Chelsea – Liverpool

Live commentary will appear here from 1715 BST.

The FA Cup final is here, and with Chelsea and Liverpool renewing a rivalry that has produced some memorable battles over recent years.

Both sides have had seasons to forget in the league but have had rather more to celebrate in knockout competitions, and they will be going all out for the victory.

The big news is that Didier Drogba starts for Chelsea ahead of Fernando Torres.

Meanwhile, three of the four players suspended for the Champions League final - Terry, Ramires and Ivanovic - start the game, but Meireles misses out.

Liverpool have named Luis Suarez and Craig Bellamy in attack, with Andy Carroll and Dirk Kuyt both on the bench.

Steven Gerrard starts in midfield alongside Stewart Downing, Jordan Henderson and Jay Spearing.

While you await the big kick-off, you can read Senior Editor John Brewin's preview of the final <a href="http://soccernet.espn.go.com/preview/_/id/340950" target="_blank">here</a>.

ESPN analyst Kevin Keegan has also provided his thoughts on the match <a href="http://soccernet.espn.go.com/columns/story/_/id/1062927/kevin-keegan:-liverpool-and-chelsea-have-eyes-on-the-fa-cup-prize?cc=5739" target="_blank">here</a>.

<img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/images/2012/0505/fansonwembleyway20120505_275x155.jpg"><br>Fans make their way up Wembley Way

It's a "great occasion" says Kenny Dalglish. Chelsea v Liverpool coming up in just under 20 minutes now.

For both teams today is massive in terms of how both teams seasons will be perceived. Win and the outlook looks a lot brighter.

<b>Chelsea:</b> Cech, Bosingwa, Ivanovic, Terry, Cole, Ramires, Mikel, Lampard, Kalou, Drogba, Mata. Subs: Turnbull, Essien, Torres, Malouda, Meireles, Ferreira, Sturridge.<br>

<b>Liverpool:</b> Reina, Johnson, Skrtel, Agger, Jose Enrique, Spearing, Henderson, Downing, Gerrard, Bellamy, Suarez. Subs: Doni, Carroll, Maxi, Kuyt, Carragher, Shelvey, Kelly.

The FA Cup hymn 'Abide with me' echoes around Wembley now. Sung each year since 1977.

The teams are in the tunnel. England colleagues John Terry and Steven Gerrard prepare to lead out their sides.

Out they come. Chelsea in their kits, Liverpool in tracksuits.

Jimmy Armfield being introduced to the two sides by the captains.

The national anthem is now being sung. Three minutes to kick-off now.

Didier Drogba is looking to become the first player to score in four FA Cup finals.

<b>KICK OFF</b> We are underway at Wembley!

Drogba eyeing that record takes a wild swing at goal within the first 45 seconds. Well, well wide.

All Chelsea so far. Keeping the ball well and probing down the flanks.

Slow and steady so far. Neither side has got into the penalty box yet. Liverpool do have the ball now though.

Glen Johnson looks to venture down the right, tacled by Ashley Cole for a throw-in.

Still nothing doing. A line of 5 in midfield for Liverpool meaning it very crowded in the centre.

Liverpool have had the ball for some time in their half now. Possession is lost by Glen Johnson though

Salomon Kalou looks to get at Glen Johnson down the left, with some success, but the ball is conceded once more shortly after.

Not much happening here. Slow doesn't begin to describe it!

Liverpool back in possession, but a sloppy Gerrard pass gives Chelsea a throw-in.

Bellamy looks to run at Ashley Cole down the right, but his touch is terrible and it's a Chelsea throw.

<img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/goal.gif"> <b>GOAL Chelsea 1-0 Liverpool Ramires scores!!!</b> Chelsea's Brazilian dynamo Ramires opens the scoring as Juan Mata capitalises on a poor Jay Spearing pass to play in his colleague.

Ramires got in behind Jose Enrique down the Liverpool left and then, shooting from the right channel, beat Pepe Reina at the near post.

Can Liverpool respond? Almost! Ivanovic does well to block from Craig Bellamy after Glen Johnson's cross is not cleared effectively.

Chelsea back in possession, looking to take the sting out of Liverpool's brief response.

Oh dear! Luis Suarez looks to lob Petr Cech from his own-half, but his shot is horribly miscued. Didn't even reach the area.

Almost a howler from Pepe Reina. Ramires' cross spilled under his own crossbar. Can't drop the ball there.

Both sides are cancelling each other out in terms of formation. Looking to counter. Advantage Chelsea so far.

Liverpool look to get down the left with Gerrard, but Ramires slides in wonderfully to win the ball.

