Ben Chilwell is hoping Mohamed Salah is passed fit to play for Liverpool against Chelsea on Sunday afternoon
Ben Chilwell has shared his plan to stop Liverpool’s attack in Sunday’s Carabao Cup final and admitted that he hopes that Mohamed Salah will be fit for the match.
The 27-year-old left-back admitted he visualises different scenarios to prepare for a match, and on Saturday night, he will focus on how to stop Liverpool’s top scorer, Salah.
“Yeah, I’ll visualise moments in the match and what they are going to want to do in certain moments,” the Chelsea man said ahead of the game at Wembley.
“With Salah, trying to visualise what he’s going to do and how I am going to combat that and try to neutralise him as best as I can.”
Salah missed the Reds’ Premier League win over Luton on Wednesday due to a slight muscle issue. However, Chilwell is hoping he will play in the final.
“Personally I’d love him to play because you’re playing at Wembley in a cup final,” he said. “If I’m playing against Salah it would be exciting.
“I know he is quality, I’ve played against him enough times. He’s a world-class player and, if he does play, it will be important whoever marks him tries to win that individual battle.”
Chilwell was once linked with a move to Liverpool when he was a teenager trying to break through at Leicester City. This came after a successful loan spell at Huddersfield, who were then managed by David Wagner – Jurgen Klopp’s best man at his wedding.
Sharing his past experiences and current ambitions, Chilwell said: “I was 18 when I was at Huddersfield. I think that was the link. I was at Huddersfield and me and David Wagner had a great relationship. I loved playing for him. I loved the style he played at Huddersfield.
“That style was very similar to what Liverpool play and I guess that’s how the link developed. I don’t know if it came close. It was a while ago but I had heard they were interested.
“I can’t remember why it didn’t go ahead but I was still trying to find my feet at Leicester. I hadn’t had a game at Leicester then, so I was pretty much focused on trying to get into the Leicester team. Not trying to run before I could walk.”
The Chelsea vice-captain insisted he and his team-mates will be aiming to avenge their 2022 domestic final defeats to Liverpool with victory on Sunday.
“Personally, it’s massive for me. We want to get revenge. It doesn’t get much bigger than a cup final at Wembley,” he said. “For the team in general, if we can get that first trophy it can give us the confidence, drive and hunger to get more.”
