FA Cup final preview: Chelsea to expose Liverpool's midfield.

This afternoon couldn’t be bigger for both clubs. Forget Munich, forget league positions, this is all about who will turn up on the day, play well, win the game and write another chapter in the history of the competition and the club.

Liverpool fans mock Chelsea stating “We’ve got no history!” and it’s something we have had to live with. The thing is, Chelsea have been making history in the last eight seasons and this afternoon, we could win the competition for the fourth time in six seasons.

It won’t be easy though, we all know that.

The thing about this competition, and I am talking about every stage, is that anyone can beat anyone on their day and the final is no different.

Liverpool will focus on the fact that they have beaten us twice already at Stamford Bridge and will take comfort in it. But I would like to remind you all, that was when AVB was in charge. A lot has changed since then.

Chelsea are a different proposition now. Apart from a slip up the other night at home to the impressive Newcastle, we have been on fire, scoring goals, winning games and have turned our season around.

The players all want to be a part of the team, all feel involved and everyone is pulling together and Liverpool will need to be aware of just how much things have changed.

Liverpool themselves will come to Wembley tonight looking to put another trophy on the table after winning the League Cup. Their Premier League season hasn’t been good as they have been hampered with injuries and suspensions to key players.

If Liverpool win, it will all be forgotten and you would imagine the pressure will be off Kenny Dalglish. If they lose, it could be a different story.

Liverpool will look to take the game to Chelsea, expect Suarez and Carroll to start up front with Gerrard floating around in behind them. With the ball, Liverpool are dangerous. Craig Bellamy always plays well against us and I am expecting him to start out wide with Kuyt on the other side.

Liverpool do have weakness however, and that’s the defensive side of their midfield. Chelsea could overrun them today and cause them all sorts of problems as we did with Spurs. The holding man in their midfield has got a job to do on dealing with Juan Mata.

Liverpool need to work hard without the ball just like Chelsea need to, but I know I am biased. But I really believe we have the cover and protection in front of our back four that Liverpool don’t have, and that could be the difference.

If Chelsea stick to the 4-2-3-1 formation with Juan Mata in behind the front man, he could be the man that becomes the star of the show. Spurs came to Wembley with a game plan and eventually they were picked off and beaten 5-1, and I genuinely believe it could be the same outcome today.

Purely and simply because of his record, Didier Drogba will start for Chelsea with Fernando Torres on the bench. Ideally, I would love for us to use Drogba as a battering ram for 70 minutes to score yet another goal at Wembley in a final and then bring on Torres for the last 20 minutes to get in behind them as they become tired and get his first goal against his old club. After all the abuse, it would be the icing on the cake for Torres and for Chelsea.

Frank Lampard and Mikel will start as the holding two in midfield while Ramires and Kalou will start either side of Mata.

Ashley Cole will start next to JT, Ivanovic and Bosingwa in front of Petr Cech in goal, with plenty of Chelsea options to come on and make a difference if required late on.

The one change, if I am wrong, could be Meireles for Kalou with Meireles missing the Champions League final, but I can’t see it.

For me, both sides can beat each other on any given day but I really believe that Chelsea have the edge for two reasons. First our squad depth, options we have if we need to change things and our defensive strength in midfield.

So come on Chelsea, play well, get on the ball early and get the ball into Mata to feed Drogba as early as possible.

We owe this lot for two defeats at the Bridge this season and there isn’t a better stage in the world to get out there and put things right! Chelsea look stonger than Liverpool and we need to make it count!

Chelsea to win by two goals!

KTBFFH!