AHEAD of today’s Carabao Cup final, Liverpool manager, Jurgen Klopp, hopes to be third time lucky when he leads his side out at Wembley against Chelsea, as two Senegalese brothers will have to face each
other in today’s showdown.
The Reds manager has been to Wembley twice before but has come away empty-handed on both occasions.
He lost the UEFA Champions League final
with Borussia Dortmund in 2013 and the League Cup final with Liverpool in 2016. He is, however, unperturbed by his record and believes that it will prove to be third time lucky at the legendary venue.
Also, today’s final will see Liverpool trying to win their first EFL trophy since 2012.
It is a superstition among sailors that bad things happen in threes.
Klopp who faces a fellow German today for the Carabao gong at stake does not appear
to be in the same boat as he believes the number to be rather lucky.
History proves him right, given that he won the Champions League on his third attempt.
Liverpool fans will be hoping that the trend continues against Chelsea.
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“How many times have I been at Wembley and lost? Twice. That’s good because usually, I do it (win) the third time. That’s the story of my life, a little bit – it’s like this with the Champions League, it’s like this with other things as well.”
Given that he led the Reds to the Champions League and Premier League titles follow-
ing heartbreaks in the previous seasons, the German manager’s comments are not for show.
Sometimes all it needs is a second attempt or a third in Klopp’s case.
“So, it’s a good sign and a bad sign. I like the stadium and I liked it when we were there. Both games were close. Both times we performed pretty well, which is good when you play a final. Yes, both times we lost, but I’m more than happy to try it more.”
Chelsea manager, Thomas Tuchel will aspire to make it a double so far this year having
won the FIFA World Club Cup earlier this month in Abu Dhabi, UAE, with a 2-1 victory over Palmeiras of Brazil.
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Meanwhile, exactly three weeks after Sadio Mane and Edouard Mendy aided Senegal to
win the 33rd Africa Cup of Nations in Cameroon, the duo will face each other today at Wembley for the Carabao title.
Interestingly, Mendy will be facing Mohamed Salah for the second time this month as the Egyptian talisman, was part of the Pharaohs squad which missed the 2021 AFCON title via penalties after 120 minutes of stalemate.