Manchester City meet Tottenham Hotspur at Wembley Stadium in the 2020-21 Carabao Cup Final.
City are looking to clinch the title for a joint-record fourth consecutive season, whereas Tottenham are looking for their first trophy since 2008.
Team News
John Stones is suspended for Man City after being red carded for a late foul on Jacob Ramsey in a 2-1 Premier League victory at Aston Villa on Wednesday evening.
Kevin De Bruyne (ankle/foot) and Sergio Aguero (muscle) are in contention to return if declared fully fit.
Spurs could be without Harry Kane for a second consecutive match due to an ankle injury.
Matt Doherty (muscle) is in contention to return but Ben Davies (calf) remains absent.
Route to Final
| Manchester City | |||
| Round | Opposition | Venue | Result |
| 3 | Bournemouth | Home | 2-1 |
| 4 | Burnley | Away | 0-3 |
| Quarter-Finals | Arsenal | Away | 1-4 |
| Semi-Finals | Man Utd | Away | 0-2 |
Man City opened their title defence in Round Three with a 75th minute winner from Phil Foden, after Bournemouth’s Sam Surridge had cancelled out Liam Delap’s opener.
Raheem Sterling netted twice before Ferran Torres wrapped up a comfortable 3-0 away win at Burnley in the Fourth Round, before City thrashed Arsenal 4-1 at the Emirates Stadium in the Quarter Finals.
Second half goals from Fernandinho and John Stones saw City comfortably defeat Manchester United at Old Trafford in an one legged semi, thus booking their place in the final for a fourth consecutive campaign.
| Tottenham Hotspur | |||
| Round | Opposition | Venue | Result |
| 3 | Leyton Orient | Away | W/O |
| 4 | Chelsea | Home | 1-1 (Spurs win 5-4 on penalties) |
| Quarter-Finals | Stoke City | Away | 1-3 |
| Semi-Finals | Brentford | Home | 2-0 |
Tottenham kicked off their Carabao Cup campaign with a Third Round walkover after Leyton Orient withdrew, following a Coronavirus outbreak at the League Two club.
Erik Lamela rescued Spurs’ blushes in the Fourth Round to cancel out Timo Werner’s effort for Chelsea, before the North Londoners prevailed 5-4 on penalties in the cross-London derby.
Late goals from Ben Davies and Harry Kane saw Tottenham scrape past Stoke City 3-1 in the Quarter-Finals, before Moussa Sissoko and Son Heung-min struck in the semi-finals to defeat Brentford and book Spurs’ first Cup Final appearance since the 2018-19 UEFA Champions League.
Stat Attack
- Man City have lost all three previous League Cup ties against Spurs (L3).
- Tottenham are meeting City in a domestic cup competition for the first time since December 2007, defeating the Citizens 2-0 at the Etihad in the Last Eight.
- City are the eighth different team which Spurs have faced in a League Cup Final.
- Tottenham have kept just three cleans in their last seven League Cup ties – excluding their walkover at Leyton Orient this season (W4, D2, L1)
- Man City have picked up just six yellow cards in four Carabao Cup games this season, with two of those bookings being for Bernardo Silva.
Prediction
With crowds allowed back in amidst a toxic atmosphere lingering across football following a failed breakaway plan involving these two clubs, I feel like this will be a game where focus is going to be important and potentially key to the result.
Man City though will likely ring the changes but after delivering a lacklustre display here in their FA Cup semi last Saturday, I hope that Pep Guardiola keep his changes to a minimum to build momentum for Wednesday’s Champions League trip to PSG.
Tottenham meanwhile could do with having Kane back for this Final because they were lucky to beat Southampton on Wednesday evening, and City will pose tougher opposition here if they are able to turn up and impose themselves quickly on Spurs.
I am therefore expecting a cracking contest because the odds for once are stacked against City on head-to-head record in this competition, yet Spurs probably need to score first otherwise I can see another title for Man City.
Prediction: Manchester City 2-1 Tottenham Hotspur
Result: Manchester City 1-0 Tottenham Hotspur
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