Wilfried Bony and Jesus Navas are expected to return to Manchester City's squad, along with defender Eliaquim Mangala - who has not played since early January but was an unused substitute at Dynamo Kiev. All three players trained fully on Friday.

City boss Pellegrini is hopeful captain Vincent Kompany, ex-Liverpool winger Raheem Sterling and Bacary Sagna will be fine to feature after undergoing recovery sessions away from the main group.

Goalkeeper Willy Caballero will start in goal ahead of Joe Hart and Bersant Celina, Manu Garcia and Aleix Garcia could all be in the squad, although Fabian Delph, Kevin De Bruyne and Samir Nasri are all long-term absentees.
Jamie Redknapp joins Ed Chamberlin to preview the Capital One Cup final between Liverpool and Manchester City
Jamie Redknapp joins Ed Chamberlin to preview the Capital One Cup final between Liverpool and Manchester City

Midfielders Adam Lallana and Joe Allen and defender Martin Skrtel have all returned to training with the Liverpool first team but may find it difficult to win a place in the squad at Wembley.

The first two have not featured since February 6 because of calf and hamstring problems while Skrtel has been sidelined since mid-December.

Fellow defender Dejan Lovren has recovered from illness earlier this week.

Klopp made just one change for Thursday's Europa League win over Augsburg and with Lucas Leiva occupying a role in defence in that game the manager has to decide whether to swap him with a genuine centre-back or a midfielder.

Opta stats
Sergio Aguero says Manchester City will be looking to avenge their Premier League defeat to Liverpool when the two meet in the Capital One Cup final
Sergio Aguero says Manchester City will be looking to avenge their Premier League defeat to Liverpool when the two meet in the Capital One Cup final

This will be the first final in any competition contested between Liverpool and City.

In cup competitions, Liverpool are unbeaten in their last eight against City (W6 D2), last being defeated by them in an FA Cup fourth-round replay in 1973.

Klopp has now reached a cup final in each of his last five seasons as a manager, but he has lost the last three.

City scored 17 times en route to the League Cup final, with nine different City players scoring in this year's competition (plus one own goal).

However, both teams have scored in each of City's five League Cup games this season.

All three of the goals Liverpool have conceded in this year's competition have come before half-time.

The last eight meetings in all competitions between these sides have produced 32 goals, with both teams finding the net in each match.

There has been at least one goal in each half in 10 of the last 11 League Cup finals. The exception was United and Tottenham's goalless draw in 2009.

Merson's prediction
Manchester City's Jesus Navas claims that he is fully focused on the Capital One Cup final despite an upcoming run of important fixtures
Manchester City's Jesus Navas claims that he is fully focused on the Capital One Cup final despite an upcoming run of important fixtures

If Liverpool can recapture the form that saw them dismantle Man City last time the two teams met, then they have a superb chance of lifting the trophy. I know City had a good result in midweek in Europe but travelling to Kiev is still an incredibly tough journey.

Liverpool have to take advantage of that and start well. If they start slowly and it gets into a bit of a war of attrition then City will have too much class for them. Klopp needs to get his side to start at a high tempo and then they can win this game. I'm siding with Liverpool and a 2-1 win. Daniel Sturridge is the man to grab the first goal at Wembley.

PAUL PREDICTS: 2-1 to Liverpool


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