Carabao Cup Final: 8 Chelsea Stars Who Could Miss Crunch Final Against Liverpool

• Chelsea will play Liverpool in the final of the Carabao Cup on Sunday
• The Blues will be without a number of key players for the encounter
• Reece James and Fofana are among the players out with injuries

Chelsea are likely to be without at least eight players when they take on rivals Liverpool in the Carabao Cup final.

The Blues set up a date with the Reds in the final of the tournament after they beat Middlesbrough 6-2 on aggregate in the semis.

Liverpool, meanwhile, saw off Fulham in the other semi-final to earn a crunch clash against the west Londoners at Wembley Stadium.

The final, which is slated for Sunday, February 25, represents the best chance for either club to bag their first title of the season.

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However, Chelsea face a mountainous task of getting the job done, with a string of key players currently sidelined with injuries.

While some of them face a race against time to be fit for the final, others have outrightly been ruled out.

Which Chelsea players could miss the EFL

Reece James tops the list of Chelsea players expected to miss the tie, with the Blues skipper currently battling a hamstring injury, per Goal.

Benoit Badiashile and Marc Cucurella are the other long-term absentees, while Wesley Fofana definitely be out as he recovers from a long-term knee injury.

Mauricio Pochettino will also be without Romeo Lavia, who has struggled for fitness since his summer arrival from Southampton.

Elsewhere, Robert Sanchez has been out since December, and it remains to be seen if he will be involved against Liverpool.

Carney Chukwuemeka and Thiago Silva are the latest injury concerns for Pochettino, having picked up knocks over the weekend against Manchester City.

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The Evening Standard reported that Chelsea lost Silva to a groin injury in the second half of the Premier League clash.

However, it is unknown if he will be available for selection during the Carabao Cup final.

EPL legend predicts Carabao Cup final

Earlier, Sports Brief reported on football pundit Graeme Souness making his prediction for the Carabao Cup final.

The Sunday cracker will be a repeat of the tournament's final played two years ago, where Liverpool came out on top.