Chelsea's increasing belief boosts hope of League Cup glory against Liverpool

When Chelsea were mauled by Liverpool in the Premier League at the end of last month, it was hardly the ideal preparation for facing the same opponents in a cup final just a few weeks later.

On that January 31 evening at Anfield, Chelsea were completely outclassed, the 4-1 result even flattering the visitors on a night when Liverpool striker Darwin Nunez hit the post four times – a Premier League record – including a missed penalty.

The Blues' prospects of winning their first trophy of what has so far been a turbulent new era looked even bleaker four days later when they were turned over 4-2 on home turf by mid-table rivals Wolves. Those successive heavy defeats appeared to stop in its tracks some decent momentum that had seen Chelsea win seven and draw one of their previous 10 matches in all competitions.

The setbacks were about more than a lack of points that denied the Blues the chance to climb the Premier League table; it was the absence of character and spirit, and the ease with which the team folded at the first signs of adversity, that would have caused the most alarm to manager Mauricio Pochettino.

Yet, with one week to go until the League Cup final at Wembley, Chelsea's chances of victory – and with it, a backdoor entry into European competition next season – look far brighter than they did just two weeks ago.

Since the loss to Wolves, Chelsea have played undoubtedly their best football not only of this season but since Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital bought the club and radically overhauled the squad over the past season-and-a-half.

Expected to suffer another defeat away to an Aston Villa side whose imperious Premier League home form has catapulted them into Champions League contention, Chelsea blew them away