Chelsea vs Man City League Cup preview | Team news | Expected line-ups | Prediction

The first piece of silverware this season is up for grabs as Chelsea take on Manchester City in the Carabao Cup final at Wembley on Sunday afternoon. 

Chelsea head in to the game following a mixed week as they crashed out of the FA Cup with a 2-0 defeat to Manchester United at Stamford Bridge before recovering to book their place in the last-16 of the Europa League with a comfortable 3-0 victory over Malmo on Thursday.

That result eased the pressure on Maurizio Sarri’s shoulders but defeat to Manchester City at Wembley tomorrow afternoon would renew calls for the Italian coach to be given his marching orders so the Chelsea boss will be desperate to secure some silverware to appease disgruntled fans.

However, the Blues face a formidable City side that are looking to defend their League Cup trophy and this game comes just two weeks after Pep Guardiola’s men battered Chelsea 6-0 in the Premier League.

Guardiola is convinced that result won’t influence tomorrow’s final but Man City are in fine form after extending their winning run to five games in all competitions with a thrilling 3-2 victory at Schalke in the first leg of their Champions League tie on Wednesday night.

Team news

Chelsea will hand a late fitness test to Kepa Arrizabalaga after he missed the Malmo game on Thursday with a hamstring injury but the Spaniard is expected to be passed fit to return in goal.

Pedro and Davide Zappacosta will also need late checks after suffering from illness last week but the likes of Eden Hazard, Gonzalo Higuain, Jorginho and David Luiz are set for recalls.

Man City could be without John Stones due to a groin injury while Benjamin Mendy and Gabriel Jesus are also injury doubts for the game tomorrow.

Expected line-ups

Predicted score

Chelsea 1-3 Man City: The Londoners should be desperate to not only lift the first piece of silverware of the season but to also avenge the humiliating 6-0 defeat at Man City a fortnight ago. However, things just aren’t clicking for Chelsea under Sarri right now and City are a formidable side. It’s a final so I don’t think we’ll see any crazy 6-0 score-line again but I do think Man City will win 3-1 to hold on to the League Cup.