Football News Update: Liverpool Duo Salah and Nunez Out of EFL Cup Final
In a significant blow to Liverpool’s hopes in the upcoming EFL Cup final, the team will be without star forwards Mohamed Salah and Darwin Nunez. The pair have both been left out of the squad for the showdown against Chelsea at Wembley Stadium.
Salah and Nunez Unavailable
Salah and Nunez each suffered issues during Liverpool’s match against Brentford last weekend, with Nunez being withdrawn at half-time and Salah sustaining a recurrence of a hamstring injury that he had seemingly recovered from. As a result, they missed the 4-1 victory over Luton Town in the midweek.
“Jurgen Klopp has made just two changes to the team that overcame the Hatters, with Ibrahima Konate and Andrew Robertson returning to the starting lineup. The front three will consist of Harvey Elliott, Cody Gakpo, and Luis Diaz, with no senior attack-minded players among the replacements.”
Chelsea Unchanged, but Missing Key Players
On the other hand, Chelsea are unchanged from the team that drew 1-1 with Manchester League champions Manchester City last weekend, with Raheem Sterling keeping his place in the final third. However, the Blues will be without veteran defender Thiago Silva, who has not had enough time to recover from a groin issue sustained against Crystal Palace on February 12.
The biggest talking points come on the Chelsea substitutes’ bench, with the team devoid of senior alternatives in central midfield due to Cesare Casadei being cup-tied and Lesley Ugochukwu, Romeo Lavia, and Carney Chukwuemeka all being ruled out through injury. Billy Gee, an 18-year-old defender who can also play in defensive midfield, and Jimi Tauriainen, a Finland Under-19 international, provide the backup to Moises Caicedo, Enzo Fernandez, and Conor Gallagher.
As the anticipation builds for the highly-anticipated EFL Cup final, both teams will be looking to secure the first piece of silverware of the season. The absence of key players like Salah and Nunez for Liverpool will undoubtedly be a significant factor in the outcome of the match.
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