Micah Richards
Former England defender on BBC One

Thomas Tuchel has been absolutely brilliant the way he’s handled himself – we all know it’s been a difficult moment for Chelsea but they’ve managed to stay in that top four and get to an FA Cup final.

That’s down to the application of the manager and the players – if they finish off the season by winning the FA Cup, they can go forward, it looks like the new owners are going to go through.

Tune in for the team. Get it on the radio and get it at the top of this page.

Chris Bevan
BBC Sport at Wembley

Image source, BBC Sport

Need any more inspiration before an FA Cup final? A sign reading ‘Where players enter and legends leave’ is the last thing the Chelsea and Liverpool teams will see before they run on to the pitch at Wembley… well, assuming the signs telling everyone to keep off the grass come down beforehand.

Will be tricky to get the game played otherwise.

Phil McNulty
BBC Sport chief football writer at Wembley

Romelu Lukaku has had to put up with criticism of his play on the field and scrutiny of his words off it as he struggled to make a success of his £97.5m move from Inter Milan to Chelsea.

What a chance this is for him to make it all go away and end this season with a flourish as he starts this FA Cup Final. He has been showing signs of his best form in recent games and has been shown real faith by Chelsea manager Thomas Tuchel.

Chelsea

Chelsea manager Thomas Tuchel on BBC Radio 5 Live: "It was nice [to pick Mateo Kovacic], I couldn't believe it but he trained yesterday. He wants to play.

"We take the risk and see if it works in the match.

"There was no need to change up top. Why break the rhythm?

"You don't need to lift anyone for a cup final. We are close to the stadium, we see the arch every day.

"We want to win in yellow today."

Micah Richards
Former England defender on BBC One

It would be a disaster if Liverpool just finished with the League Cup – if they win two of the four it would still be a very good season.

To be at this point of the season and still be in all these competitions, you’ve got to give them credit for that.

Pete Tong is currently throwing out tunes for the Wembley crowd. Fair play to him, still hitting the decks at 61. Presumably, he's in his Agadoo/Amarillo/Black Lace's Superman phase now?

The last time these two teams met in an FA Cup final was in 2012.

The Blues won the trophy for the seventh time thanks to goals from Ramires and Didier Drogba.

Watch it below...

Image source, Getty Images

The last time Chelsea and Liverpool met in the FA Cup was in the fifth round in 2020.

Frank Lampard's side won 2-0 that evening, ending Liverpool's hopes of winning a Premier League, FA Cup and Champions League treble.

Reserve Reds keeper Adrian gifted Willian Chelsea's opener after 13 minutes when he fumbled the Brazil playmaker's 20-yard shot.

Ross Barkley doubled his side's lead after 64 minutes when the former Everton midfielder and Toffees fan surged from inside his own half on a solo run before beating Adrian with a sweet strike.

Chris Bevan
BBC Sport at Wembley

After 25 years on the show, legendary BBC pundit Mark Lawrenson appeared on his final edition of Football Focus earlier today, live from the Wembley pitch and stands.

They put together a special montage for his farewell, and he was able to watch it for himself on the big screens around the stadium.

Image source, BBC Sport

Image source, BBC Sport

You can all tick off 'montage with a sombre, emotive voice over on BBC One' off your FA Cup final bingo cards.

With two Premier League games remaining and FA Cup and Champions League finals coming up, we asked Liverpool fans how they are feeling about the chase for three more pieces of silverware.

Here are some of your thoughts:

Darren: Klopp has put the bar so high for Liverpool that some fans are disappointed with where we are. Three cup finals (one already won), second in the league without a loss for aaaaaages, playing 'badly' and still winning... Can Moyes do Liverpool a favour? A great season.

Lyndon: Anything is still possible. Having said that, the draw against Tottenham felt like a defeat. So the quadruple is left hanging by a thread. We need City to drop points in their remaining games, which feels almost impossible. But football is funny old sport. Just have to keep believing.

Tommy: While it would be brilliant to win all four, I think realistically we only have a chance of three. For me I want the Champions League the most and get revenge on Madrid.

Tony: Never thought I would live to see a Liverpool team as good as the team from the Shankly/Paisley era. This team if anything are better. Would dearly love to see them do the quadruple this season. With Klopp as manager there is no reason why not. This reason makes me believe they will do it.

Neil Johnston
BBC Sport at Wembley

Image source, BBC Sport

The sun has been beating down on Wembley all day and a terrific atmosphere has been building outside the national stadium over the past few hours.

It's definitely a T-shirt and sunglasses day and there are almost as many ice cream vans lining Wembley Way as half-and-half scarf stalls.

Both sets of supporters have been taking advantage of the many beer gardens close to the ground with Liverpool fans, in particular, making themselves heard.

Chelsea have confirmed that Kai Havertz is not featuring in today's final because of hamstring issues. It means a big opportunity for Romelu Lukaku.

Image source, Getty Images

They have scored 261 goals between them, made 13 trips to a total of eight different countries and been involved in six penalty shootouts.

Now Chelsea and Liverpool are preparing to meet in the FA Cup final towards the end of what has been an exhausting season for both clubs.

Our very own Neil Johnson has been digging through all the stats ahead of today to bring you Chelsea and Liverpool's marathon seasons in numbers.

Click here to read more.

Chris Bevan
BBC Sport at Wembley

The pitch is ready, the weather is on message (scorching sunshine). What else do you need for the FA Cup final apart from two teams and a ball?

I wonder what this security guy has got in his box?

Image source, BBC Sport

Ah, it’s only the FA Cup! What a beauty!

Old Big Ears (the trophy, not Motd host Gary Lineker) is even more gorgeous when you look at it close up too, so just imagine grabbing it and lifting it!

I wasn’t even allowed to touch it, sadly - that honour goes to either Jordan Henderson or Cesar Azpilicueta, a bit later on.

Chelsea make just one change to the side that won 3-0 at Leeds earlier in the week.

The experience of Thiago Silva returns to the side, meaning Andreas Christensen drops out.

Chelsea XI: Mendy, Chalobah, Silva, Rudiger, James, Kovacic, Jorginho, Alonso, Mount, Lukaku, Pulisic.

Mohamed Salah returns to the Liverpool line-up.

He is one of five changes.

The injured Fabinho is replaced by Jordan Henderson in midfield.

Then from the 2-1 win at Aston Villa earlier in the week Jurgen Klopp drops Curtis Jones out for Thiago, Andrew Robertson returns at left back, Salah is in for Diogo Jota and Ibrahima Konate plays instead of Joel Matip at the back.

Liverpool XI: Alisson, Alexander-Arnold, Konate, Van Dijk, Robertson, Henderson, Thiago, Keita, Diaz, Salah, Mane.

Image source, Getty Images

Right, get yourselves on BBC One now. It's FA Cup final build-up time!

Or you could watch Home and Away on streaming. Or play Sensible Soccer on your Evercade. Or head on up to the local heath and drink beer in the sun and have a game of cricket without me. Whatever. I don't care.