final between two German managers.
This will be the fourth meeting between Chelsea and Liverpool this season – all of the previous three have ended level in 90 minutes.
After a 1-1 draw at Anfield in August and a 2-2 draw at Stamford Bridge in January, Liverpool won the League Cup on penalties in February following a goalless stalemate at Wembley.
The Blues are in the building too. The countdown to kick-off is well and truly on.
Thomas Tuchel has picked his team for today’s game. Kick-off is in one hour.
Just the one change for the Blues from their midweek win over Leeds, as Thiago Silva is in for Andreas Christensen at the back. Romelu Lukaku is trusted with a start.
Captain Jordan Henderson leads the way as the Reds arrive at Wembley.
Here is how the Reds will begin the final.
Jurgen Klopp makes five changes from the side that beat Aston Villa in midweek, but they are all expected.
Ibrahima Konate and Andy Robertson come into the back four, Thiago and Jordan Henderson start in midfield and Mohamed Salah returns in attack.
These two teams have plenty of history in the FA Cup.
Chelsea have lifted the trophy on eight occasions, most recently in 2018 when they defeated Manchester United in the final.
Liverpool are just behind with seven wins to their name, but they have not enjoyed glory in the competition since Steven Gerrard-inspired them to victory over West Ham in the 2006 final. This year is the Reds’ first final since they were beaten by Chelsea a decade ago.
A nice moment for Marske United striker Adam Boyes, who is presented with the inaugural Wembley Golden Ball.
The 31-year-old has scored 11 goals in FA competitions this season, more than anyone else. Marske play in the eighth tier of the football pyramid.
‘It’s a great achievement, I never expected it to happen,’ Boyes said.
‘You watch the top scorer list go up every round and you see yourself near the top and you see people get knocked out and you think, “I might have a chance here” and I think I’ve won it now unless Sadio Mane scores 8 or 9 in the final.’
Marcel Desailly is here! The former French defender, who won the FA Cup with Chelsea in 2000, has posed with the trophy pitchside.
Everyone inside Wembley this afternoon will be aware that Liverpool are on the hunt for an unprecedented quadruple.
The Reds have already won the League Cup and they will face Real Madrid in the final of the Champions League at the end of the month. In the Premier League, they trail leaders Manchester City by three points with two games remaining.
But their quadruple hopes would all come crashing down if they suffer defeat today.
Liverpool fans are making the most of their trip to the capital.
We should have the team news from Wembley in just under an hour, but one of the biggest decisions Chelsea boss Thomas Tuchel will have to make is whether to start Romelu Lukaku.
The Belgian striker has endured a difficult campaign, but has scored three goals in his last two appearances to give his manager plenty to think about.
Sportsmail‘s Oliver Salt looks at Tuchel’s dilemma.
The famous trophy is on display at Wembley. Who will be lifting it later today?
Here’s how the Reds made it to today’s final.
Round Three: Liverpool 4-1 Shrewsbury
A shock seemed to be on the cards when Shrewsbury took the lead at Anfield after 27 minutes, but the Reds roared back to knock out their League One opponents. 17-year-old Kaide Gordon scored his first goal for the club.
Round Four: Liverpool 3-1 Cardiff
Another relatively comfortable victory, with goals from Diogo Jota, Takumi Minamino and Harvey Elliott – who was returning after five months on the sidelines – coming in a 23-minute spell in the second half.
Round Five: Liverpool 2-1 Norwich
Minamino bagged a first half brace as Jurgen Klopp made 10 changes to the side who had beaten Chelsea in the League Cup final three days before.
Quarter-final: Nottingham Forest 0-1 Liverpool
Plenty of FA Cup memories were evoked as these two sides met in a pulsating encounter at the City Ground and Forest pushed the Reds all the way before Jota scored the winner in the 78th minute.
Semi-final: Manchester City 2-3 Liverpool
A stunning first half display, in which Ibrahima Konate opened the scoring and then Sadio Mane netted twice, saw Liverpool progress to the final despite their league title rivals fighting back after the break.
Here’s how the Blues made it to today’s final.
Round Three: Chelsea 5-1 Chesterfield
The Blues unsurprisingly outclassed their National League opponents, with five different players getting on the scoresheet at Stamford Bridge.
Round Four: Chelsea 2-1 Plymouth (aet)
League One Argyle gave Thomas Tuchel’s side a scare, as they took the lead after just eight minutes in this tie. Cesar Azpilicueta equalised to take the game to extra-time where Marcos Alonso netted the winner, but Plymouth striker Ryan Hardie missed a penalty in the 117th minute.
Round Five: Luton 2-3 Chelsea
Again it wasn’t plain sailing for Chelsea, as Championship playoff contenders Luton led twice in this entertaining encounter before Romelu Lukaku eventually won the game for the Blues 12 minutes from time.
Quarter-final: Middlesbrough 0-2 Chelsea
Boro had already knocked out Manchester United and Tottenham before they hosted Chelsea, but goals from Lukaku and Hakim Ziyech secured a relatively comfortable win for Tuchel’s men.
