Team News: Liverpool duo Darwin Nunez, Mohamed Salah miss EFL Cup final, Chelsea unchanged

Mohamed Salah and Darwin Nunez have both been left out of the Liverpool squad for the EFL Cup final against Chelsea.

The pair each suffered issues against Brentford last weekend, with Nunez being withdrawn at half time and Salah suffering a recurrence of a hamstring injury that he had seemingly recovered from.

As a result, they missed the 4-1 victory over Luton Town in midweek and the decision has been made to take no risks for the showdown at Wembley Stadium.

Jurgen Klopp has made just the two alterations from the team that overcame the Hatters, with Ibrahima Konate and Andrew Robertson returning to the side.

Harvey Elliott, Cody Gakpo and Luis Diaz make up the front three, with their being no senior attack-minded players among the replacements.

Meanwhile, Chelsea are unchanged after the 1-1 draw at Manchester City last weekend, with Raheem Sterling keeping his place in the final third.

However, Thiago Silva does not return to the squad, with the Brazilian having not had enough time to recover from a groin issue sustained against Crystal Palace on February 12.

The biggest talking points come on the substitutes' bench with Chelsea devoid of senior alternatives in central midfield due to Cesare Casadei being cup-tied and Lesley Ugochukwu, Romeo Lavia and Carney Chukwuemeka all being ruled out through injury.

Billy Gee, an 18-year-old defender who can also play in defensive midfield, and Jimi Tauriainen, a Finland Under-19 international, provide the backup to Moises Caicedo, Enzo Fernandez and Conor Gallagher.

Chelsea: Petrovic; Gusto, Disasi, Colwill, Chilwell; Caicedo, Fernandez, Gallagher; Palmer, Jackson, Sterling

Subs: Sanchez, Bettinelli, Chalobah, Gee, Gilchrist, Tauriainen, Madueke, Mudryk, Nkunku

Liverpool: Kelleher; Bradley, Konate, Van Dijk, Robertson; Mac Allister, Endo, Gravenberch; Elliott, Gakpo, Diaz

Subs: Adrian, Gomez, Tsimikas, Clark, McConnell, Koumas, Danns, Quansah, Nyoni