Explained: Why Chelsea have free week before Carabao Cup final but Liverpool have to play Luton on Wednesday

The Reds secured their spot in the Carabao Cup final, beating Fulham in the last four, which will mark their first Wembley trip of the campaign. Initially, Liverpool had the week leading up to the final clear for preparation. However, a recent change in the fixture list has disrupted their plans.

Liverpool's encounter against Luton Town, originally scheduled for the weekend of the final, has been rescheduled to Wednesday, February 21. The tight turnaround necessitates recovery on Thursday, training on Friday, and travel to London on Saturday, offering minimal preparation time for Jurgen Klopp and his squad. In contrast, Chelsea benefits from an uninterrupted week leading up to the final. Their home clash against Tottenham, initially slated for February 23, remains unchanged.

The fixture changes stem from broadcasting agreements and the selection of televised matches. Chelsea's fixture against Tottenham has already been chosen by Sky Sports, preventing any rescheduling due to conflicting Champions League ties. On the other hand, Liverpool's match against Luton was not selected for TV broadcast in the UK, leaving room for potential midweek rescheduling.

While Chelsea and Tottenham mostly enjoy the luxury of free midweeks, Liverpool face a challenging schedule, thanks to their Europa League commitments. However, with Mohamed Salah having returned to full fitness, Jurgen Klopp will be confident to lift their first silverware of the season and keep alive their quadruple hopes.