Carabao Cup Final Player Ratings: Chelsea vs Liverpool | 27th Feb 2022

The Carabao Cup final proved to be a surprise treat for football fans in these difficult times. A game that saw the ball refusing to go past the goal-line, and when it did, the linesman and VAR came to the intervention. 

The match was probably one of the best 0-0s I have ever seen in my 20 years as a football analyst. It had everything (apart from the goals obviously), top-class saves, tactical battles, lunging tackles, defense splitting passes. 

We couldn’t find a winner between the two English giants and unsurprisingly so as their last two head-to-head meetings this season have ended in draws. The scoreline could have been 3-2, 3-3, 4-3 in the favor of either team if only for some better finishing and fewer offsides.

Without further ado, let’s jump into the player ratings for the Carabao Cup final between Chelsea and Liverpool.

Chelsea Player Ratings:

Edouard Mendy: Man of the Match ⭐ The Senegalese is turning out to be one of the best signings of recent times by Chelsea as he showcased great shot-stopping abilities in the game. 

In particular, watch out for his saves from Sadio Mane in the first half and Virgil van Dijk in the 2nd half stoppage time. Both were of top order. Hence, Sportco rates Mendy’s heroics with a well deserved 8.5/10 player rating for the Carabao Cup Final. 

Trevoh Chalobah: The young defender went toe-to-toe with the dangerous and extremely quick Luis Diaz and dealt with the Liverpool forward’s burning pace throughout the 120 mins. Not an easy task at all. Sportco’s player ratings for Chalobah for the Carabao Cup final is an 8/10.

Thiago Silva: The veteran put on a solid shift in the middle of the defense as he marshalled the back three of Chelsea as a true leader. His last-ditch clearance from Mo Salah’s strike was the highlight for the Brazilian defender in the game. We rate Silva’s performance as 8/10.

Antonio Rudiger: The German is a new age Martin Keown, robust and in your face. Rudiger had a solid game on the left side of defense, keeping Mo Salah quiet for the majority of the game. Sportco ratings for Rudiger’s display is 7.5/10.

Cesar Azpilicueta: The Chelsea captain is a veteran in cup finals. Had some interesting duels with Liverpool’s Andy Robertson in the first half. Unfortunately, the Spaniard had to stretch off early on in the 2nd half due to an injury. Our player ratings for Azpilicueta is 6/10 for the Carabao Cup Final.

N’Golo Kante: The French International had another rock-solid game in midfield alongside Kovacic. Kept the midfield tight without providing any room for the Liverpool midfielders to manoeuvre. Player ratings 7.5/10.

Mateo Kovacic: Not many can say that they had a better game in midfield with N’Golo Kante playing alongside them. 

However, Kovacic is slowly rising to his true potential as he was the engine that ran the strings in midfield for Chelsea. Our player ratings for Kovacic for the Carabao Cup final is 8.5/10.

Marcos Alonso: Always looking to exploit the spaces left by the Liverpool wing-backs. The only thing missing was a killer cross or through ball from the Spaniard. All in all, had a decent game on the left for Chelsea. Player Ratings 7.5/10.

Christian Pulisic: The American international looked a threat when on the ball but couldn’t provide the finishing touch in the final third. Was subbed off in the 74th minute for Lukaku. Player Ratings 6/10.

Mason Mount: The young Englishman would have not had a pleasant sleep as he would be ruining the chances that he missed in the game. Should have buried the one on one chance against Kelleher in the 1st half. Our Player Ratings for Mason Mount for the Carabao Cup Final is 5.5/10.

Kai Havertz: Thomas Tuchel chose the German forward over Romelu Lukaku and he didn’t disappoint the gaffer. Havertz was a constant threat inside the Liverpool penalty box. 

His wonderful left-footed finish was ruled out for offside in extra time which could have been the winner for Chelsea. Sportco’s player ratings for Kai Havertz for the Carabao Cup Final is 8/10.

Substitutes: 

Reece James: Came on for the injured Azpilicueta in the 2nd half. Was at his usual solid self on the right wing-back position for Chelsea. Player Ratings 7/10.

Timo Werner: Werner came on as a part of a double switch for Chelsea on the 75th minute, however, the German couldn’t combine with Lukaku to create much upfront. Player Ratings 6/10.

