Jurgen Klopp and his men will be keen to get their hands on some silverware since it has been announced this will be the German’s last season in charge of the Reds - but the ambition will be just as strong at Chelsea as Mauricio Pochettino is still in search of his first English trophy.

Here, Vodacom Soccer takes a look into the five key battles which will be on display in Sunday's showdown.

Pochettino vs Klopp

The first key battle for Sunday remains in the hands of the managers of each side and how they will tactically line up to try and outsmart and outplay the other side.

In the previous fixture, Liverpool triumphed emphatically with a 4-1 win over Chelsea at Anfield. The obvious stylistic benefit behind Liverpool was their aggression and ability to press Chelsea when out of possession.

This was even noted by Pochettino in the post-match conference when he said: “It was so clear they were more aggressive than us.”

But even the well-drilled press of Liverpool faced some issues as Klopp pointed out as they would start the press with Diogo Jota instead of Dominic Szoboszlai “and then they pass around us and go through”. However, Liverpool were able to deal with that and sort out their shape to readjust quickly.

We can expect Liverpool to tactically line up in a similar fashion given how well their press worked last time against the same opponents, but it’s important to remember that Pochettino has had the past week free to prepare for this match and will know what to look out for and therefore, how to stop it as best they can.

Klopp and Pochettino both have the determination to see this game through, both with sentimental reasons as to why they both badly want this piece of silverware.

Klopp being in his last season at Liverpool would love to go out with a trophy or two and will push onwards to make that happen. As aforementioned, Pochettino is in search of his first trophy in English football and now has a fantastic chance to make it happen.

The battle of the midfield

Both sides tend to use similar formations with Liverpool going with a 4-3-3 on most occasions and Chelsea sticking with their 4-3-2-1.

However, Liverpool utilise Alexis Mac Allister to sit just in front of the back four, for additional depth and defensive structure which leaves Curtis Jones and Dominik Szoboszlai to rotate between themselves as to who pushes further up and helps the attack.

Chelsea play a flat two in front of the defence with both Moises Caicedo and Enzo Fernandez having the fluidity to move forward, meaning on the counter-attack they can be more at risk, but going forward they have a designated attacking forward in Conor Gallagher alongside the overload of the other midfielders.

Both sides have incredible quality in their midfield and if used properly, Chelsea have the quality and intelligence to dominate the ball in midfield if the three midfielders can work together to zip the ball around and not be caught out by Liverpool’s impressive press.

Both sides have a plethora of youth in their midfield so the energy and tempo of this game should match the level of energy in the players who take the midfield positions, all of whom will be hungry for some silverware.

YOU MAY ALSO LIKE: Europa League round of 16 draw: Liverpool paired with Sparta Prague

Raheem Sterling vs Conor Bradley

One of the biggest battles will come down the right-hand side of the pitch when the experience of Raheem Sterling meets the youth of Conor Bradley, who is currently filling in for an injured Trent Alexander-Arnold.

Bradley has come into the Liverpool side and made a superb start, slotting in seamlessly to the right-back position all whilst being given the freedom to roam up the wing if he chooses.

A good example of this is in the prior fixture against Chelsea when Bradley scored and managed to get two assists from the right-hand side in a performance which earned him man of the match.

However, former Liverpool star Sterling will be looking to ensure Bradley has a tough game and I can imagine the game being very direct down that side of the field as Sterling will want to use his skill and pace to outsmart the young defender and give his side the advantage.

Bradley is brand new to the elite tier of football, playing only four matches in the Premier League, but he has certainly impressed with three assists and one goal in those four games.

Sterling, however, is quite the opposite and has racked up a mighty 371 appearances in the Premier League alone, 92x that of Bradley.

You would expect Sterling to have an easier ride, but I can’t imagine that will be true as Bradley will have a point to prove to try and cement his spot in Liverpool’s back four.

Nicolas Jackson vs Liverpool defence

The 22-year-old hasn’t been the most composed or formidable in front of goal this season, with only seven goals and three assists to his name in the Premier League.

However, what he is incredibly useful for is pulling defenders out of their original position which leaves space for the likes of Sterling and Cole Palmer to run in behind.

Jackson’s pace is one of his stronger attributes and the likes of Virgil van Dijk and Ibrahima Konate are going to have to be on top of their game to ensure he is not afforded the space to roam, whilst also ensuring they do not leave too many gaps which can be exploited.

This is where I feel having the likes of Mac Allister will be a huge bonus for Liverpool as when Jackson is trying to open up the space, Mac Allister will be deep enough to drop back into a defensive position if it is needed to numb the Chelsea attack.

Despite Jackson not being the most composed finisher in the league, it’s important to remember that he is still an attacking threat who does have the ability to hurt Liverpool and can score goals against top sides.

A fine example of this is his hat-trick against Tottenham Hotspur earlier this season. Jackson is not one to be taken for granted and certainly not someone the Liverpool defence can ignore.

Mohamed Salah vs Chelsea defence

The main man of Liverpool, Mohamed Salah, is expected to return from injury after making a cameo appearance at the end of the most recent match in a win against Luton Town.

Salah has been on the sidelines recently due to injury problems but is back to fitness and a lot of Liverpool supporters will be expecting him to be involved at the weekend - whether he starts or is left on the bench remains to be seen.

The Egyptian is a typical big-game player and can create a moment of magic out of nothing. When the game is stale and slow, Salah has the ability to change that and put Liverpool on the front foot.

With over 150 goals in a Liverpool shirt in the Premier League, Salah’s threat cannot be undermined, and his goal tally serves as a reminder that the Chelsea defence are going to need to look out for Salah and mark him closely to avoid him getting many opportunities.

The man tasked with handling Salah will likely be England international Ben Chilwell, as he will take up the left-back role in the Chelsea defence.

He will need to be aware of Salah’s trickery and quick feet before the game and allow himself some space away from the winger when they engage in a duel for the ball.

Chilwell has extensive experience at the top level both internationally and domestically and will need to use all of that to prevent Salah from running riot…if he makes an appearance.

Overall, the match-up on paper looks as though Liverpool should come away with the win as first place in the Premier League takes on 11th place with 25 points between them both, alongside the emphatic win for Liverpool in their most recent game.

However, league standings mean nothing when it comes to cup competitions and both sides will be ready and raring to go for this showpiece event at Wembley Stadium.

READ MORE: Mauricio Pochettino sparks winning spirit in Chelsea ahead of Carabao Cup final

Carabao Cup final, Chelsea vs Liverpool: Five key battles