The sparkle may be fading but the FA Cup can still deliver magic

Liverpool and Chelsea meet in an FA Cup final on Saturday evening that seems slightly out of place, sandwiched between midweek and Sunday Premier League fixtures.

The once season-ending showpiece final feels a bit more of a sideshow to the all-conquering Premier League narrative, with the league title, European places and relegation matters taking up most of the headlines and headspace in the build-up to the game.

Liverpool are still hoping to catch Manchester City in the league race and have the Champions League final with Madrid to look forward to, while off the pitch matters at Chelsea have left a cloud of uncertainty surrounding their future.

All of which means that we go into a final that feels like it's snuck up on us.

You’ll always have the traditionalists reminiscing fondly about the eight-hour build-up on the BBC and the dodgy cup final songs and even dodgier cup final suits but this year more than ever, the diminution of the FA Cup’s status is laid bare.

That’s not to say that there’s not plenty to get excited about at Wembley.

The league title may be slipping away from them but Liverpool are aiming to keep their quadruple hopes alive and win the competition for the first time since their famous Steven Gerrard inspired triumph over West Ham in 2006.

Chelsea meanwhile have become synonymous with the competition over the last five years with four appearances in the final, albeit with just one win, coming against Manchester United in 2018.

The two sides both met at this stage of the competition back in 2012 with Roberto Di Matteo’s Chelsea edging out Kenny Dalglish’s decidedly 'rebuilding phase’ Liverpool 2-1.

That was Liverpool’s last appearance in the cup final and for Jurgen Klopp, it’s been far too long.

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