Chelsea boss Mauricio Pochettino faces FA punishment for comments about Liverpool ahead of Carabao Cup final

Chelsea boss Mauricio Pochettino faces FA punishment for comments about Liverpool ahead of Carabao Cup final

WATCH NOW: Sports round-up as Chelsea and Liverpool prepare for blockbuster Carabao Cup final

Jack Otway

By Jack Otway


Published: 25/02/2024

- 10:14

Updated: 25/02/2024

- 10:19

The Blues will do battle with Jurgen Klopp's side at Wembley today

Chelsea boss Mauricio Pochettino is facing a potential punishment for his comments about Liverpool prior to today's Carabao Cup final.

The Blues will be hoping to win a first trophy under the Argentine, who was appointed as manager back in the summer.


Chelsea have struggled in the Premier League, with the west London giants currently sitting in 10th - 12 points behind the Champions League qualifying positions.

But winning silverware would lift some of the pressure on Pochettino, who failed to lift a trophy during his previous stints in England with Southampton and Tottenham.

Chelsea Mauricio Pochettino Liverpool

Chelsea boss Mauricio Pochettino questioned the decisions of the officials prior to today's Carabao Cup final showdown with Liverpool

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Prior to the match, the 51-year-old criticised officials and expressed concern over potential bias.

Yet The Sun say Pochettino is facing an FA probe, having suggested Liverpool received favourable decisions during their 4-1 win at Anfield at the end of January.

Pochettino seemed to suggest referee Paul Tierney, as well as his officials, gave Liverpool the benefit of the double due to Jurgen Klopp's imminent departure at the end of the season.

And the FA are now set to study the Argentine's comments to see if they warrant a charge.

Pochettino had said: “We need to be sure we are going to compete and be fair in every single decision.

“When we played Liverpool at Anfield, not one key decision was for us. Two penalties were not given.

“Duels, 50-50s, always red. I want to be treated in a fair way.

“I am the first to say Liverpool is amazing and Klopp is one of the best coaches in the world.

“But after my last experience playing there, what I want is to play a game at the same level and the best team wins.

"We want both clubs to be seen in the same way.”

Liverpool beat Chelsea in the final of the Carabao Cup final two years ago, lifting the trophy after a dramatic penalty shootout.

The Reds are flying high at present, with the Merseyside giants targeting a stunning quadruple to give Klopp his dream farewell.

But Chelsea, having won two of their last three games while managing a respectable draw against Manchester City, will be aiming to crash their party.

VAR will be used in the Carabao Cup for the first time this season this afternoon.

And Pochettino is happy the technology is available, despite the way it often sparks controversy in the Premier League.

"I am pro VAR," he admitted.

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Chelsea Mauricio Pochettino Liverpool

Chelsea boss Mauricio Pochettino wants to crash Liverpool and Jurgen Klopp's party in today's Carabao Cup final

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“But the problem is always the same: who are the referees that are watching the TV and how we use VAR.

“The system, the technology is not the problem. I think it helps.

“The way it is used between the referees on the pitch and the referees in the room, that is the key.

“Sometimes the same situation brings a different decision. That is the difficult thing for coaches to accept, and the fans.”

Klopp, meanwhile, has vowed to give 'everything' as he looks to end his time as Liverpool manager on a high.

Chelsea Liverpool

Chelsea lost to Liverpool in the final of the Carabao Cup two years ago

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“I want to win on Sunday but not for me or my trophy cabinet,” he said.

“It is for the boys, for the club and for the people. That is much more important and everything will go on.

“What we are doing at the moment is we write a wonderful book, I would say. We wrote it and we are still writing a wonderful book and when I leave we close that book.

"We will put it on the shelf and then someone else will write another wonderful book.

"That is the idea. I will not leave anything inside, I will give absolutely everything until the last second.”

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