Chelsea look to counter and Mata finds Lampard, but his touch is poor and Skrtel intercepts.

Ramires, with that goal, became the first Brazilian to score in an FA Cup final.

Liverpool slowly working the ball now, but they are really struggling to get into the Chelsea half.

Downing gets onto the end of a long diagonal ball from Gerrard and just keeps the ball in. No-one in the middle and it matters little as the ball goes out of play.

Chelsea the more comfortable on the ball. Drogba bringing his team-mates into play well.

Salomon Kalou breaks into the box from the left and beats two men, but Daniel Agger gets in before the Ivorian can pull the trigger.

Liverpool's midfield looking fairly devoid of ideas so far.

Agger charges forward down the left, linking with Jose Enrique, but his cross is tame. Cech claims.

Liverpool having plenty of the ball recently, but doing very little with it. Scrappy game.

Chelsea look to get down the left-flank and Drogba has pulled wide, but with a defender at his back the Ivorian loses control and the ball runs out of play.

Still possession switches back and forth, but there is little enterprise.

Head-tennis in midfield. It's not pretty stuff!

Jay Spearing looks to loft the ball forward, but it's nowhere near a team-mate. Awful.

Torres warming up... (Read into that what you will)

Ashley Cole lines up a shot from 25 yards. Blocked by Craig Bellamy

Downing and Jose Enrique run at Bosingwa down the left, but make a hash of a 2-on-1 situation.

Liverpool swing a free-kick into the area. Foul in the box and the referee awards a free-kick the other way.

<b>STAT</b> The team that has opened the scoring has won 13 of the last 14 FA Cup finals.

<img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/yellow_card.jpg" height="15"> <b>Mikel</b> for a trip on Steven Gerrard

Didier Drogba lines-up another shot from range. Well-wide, but he was allowed so much time and space.

Neither team keeping hold of the ball for more than 20 seconds now.

Spearing looks to lob the ball into Craig Bellamy at the back-post, who knocks a header to Luis Suarez, but his header is tame.

Downing making space down the left-flank and getting the ball into the area. Few targets in the box though.

Break in play briefly and we are back under-way

Liverpool keeping the ball in defence, Agger looks to spring an attack but gives the ball away tamely.

<img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/yellow_card.jpg" height="15"> <b>Agger</b> Having given the ball away, Agger catches John Obi Mikel late with a tackle.

One added minute...

<b>HALF TIME</b> Chelsea 1-0 Liverpool

Well, Liverpool need to up their game big time. Chelsea haven't done much, but they are doing more than enough.

The Chelsea goal will disappoint Liverpool massively. Three major errors from Spearing, Enrique and Pepe Reina.

The general consensus is that Gerrard needs to get closer to Luis Suarez. The Uruguayan has looked hugely isolated.

Will Andy Carroll come on for Liverpool? Can they grab a hold of the midfield battle?

<a href="http://soccernet.espn.go.com/video?video=channels/339821/1654342&cc=5739" target="_blank">Ramires gives Chelsea the lead in the FA Cup Final at Wembley.</a> (UK/ROI ONLY)

<img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/images/2012/0505/ramiresgoal20120505_275x155.jpg">Ramires puts Chelsea ahead

Out come the two sides. Let's get going on the second-half.

<b>SECOND HALF</b> Play restarts at Wembley

Change of shape for Liverpool. More of a 4-4-2, with Bellamy moving into the forward line.

Dangerous attack from Chelsea as Kalou slips Ashley Cole into space down the left-channel. His cross is blocked and Reina collects.

Spearing gives the ball away and Drogba collects, but is fouled by Glen Johnson. No card given.

Lampard swings in a corner from the left. Skrtel and John Terry are wrestling at the back-post and a free-kick goes Liverpool's way.

Gerrard looks to run at the Chelsea defence, drifting past Lampard, but then runs into the back of Ivanovic. Wants a penalty, never going to get one.

The game is much more open now. Mata goes down the other end and swings in a cross from the left.

<img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/goal.gif"> <b>GOAL Chelsea 2-0 Liverpool Drogba doubles the lead!!!</b> Lampard finds Drogba, Skrtel backs-off and the Ivorian fires low into the bottom corner.

Drogba now the first-man to score in four different FA Cup finals.

Suarez gets down the Liverpool right, but his shot is straight at Petr Cech.

<img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/subs.gif"> <b>Carroll replaces Jay Spearing</b>

Cheeky from Juan Mata. Running at the defence, space opens up and the Spaniard looks to chip Reina. Easy catch.

Kalou down receiving treatment. On second look at that goal, Skrtel must do much, much better.

