At 00:30 a.m. Beijing time on February 28, we will see the red and blue battle between Chelsea and Liverpool in the final of the English League Cup. So, what kind of spark will collide with the Red Army's fiery front line with the Blues' strong backline?
A showdown between two German tacticians
Klopp and Tuchel have met 17 times in their coaching careers, with Klopp winning nine and Tuchel winning just three.
So far, however, Klopp has not won Tuchel in England. After becoming Blues manager, Tuchel led Chelsea to a record of 1 win and 2 draws against Liverpool. In this season's Premier League, both teams have met in a draw.
Last August, 10-man Chelsea drew 1-1 with Liverpool at Anfield. Then in January, the Blues drew 2-2 with Liverpool after falling behind 2-0 at Stamford Bridge.
The two clashes between the Reds and the Blues this season have been open-ended and very spectacular. If they can play this pleasing game in the League Cup final, the audience at Wembley Stadium and in front of the TV will be able to feast their eyes.
This final is becoming increasingly important for Liverpool
Liverpool's recent performances under Klopp have been outstanding, which has also caused the Reds to shift the priorities of the League Cup backwards. However, City's dominance in the Premier League this season has forced Liverpool to refocus on winning the League Cup.
While City's surprise loss to Tottenham last week brought Liverpool back into the Premier League title race, that doesn't mean they'll give up the League Cup.
While winning the FA Cup and Champions League is still promising, this is the Reds' first chance to win the cup this season and Klopp and his players naturally don't want to waste it.
Lukaku may be on the bench again
Belgian striker Romelu Lukaku is still struggling to keep up with Chelsea, who moved from Inter Milan to Chelsea in last summer window for a club-record £98 million transfer fee.
The 28-year-old did not come off the bench in Tuesday's 2-0 Win over Lille, and he may still face the same fate this weekend.
The performances of Havertz and Priscic up front were impressive, and Ziyech also shined. If Chelsea want to try to pull Liverpool's backline, even matching the Reds' flexibility, then Lukaku will most likely not get a start.
Klopp's final record
Before leading Liverpool to the Champions League in 2019, Klopp lost seven consecutive finals. After that, the Reds won the Club World Cup and the Premier League, and Klopp helped the Reds break a title drought that was more crucial than his previous embarrassing record in the final – Liverpool's first English top-flight title in 30 years.
The defeats to the 2016 League Cup and Europa League finals, as well as the 2018 Champions League final defeats, are part of Liverpool's ongoing construction process. The ensuing trophies and glories cemented the successful years of Klopp's Reds coaching career and unloaded some of the burden on him and the club.
Tuchel trusts the big scene mentality
Under Tuchel's leadership, Chelsea's defensive prowess has made the Blues a true cup specialist. As Champions League champions last season, they have pocketed the UEFA Super Cup and the Club World Cup this season.
COVID-19, injuries and instability have overshadowed their ambitions in the league, but the Blues have often been able to suppress opponents in cup competitions with a tight tactical arrangement.
Liverpool will go out of their way to challenge the Blues in this weekend's League Cup final, but it's worth mentioning that City thought the same thing last season, yet they still lost to Tuchel's Blues in the Champions League final.