The first silverware of the season is up for grabs with Arsenal facing off Manchester City in the final of the Carabao Cup. The two teams have had contrasting seasons in the domestic league but have been impressive in their own way in reaching the final of the League Cup.
Manchester City are enjoying one of their finest seasons in the last decade with Pep Guardiola’s men crushing through every team on their way. City are super-favourites to win the league title come May and look well-set to make a long-run in the Champions League as well.
However, as was demonstrated by Liverpool last month and Wigan Athletic last week, City are not invincible. They were frustrated and coerced into committing errors by an extremely gritty Wigan side while Klopp’s men simply pressed City out of the park in their thrilling 4-3 win.
This would mean that Guardiola will have to be extra careful to ensure that his players are extra attentive in their first final in a season which promises a lot of silverware for them. Here is how the Spaniard will look to set his team up.
Formation: 4-3-3
Defence
Claudio Bravo will be expected to in between the sticks for Pep’s men and tasked with starting off attacks as Pep always likes to have all eleven ball work to initiate the attack.
The right-back position is likely to go to Kyle Walker and he will have to work hard to avoid a defensive nightmare against Rashford or Martial, whoever is thrown at him. The left-back will be marshalled by the effective Danilo with Fabian Delph serving his suspension after he was sent off against Wigan Athletic in the FA Cup match.
The centre-back pairing is likely to be Vincent Kompany and Nicolas Otamendi. They will be asked to keep the speedster in Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang tamed for the match. Aymeric Laporte and John Stones are two more than capable back-ups warming the bench and will be ready to come on should Pep need to reshuffle his backline last minute.
Midfield
The three-man midfield is likely to consist of the ever consistent David Silva who will want to add another League Cup trophy. Fernandinho will be the one sitting in deep and allowing his teammates to run into spaces in front of him. Kevin De Bruyne will be the man to watch out for and the Belgian will not get a bigger stage than this to showcase his incredible talent.
Attack
A terror striking trio of Sergio Aguero, Bernardo Silva and Leroy Sane will be spearheading the City attack Gabriel Jesus who is just returning from a long-term injury and Raheem Sterling who is not fully fit either will be ready to come off the bench should the need arise.
