BBC Radio 5 live sports extra

Former Southampton striker Kevin Phillips on BBC Radio 5 live sports extra: "I think this is a great time for Sheffield United to be playing Southampton, they have had a bit of sticky form recently but Ronald Koeman is taking this competition very seriously and you can see that from the side he has put out.

"However, Nigel Clough's side have shown they can perform when it matters and they can certainly get a result tonight."

Derby boss Steve McClaren: "We always planned to bring Will Hughes back in tonight, it's a big test for him against a top-class Chelsea midfield. For where we want to be, this will be the norm. So deal with it!

"Work, fight, and put the performance in."

It's a sign of the times that Derby have an on-loan Real Madrid midfielder in their side tonight. Is Omar Mascarell the new Zidane? Or the new Antonio Nunez?

We are 15 minutes away from kick-off at Bramall Lane. Can the League One side pull off an upset?

Rian Hoskins:, external Very strong Chelsea line-up. I'm surprised Ramires, Remy and Salah don't start but Mourinho clearly wants to win the Capital One Cup.

Jose Mourinho's first Stamford Bridge silverware was the 2004-05 League Cup. Three months later he delivered the Premier League title; is lightning set to strike twice in his second spell at the club?

Chelsea's selection looks very strong this evening as Jose Mourinho goes for more silverware. Nobody ever retired wishing they'd won fewer medals do they?

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More from McClaren on Mourinho: "Great coaches have great humility and respect for everything.

"I was over in the Netherlands at a dinner and had not seen him for a while. He came over and gave a big hug. He knew what we were doing out there.

"All top managers have two games. The main game is on the field preparing the team, making sure you get a performance and winning trophies. He does that very well.

"The other game is the media. How he handles that and how he gets the right messages over to his team.

"There are two games and he's very good at them both."

Southampton FC:, external Graziano Pelle and Dušan Tadić miss out tonight, but both are at Bramall Lane to support their teammates.

Image source, Soputhampton FC

Pelle and Tadic have been key to the Saints' strong start this season. How will their absence impact them at Bramall Lane? The League One Blades have lost only two of their 17 cup matches under Nigel Clough - including wins over Premier League sides Aston Villa, Fulham (both in last season's FA Cup) and West Ham United.

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Derby manager Steve McClaren: "I will be interested just to see how our individual players cope with their strong midfield players and how Chris Martin copes with John Terry.

"There are a lot of individual battles going on and we will be looking and saying 'how many do we win?'

"This is a great bunch to work with. Their attitude is fantastic and we want to do ourselves justice and get a reaction after Saturday and put a performance in for what will be a very good crowd."

Image source, Getty Images

With eight teams still in the running, let's have a look at the runners and riders and their League Cup form.

Liverpool have won the competition on eight occasions - more than anybody else - while Chelsea and Spurs both have four wins.

Image source, Getty Images

Southampton and Newcastle both have one losing final to their names, while Derby and Sheffield United's best runs have seen them reach the semi-finals.

Bournemouth's best League Cup run is now. Right now.

A strong Chelsea starting line-up tonight, though Frenchman Kurt Zouma gets a rare start at the iPro stadium. The defender signed for the Blues in January but only linked up with his new team-mates in the summer after spending the remainder of the campaign with Saint-Etienne...

Thomas Buckley says:, external Great to see Zouma getting another start, he has looked really solid in his past run outs in the Capital One Cup.

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On 5 live right now, Mark Pougatch presents sports news and build-up to tonight's Capital One Cup action before full match commentary on Derby against Chelsea with John Murray and Robbie Savage, plus updates from Sheffield United v Southampton.

If you want full commentary on Sheffield United v Southampton, that is available on 5 live sports extra. Both commentaries are available at the top of this very page by clicking on the Live Coverage tab.

The year 2015 and all it promises looms on the horizon. Before you know it Brentford will be in the Premier League and we'll be hoverboarding to work.

But before we depart these shores let's have a recap over the best moments of 2014.

We want to hear your:

Favourite goal of 2014 (any competition); and your

Favourite celebration of 2014 (any competition)

Here's my favourite goal to get you going. Niche.

Image source, Getty Images

Get in touch at #bbcfootball, external, pop on to the BBC Sport Facebook page, external or BBC Sport's Google+ area., external

You can also text us on 81111 in the UK only - don't forget to say who you are and where you are texting from.

Plenty to play for tonight on both cup fronts.

For Yeovil and Accrington, a prize home FA Cup third-round draw against Manchester United will be the reward for winning tonight.

That is one of six FA Cup replays taking part tonight. You won't miss a beat with our separate live text on that one, right here.

Keep your predictions coming...

Chelsea fan Fahad:, external That Chelsea team looks unreal! I really can't see how Derby can get anything out of this game

Sheffield United boss Nigel Clough believes home advantage will be "massive" in tonight's quarter-final against Southampton.

The League One outfit reached last season's FA Cup semi-finals after home wins over Championship sides Nottingham Forest and Charlton.

Clough told BBC Radio Sheffield: "If we have any chance at all then home advantage will be a big factor.

"The atmosphere is special and it will play a massive part.

"Reverse the fixture and you're thinking you've got no chance. But here, despite the opposition, we feel like we have a chance."

Dressed for the occasion:

The Derby players are suited and booted...

Image source, Derby County FC

Meanwhile, Chelsea take a more relaxed approach to their Capital One Cup quarter final...

Image source, Derby County FC

Sheffield United make five changes for the visit of Premier League Southampton as Chris Basham, Marc McNulty, Louis Reed, Florent Cuvelier and Jamal Campbell-Ryce all come in.

Morgan Schneiderlin makes his first appearance this month for Southampton in one of five changes for the Premier League side.

The midfielder has recovered from a groin injury to take his place in the side, while James Ward-Prowse starts after returning from a two-month absence with an ankle problem against Burnley at the weekend. Matt Targett, Florin Gardos and Shane Long also start.

Sheff Utd XI: Howard, Harris, Basham, Flyn, Dotyle, Murphy, McNulty, McEveley, Campbell-Ryce, Reed, Cuvelier

Southampton XI: Forster, Clyne, Fonte, Gardos, Targett, Wanyama, Schneiderlin, Ward-Prowse, Bertrand, Mane, Long

BBC Final Score

Tune in at the top of the page for a special midweek Final Score, only online. Keep in touch with all of the night's football, reaction and highlights.