Phil McNulty
BBC Sport chief football writer at Goodison Park

Manchester City manager Manuel Pellegrini may be working under the shadow of Pep Guardiola after he announced he was leaving Bayern Munich - but he rightly points out that the big prizes are all still on offer for him and his team this season. 

He has picked Willy Caballero ahead of Joe Hart in goal and he will hope the central defensive duo of Eliaquim Mangala and Nicolas Otamendi can cope with the threat of in-form Everton striker Romelu Lukaku.

Daniel Smith:#bbcfootball, external don't like all the criticism of Martinez. He assembled the quality squad and they play good football. Let him continue his work.

Everton manager Roberto Martinez on Sky Sports: "What we want is to enjoy these sort of games and these are the footballing occasions we enjoy at this club. 

"We're delighted to look forward to tonight and the second leg, and make sure we're in these sort of situations more often and the sliverware will come.

"Today is going to be a terrific game of football. The way the teams are built up is to score goals and win football games so I expect a really entertaining game, especially for the neutral."

Image source, Reuters

This isn't the only live football on the BBC this evening.

You can follow live text of Barcelona v Espanyol in the Copa Del Rey last 16 here.

It's 1-1.

Jeremy van Zyl: Looking forward to a great match tonight, City to take it 2-0

City's season set to derail?

Everton will know the importance of leaving this evening with some sort of advantage.

Their problem is their home form is a little bit shoddy.

They have won just three of their 11 home league games so far this season and have conceded 20 league goals at home - compared to nine away.

So much for home comforts.

Phil McNulty
BBC Sport chief football writer at Goodison Park

Plenty of talk pre-match about the tense atmosphere around Goodison Park these days - borne of frustration that Everton's talented young squad is not achieving more than the current mid-table Premier League position.

Keeper Tim Howard, replaced by Joel Robles for tonight's Capital One Cup semi-final against Manchester City, has been involved in exchanges with supporters in home games recently.

In his programme notes, captain Phil Jagielka writes: "I have noticed an anxiety among our supporters at Goodison. That's down to a few frustrating results but tonight we need this place to be like a bear pit."

The responsibility for that will ultimately lie with Everton manager Roberto Martinez and his players.

Talking about Liverpool.

It was a mixed evening for the Reds yesterday.

They may have won 1-0 but a spate of injuries leaves Jurgen Klopp considering entering the transfer market.

It could be a busy one for the German.

The League Cup final will take place on 28 February at Wembley.

On that very date, Everton are due to play Liverpool in the Premier League.

If both get to the final, can they play for the three points and the trophy?

Save any fixture headaches...

Image source, Getty Images

Anyone fancy a Merseyside final?

It could be on the cards. Liverpool hold the box seat in the other semi-final, after beating Stoke City 1-0 in yesterday's first leg.

Everton v Liverpool at a packed Wembley?

No one would be calling the League Cup Mickey Mouse then would they? (okay, some still might).

Former Everton stopper Nigel Martyn is backing the hosts this evening...

Image source, Reuters

Back to tonight.

While Manchester City are no strangers to lifting silverware in recent seasons - picking up four trophies since 2012 - Everton haven't been quite so lucky.

Their last success came in the FA Cup in 1995 and, before that, they hadn't won anything since 1987.

Expect an emotionally-charged Goodison Park this evening.

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Rowland Marx: Avram Grant sacked after John Terry slipped during the Champion's League final penalty shoot-out?

Ghostface: Martin Jol in his last game at Spurs... found out he was sacked at half time and had tears welling up with 10 minutes to go. 

Andrew Neill: Steve McClaren at NUFC..........

Have you ever played for a manager who knew his time was up? Maybe you have been a boss who knew nothing would be good enough to save his job? Have you ever supported a club with a manager who was a 'dead man walking'?

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Everton have made three changes to the team which drew 1-1 against Tottenham in the league on Sunday, with Joel Robles starting in goal instead of Tim Howard and Muhamed Besic and Gerard Deulofeu also making the starting line-up. 

Manchester City have also made three changes. Willy Cabellero, Fabien Delph and Gael Clicy start instead of Joe Hart, Raheem Sterling and Aleksandar Kolarov.

Trevor Hambidge: Martinez is massively under-performing with best EFC squad in 30 years, we need a big result tonight or pressure's on.