Last season, Manchester City goalkeeper Willy Caballero was the hero as Manuel Pellegrini’s men defeated Liverpool on penalties to win the Capital One Cup, now known as the EFL Cup.
And to be fair, both clubs look like they could be destined for another Wembley trip this season, especially if they can maintain their excellent league form throughout the duration of the domestic campaign.
City are unbeaten under Pep Guardiola and the Blues have already developed an imposing lead at the top of the Premier League table. Sergio Aguero is in fine form, with nine goals in just five matches in all competitions and the likes of Kevin de Bruyne, Raheem Sterling and Fernandinho are profiting from the Spaniard’s unique methods.
Right now, it is hard to see the Blues falling short in their pursuit of the Premier League title – and a cup final could also be on the cards. Their avid fan base will certainly begin to demand success with Pep at the helm.
Meanwhile, Liverpool are also looking very strong ahead of what could be a memorable campaign for Jurgen Klopp’s men. The Reds have already earned vital away victories at both Arsenal and Chelsea; two successes that show exactly what the club are made of. They showed glimpses of quality during Brendan Rodgers' tenure but Klopp has what it takes to get the most out of his talented squad.
Without a doubt, Liverpool are title contenders this season but a top four finish and a trophy would almost certainly suffice. Klopp is building a monster and the title WILL grace the Anfield turf once again in the not-so-distant future; especially if he can crank the atmosphere up a notch at home games. His charisma and passion will certainly help matters on that front.
Victory in the EFL Cup would probably mean more to Liverpool than it would to Manchester City – the Blues have got bigger priorities this season. Klopp’s men fell short in the final last year and the German will expect his side to push for silverware after coming so close in the previous campaign.
And with the likes of Philippe Coutinho, Daniel Sturridge and Sadio Mané performing admirably, there’s absolutely no reason why the Reds – priced at 7/1 in Bet365’s early EFL betting odds – cannot go on to lift the trophy for a record ninth time.
But City will be licking their lips at the prospect of winning at least two trophies this season and the EFL Cup is certainly winnable if the Blues play their strongest team. Some clubs opt to rest their big names for this competition and a straightforward route to the final for the second year running could well be on the cards...
Even if Pep chooses to play his fringe players, City’s strength in depth is so vast and even the Premier League’s top sides may struggle to beat their reserves. But if anyone can do it, it is Jurgen Klopp's Liverpool. A second successive final between the two clubs beckons if all goes to plan.