Romelu Lukaku: The Belgian has come under a lot of scrutiny lately due to his poor performances. This match was a perfect opportunity for the big striker. He did manage to beat Kelleher in extra time only to be ruled out for offside. Player Ratings 6.5/10.

Kepa Arrizabalaga: Flop of the match.🥚 Karma comes at us in a full circle. For Kepa, it was a matter of 2-3 years. In the 2019 Carabao Cup final against Man City, Kepa refused to get subbed off, much to the embarrassment of the then Chelsea boss, Mauricio Sarri. 

In yesterday’s final, he was brought on as a penalty saving expert only to let all 11 Liverpool players score past him without much sweat. Sportco’s player ratings for Kepa’s performance is a 3/10.

Liverpool Player Ratings:

Caoimhin Kelleher: In goal ahead of Alisson Becker, Kelleher had a solid game between the sticks. Scored the crucial 11th penalty in the shootout for the Reds. Sportco’s player ratings for the Kellher for the Carabao Cup Final is 8/10.

Trent Alexander-Arnold: Trent was at it again. Carving some elegant passes to the midfield. His freekick cross to Sadio Mane which Matip headed in only to be ruled out for offside was quite exquisite though. Our Player Ratings for Liverpool right-back is 8/10.

Virgil van Dijk: The Dutch International was a threat from set-pieces for the entire game. He could have kept things tighter on the defensive front for Liverpool. Player Ratings for van Dijk is a 7/10.

Joel Matip: Unlucky to get his headed effort disallowed for offside during the build-up to the goal. All in all, Matip had a decent game at the back 7.5/10.

Andrew Robertson: Combined well with Luis Diaz on the left for Liverpool especially in the 1st half. Was at his usual solid best for the reds for the big occasion. Player ratings 7/10.

Jordan Henderson: The Liverpool captain eventually got to lift the trophy in the end. However, it wasn’t a walk in the park for Hendo as the Chelsea midfield was getting the better of him as the game progressed. Player Ratings 6.5/10.

Fabinho: The Brazilian was the best out of the three midfielders for Liverpool. Tried to keep things tight in the middle of the park for Liverpool. Our player ratings for Fabinho for the Carabao Cup Final is 7/10.

Naby Keita: Slotting in for the injured Thiago Alcantara in midfield, Keita had an average display in midfield for Liverpool. Only contribution going forward was his shot that was saved well by Mendy in the first half. Player Ratings 6.5/10.

Luis Diaz: Was the best Liverpool player on the pitch. Diaz had pace to burn the Wembley pitch and his duels with Chalobah were one of the highlights of the game. Our player ratings for Luis Diaz is a well deserved 8/10.

Sadio Mane: The African Cup of Nations winner was effective in the first half. Should had gone on the scoresheet in the first half only for his effort to be saved miraculously by his compatriot, Edouard Mendy. 

Looked extremely angry after being subbed off in the 80th minute for Diogo Jota. Hence, our player ratings for Mane in the Carabao Cup Final is 7.5/10.

Mo Salah: The Egyptian forward didn’t have one of his best games in a Liverpool jersey. Was kept quiet on the right by Rudiger, however, he got one clear one-on-one opportunity in the second half where his tame lob over Mendy was eventually cleared by Thiago Silva. Player Ratings 6/10.

Substitutes:

Diogo Jota: The diminutive forward was subbed on in the 80th minute in place of Mane. Couldn't create anything substantial for the Reds as Chelsea grew dominant in the game during extra time. Player Ratings 5.5/10.

James Milner and Harvey Elliot: Milner and Elliot came on in place of Keita and Henderson in a double switch for Liverpool. Both tried to keep things solid in midfield without offering much going forward. Player Ratings 6.5/10.

Ibrahima Konate: Came in for Matip in extra time. Dealt with the threat of Lukaku with some nervy moments. Player Ratings 6/10.

Divock Origi: The cup specialist for Liverpool, Klopp brought in Origi to steal a goal in extra time. However, he couldn't manage any clear cut opportunities to add to his heroics for the Reds this time. Sportco's Player Ratings for Origi for the Carabao Cup Final is a 6.5/10.