Chelsea v Liverpool specials: Shots, cards and assist tips for the FA Cup final

Free football specials tips, best bets and analysis for Chelsea v Liverpool in the FA Cup final at Wembley Stadium on Saturday.

Where to watch

BBC One & ITV 4.45pm Saturday

Best bets

Mason Mount to have a shot on target
2pts Evs bet365, Betfair, Paddy Power

Marcos Alonso to be shown a card
1pt 23-10 Betfair, Paddy Power

Cesar Azpilicueta to be shown a card
1pt 10-3 bet365

Luis Diaz to score or assist
1pt 6-4 Betfair, Paddy Power

FA Cup final specials preview

No team has ever lost three FA Cup finals in a row and Chelsea will be looking to avoid making unwanted history when they take on Liverpool in this year’s Wembley decider.

The two teams have played out three intriguing encounters already this season, twice in the league and then in the EFL Cup final which Liverpool won after a marathon penalty shootout.

All three ended level after 90 minutes but given the disparity in form of the two sides in recent weeks that may be the best possible outcome for Chelsea.

If the Blues are to succeed it is likely that Mason Mount will have had a big say on proceedings. The England international has taken his game to a new level this season despite a disappointing campaign in general for the Londoners, and his goal in the midweek victory at Leeds was his 13th in all competitions this term.

Chelsea have splashed out north of £150 million on forwards Romelu Lukaku, Timo Werner and Kai Havertz in recent seasons but it is academy product Mount who has had the most shots on target (26) in the Premier League for the Blues this season.

Therefore quotes of even money about Mount registering a shot on target at Wembley, something he has achieved in his last two meetings with Liverpool, makes plenty of appeal.

Marcos Alonso and Thomas Tuchel appeared to put their differences aside against Leeds after the wing-back was hauled off at half-time against Wolves, but he could be in for a long afternoon against Trent Alexander-Arnold and Mo Salah.

No Chelsea player has been booked more times in the league this season than Alonso (8) and he may struggle to contain Liverpool’s right-side attack. The 23-10 about Alonso being shown a card looks too big.

Much has been made of Luis Diaz’s impact since he joined Liverpool in January and he is fast becoming an integral member of the Reds' starting 11.

The Colombian is likely to be marshalled by Reece James and Cesar Azpilicueta on Saturday and Diaz will likely look to play on the shoulder of the latter where possible. Chelsea captain Azpilicueta has not been at his best recently and was given a tough time by Arsenal's Bukayo Saka in their recent match up.

Liverpool may look to isolate the Spaniard and quotes of 10-3 about him being shown a card look generous. Azpilicueta was booked in the 2020 FA Cup final after giving away a penalty, so he can be susceptible in big games.

Diaz could be the chief beneficiary of any Azpilicueta mistake and the 6-4 that the forward scores or lays on a goal for one of his teammates appeals. In 15 starts for the Reds, Diaz has been directly involved in ten goals.

The forward has made a big splash in his short career on Merseyside and is a best priced 9-1 to be man of the match in a tricky market. Four of the last five players to win the award have scored so attackers dominate a competitive market.

Mo Salah is 8-1 favourite while Romelu Lukaku and Mason Mount are the two shortest Chelsea players at 12-1. Antonio Rudiger would join a prestigious club with Wayne Rooney as just the second player since 2000 to win it multiple times, he is a 33-1 shot.

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