The Blues have previously lifted the trophy aloft in 1965, 1998, 2005, 2007 and 2015, but their most recent final appearance ended in defeat to Manchester City in 2019.

Thomas Tuchel's side are arguably fighting for glory on three fronts this season, with the Premier League title surely out of reach but the prospect of an EFL Cup, FA Cup and Champions League treble still alive.

Ahead of Sunday's showdown at Wembley, Sports Mole takes a closer look at Chelsea's route to their ninth EFL Cup final.

THIRD ROUND - CHELSEA 1-1 ASTON VILLA (CHELSEA WIN 4-3 ON PENALTIES)

Chelsea players celebrate their penalty-shootout win over Aston Villa in the EFL Cup on September 22, 2021 © Reuters

Chelsea were immediately handed an all top-flight battle in the third round of the EFL Cup back on September 22, as Aston Villa - then under the tutelage of Dean Smith - made the journey to Stamford Bridge.

It was a tale of two headers in the capital, as Timo Werner broke the deadlock in the 54th minute, but it took all of 10 minutes for Villa to respond through then-19-year-old Cameron Archer, and the contest would be decided from the spot.

After Ashley Young rattled the crossbar for Villa and Kepa Arrizabalaga had kept out Marvelous Nakamba's spot kick, Chelsea's Ben Chilwell handed his side a scare by hitting the woodwork, but Reece James smashed his effort into the top corner to avoid an early exit.

FOURTH ROUND - CHELSEA 1-1 SOUTHAMPTON (CHELSEA WIN 4-3 ON PENALTIES)

Chelsea manager Thomas Tuchel reacts on October 16, 2021 © Reuters

In an almost mirror image to their third-round match, Chelsea were once again paired with Premier League opposition for the fourth round in Southampton, who fell behind on the stroke of half time at Stamford Bridge via Kai Havertz's header.

The Saints came flying out of the blocks in the second half and once again forced Chelsea to go the distance as Che Adams smashed home into an empty net, and both sides would miss early spot kicks as Theo Walcott and Mason Mount failed to convert from 12 yards.

However, Southampton's Will Smallbone then sent his effort into Row Z, and just as he did in the third round, James slotted home the winning penalty to send Chelsea to the quarter-finals.

QUARTER-FINAL - BRENTFORD 0-2 CHELSEA

The all-Premier League ties kept coming thick and fast for Chelsea in the winter months, as they visited a ground where Brentford had already given Arsenal and Liverpool a hard time this season.

Tuchel's youthful side also learned the hard way about what the Brentford Community Stadium has to offer, but a stroke of luck put the Blues into the ascendancy 10 minutes from time, as Pontus Jansson scored an unfortunate own goal.

There was no doubt about the result after that, and Chelsea soon doubled their advantage from the spot five minutes later, with Jorginho's hop skip and jump sending Alvaro Fernandez the wrong way after the Bees keeper felled Christian Pulisic.

SEMI FINAL - CHELSEA 3-0 TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR (ON AGGREGATE)

Aiming to boost their hopes of domestic glory at the expense of former manager Antonio Conte, Chelsea battled Tottenham Hotspur in a repeat of the 2008 final in the last four.

Tottenham may have got the better of the Blues on the big stage 14 years ago, but Chelsea made no mistake in the first leg at Stamford Bridge and took a 2-0 lead to North London after Havertz's early opener and Ben Davies's comical own goal.

Conte's side would attempt to turn things around on their own turf, but an early Antonio Rudiger header - helped by the flailing efforts of Pierluigi Gollini - took the tie away from Spurs, and Chelsea held firm at the back to advance 3-0 on aggregate and set up a tie with Liverpool.