Carabao Cup: Tuchel aiming to step out of Klopp’s shadow with win
Duels between the two men began in their native Germany, where Klopp's Borussia Dortmund would consistently get the better of Tuchel's Mainz.
Chelsea manager Thomas Tuchel aims to take another step out of Jurgen Klopp's considerable shadow when the two do battle once again on Sunday afternoon.
Duels between the two men began in their native Germany, where Klopp's Borussia Dortmund would consistently get the better of Tuchel's Mainz.
When Klopp fled the Bundesliga for Liverpool, Tuchel stepped into his shoes at Dortmund, before eventually following the 53-year-old boss to England, via Paris Saint-Germain.
Since arriving on these shores Chelsea manager Tuchel, 48, has had the better of his Anfield counterpart.
Liverpool have failed to win any of their three meetings since Tuchel strutted into Stamford Bridge, while the younger man has also swept up three trophies since arriving in January 2020.
In the Champions League, Super Cup and Fifa Club World Cup - Klopp has won exactly the same silverware as Tuchel while in England - albeit with a Premier League title to boot.
But if Tuchel can get the better of his compatriot once again, this time under the Wembley arch, he'll feel he has the number of both of his biggest future title rivals - having outsmarted Manchester City's Pep Guardiola in last season's FA Cup and Champions League.
His record against Klopp remains lopsided, having won just three of their 17 meetings while losing nine - but the tide could turn on Sunday's match.
A rocky festive period saw Chelsea fall out of this season's title race, with Liverpool clinging on to City's coattails.
But a victory in the League Cup final against such a direct rival could act as a perfect springboard for the Blues.
Tuchel has previously rejected comparisons with Klopp, saying: "It's nice to be compared, but it's not nice because it does not tell the truth.
"We are not half as close as everybody thinks. It was not like I joined the academy of Mainz, and Jurgen was there as a head coach - that never happened."
The trophy scales are currently in Klopp's favour.
A victory for the West Londoners on Sunday, however, could begin to turn the tide for good.