Back underway now. Can Carroll make a difference. Johnson looks to find him with a cross, but Ivanovic clears.

Chelsea counter brilliantly with Ramires and Drogba. The ball comes to Kalou on the left and he buys himself space for the shot, but it's ballooned wide. Tried a curled effort into far corner.

Thirty minutes to play. Will we see a Liverpool comeback?

Chelea counter once more. Drogba central and eventually the Ivorian is fouled by Suarez.

Bit of a delay, as the referee fell down there also. Lampard takes the free-kick, but swerves wide.

<img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/images/2012/0505/didierdrogbagoal20120505_275x155.jpg">Didier Drogba scores Chelsea's second.

Drogba close once more. Mata flicks the ball to Drogba, whose left-footed effort from a narrow-angle hits the side-netting.

<img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/goal.gif"> <b>GOAL Chelsea 2-1 Liverpool Carroll pulls one back!!!</b> Carroll gets the ball in the area after a mistake from Bosingwa, takes his time, but works a shot and fires the ball into the roof of the net.

Henderson now pulls a shot wide from 20 yards. Better from Liverpool.

Bellamy gets down the right, crosses well, but Terry rises to flick the ball clear.

The pressure is back on now. Chelsea had looked home and dry.

Bellamy crosses from deeper this time, looking for Suarez, but the Uruguayan's control lets him down.

John Terry will not be pleased with his efforts on that goal. Gave Carroll a yard to get away his shot.

Carroll rises to flick down a header to Gerrard at the edge of the area, but the Liverpool skipper's shot is high and very wide.

Suarez thinks he's through on goal, but offside is called and it is a good decision.

Chelsea need to get a hold of this game and thus, Fernando Torres has been sent to warm-up.

Suarez works a few yards to shoot at the edge of the area and tests Petr Cech low to his right. Good play from the Uruguay star.

Carroll gets a head on another cross, this time from Enrique. High and wide.

Liverpool knocking the ball into the area at every opportunity. Chelsea creaking at times.

Ball hung up by Glen Johnson, Carroll rises and heads over.

<img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/subs.gif"> <b>Raul Meireles replaces Ramires</b>

Drogba is down and holding his groin. Looks legitimate this time.

<img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/subs.gif"> <b>Kuyt for Bellamy</b>

<img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/images/2012/0505/andycarrollgoal20120505_350x197.jpg"> Andy Carroll finds the back of the Chelsea net.

Those delays have taken a bit of the sting out of the tie.

Henderson fires wildly over the bar for Liverpool as they look for an equaliser.

Carroll thinks he has scored. Not given. Fine save by Petr Cech,

Looks like it didn't cross the line completely. Liverpool were convinced. Carroll has to score, but Cech produces a wonder-save at the back post.

Chipped cross to the far-post and Carroll rose unmarked five yards out. Has to score.

<img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/yellow_card.jpg" height="15"> <b>Suarez</b> for his protests.

Well. That is a major talking point.

Gerrard loops a ball forward for Carroll. Ivanovic rises well to head clear. Corner. Again cleared by the Serb.

Skrtel has acres of space in the area, but a terrible first-touch allows Ivanovic back in to block.

Free-kick given 20 yards out for a foul by Mikel. Harsh decision. Gerrard hits the wall.

Skrtel runs down the right flank and wins a corner off John Terry.

Downing crosses, but cleared by Ivanovic. Another Liverpool corner.

Chelsea look to break, but Kalou doesn't have the legs. Back come Liverpool.

<img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/subs.gif"> <b>Malouda replaces Juan Mata</b>

Five minutes of added-time...

Ball falls for Carroll in the left-channel, he scuffs his shot and Terry gets in a block.

Long-ball from Liverpool, but it's been working. This time flicked through to Cech

Chelsea look out on their feet. They are knackered.

Man of the Match awarded to Chelsea's <b>Juan Mata</b>

Free-kick to Chelsea. Foul on Drogba by Steven Gerrard.

Lampard takes and forces a low save from Reina.

The ball comes back at Liverpool and Reina rushes out his area but loses the ball. Malouda quickly fires away a shot. Blocked by Skrtel.

<b>FULL TIME</b> Chelsea 2-1 Liverpool

<img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/images/2012/0505/andycarrollgoalsaved20120505_275x155.jpg"> Here's a picture of that Carroll header/Cech save

Liverpool came back into the game in the last half-an-hour, but it was lost in the first-hour of the game.

Petr Cech on that save: "I had a lot of luck"

Didier Drogba: "I love the FA Cup. A fourth win in eight seasons. It's fantastic for the club."