Semi-final: Chelsea 2-0 Crystal Palace
Palace proved stubborn opponents at Wembley last month, but Chelsea eventually broke their resistance as Ruben Loftus-Cheek and Mason Mount netted within 11 minutes of each other in the second half.
Wes Morgan was the man who lifted the trophy in last year’s final, as Leicester won 1-0 against Chelsea courtesy of Youri Tielemans’s stunning strike.
The now retired defender spoke to Sportsmail this week about the final, his time at Leicester and his post-playing hopes.
‘I remember all the emotions from that day and can picture the moment when it happened…Youri getting the ball out of his feet and scoring, the ball going into the top corner.’
Chelsea are the first side to qualify for three consecutive FA Cup finals since Arsenal between 2001 and 2003.
However, after losing in both 2020 against Arsenal and 2021 against Leicester, the Blues are looking to avoid becoming the first side to suffer defeat in three finals in a row.
Sportsmail columnist and three-time FA Cup winner Martin Keown has had his say on today’s final.
He believes Chelsea could punish Liverpool in the same way they did Manchester City in the Champions League final last season.
There may be a feeling of Déjà vu at Wembley this afternoon, as Chelsea and Liverpool also met in this season’s League Cup final in February.
The Reds won on penalties that day, following a goalless draw in 120 minutes. Goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher was the hero, as he scored from the spot and then his opposite number Kepa Arrizabalaga blazed his effort over the bar.
It is only the second time that the same two sides will contest both the League Cup and FA Cup final in the same campaign. The previous occasion was 1992-93, when Arsenal beat Sheffield Wednesday in both finals.
For the very first time, the men’s and women’s FA Cup finals are being played on the same weekend.
After Chelsea and Liverpool go head-to-head today, Chelsea and Manchester City Women will be at Wembley tomorrow.
Sportsmail takes a look at the key players and battles, with insight from Sky Sports pundit and England legend Karen Carney, ahead of Sunday’s showdown..
Liverpool’s players were on the Wembley pitch a couple of hours ago as they got a feel for their surroundings.
Wembley Stadium has suspended a firm supplying staff for the final after a Sportsmail investigation exposed alarming security lapses.
The FA launched an urgent inquiry after our undercover operation revealed safety failures at three recent sell-out events at the national stadium.
It comes with Prince William attending today’s game in the first showpiece final since 2,000 England fans without tickets stormed the Euro 2020 final last July.
Our undercover reporter working as a stadium steward at recent Wembley events found serious shortcomings:
- He was able to secure a job despite his application including false details which should have been picked up in the required security checks.
- He was not interviewed for the role or given any in-person training.
- No one searched his bag before he was allowed into supposedly secure areas.
- He was offered a £1,000 bribe for access to the VIP area – other stewards indicated they would have taken the money.
- Stewards, free to access much of the stadium, were largely unsupervised for hours before the matches began.
- Catering staff cluttered up stairways to watch matches – in contravention of safety rules.
The FA Cup final is always one of the best days in the English football calendar and the weather is certainly matching the occasion today.
Sunshine glistens over Wembley as fans continue to arrive.
The FA Cup final will see two German managers go head-to-head for the very first time today, with Thomas Tuchel and Jurgen Klopp in the opposing dugouts.
Click Here: Cristiano Ronaldo Jersey Sale
Whoever triumphs will become the first ever German boss to lift the trophy.
Tuchel has faced Klopp more than any other manager in his career (18 games), but has only beaten him on three previous occasions.
Today is the second time that Liverpool and Chelsea will meet in the FA Cup final, after the Blues won 2-1 against the Reds at Wembley in 2012 thanks to goals from Ramires and Didier Drogba.
Sportsmail‘s Isabel Baldwin took a look at what the players from the two sides that day are doing now.
Daniel Agger has become a qualified tattoo artist!
It’s still four hours until kick-off, but fans from both clubs have already arrived on Wembley Way to soak up the early atmosphere.
We’ve had plenty of build up to the game over the last few days on Sportsmail and we’ll be sharing a range of pieces throughout the afternoon.
First up, some predictions. We asked six of our Sportsmail experts to call the outcome of the final. Here’s what they said…
This season’s FA Cup started all the way back on 6 August 2021 – 281 days ago.
Teams from levels 10, 9 and 8 of the English pyramid kicked things off in the extra preliminary round.
In total, 729 teams have competed in this year’s competition. Now only two remain.
It’s FA Cup final day! The world’s oldest cup competition is celebrating its 150th anniversary this year and we have reached the showpiece at Wembley.
Chelsea and Liverpool will battle it out to lift the famous trophy – their second meeting under the arch this season after the Reds beat the Blues in the Carabao Cup final in February.
Join us throughout the afternoon and into the evening as we’ll have all the build up to the game and then coverage of what should be a thrilling fixture.
Kick-off is at 4:45pm.
Sportsmail Reporter
Host commentator