Dion Dublin
Former Man Utd striker on BBC Radio 5 Live

This will be what the majority of the game will be like. Villa seem to have been defending for the last four or five minutes. City will have the majority of the ball. Tyrone Mings has to make sure that defence is always on their line and taking his instruction.

Image source, Getty Images

Phil McNulty
BBC Sport chief football writer at Wembley

Manchester City just starting to settle down after Aston Villa began very brightly and on the front foot.

It was a glorious headed chance for Anwar El Ghazi and you get the feeling Villa must grasp every opportunity that comes their way here today.

This is the best chance we've had so far when Anwar El Ghazi headed over inside five minutes.

Image source, Getty Images

For the first time we see the pattern we expected. Aston Villa in a deep block, Manchester City shifting it around and looking for an opening. A lengthy spell of possession. They refuse to toss a ball into the box.

Raheem Sterling has it wide left and in darts Frederic Guilbert to concede a throw. Good, patient defending by Villa and Sterling is a tad angry as he wanted the ball earlier.

Still, will this pattern now continue as expected.

Sergio Aguero is lurking in the area. The ball goes out wide right and gets lifted in there by Ilkay Gundogan. Good old Sergio is more alive than anyone as always and takes a few steps before flicking a header just over.

You can't take your eyes off him.

Dion Dublin
Former Man Utd striker on BBC Radio 5 Live

It's about concentration when you play against Manchester City. They're so patient. If one player switches off, City will find that gap. Unfortunately for Villa, every single player has to play well for them to get anything, because City are that good.

Villa have got to be on it, but - things do come in threes. Nobody expected Norwich to beat Leicester, or Watford to beat Liverpool, so maybe this could be a third. Who knows? It's a final.

Image source, AFP

Matt Targett swings a free-kick in for Aston Villa but it's cleared. It's fair to say it's a good, lively start to this game. Manchester City try to come forward and Phil Foden does well to hurdle a couple of challenges. Zinchenko hits from 18 yards, deflected, corner.

And breathe.

End to end.

"Champions of Europe, you'll never be that."

The Villa fans - European Cup winners in 1981-82 - have a song for the fans at the other end.

Image source, Reuters

Manchester City win a corner of their own and a wayward Rodri header drops well, well wide.

Pep Guardiola sits with his arms folded. He's seen this time and again. Big occasion? What big occasion?

Aston Villa win a corner and start with a bit of belief. In it comes, punched clear by Claudio Bravo.

Villa come back for a bit more. Ahmed Elmohamady swings it in and it's headed over by Anwar El Ghazi. That was a chance from 12 yards.

Image source, AFP

An early Aston Villa attack down the left gets hacked clear in the box by Rodri.

We are off and running at Wembley. Manchester City seeking a third League Cup in a row. Aston Villa seeking a win few can see coming (apart from Dion Dublin).

Ian Dennis
BBC Radio 5 Live commentator at Wembley

Our referee is Lee Mason. The roar inside the stadium will tell you when he has blown his whistle...

Image source, Getty Images

Dion Dublin
Former Man Utd striker on BBC Radio 5 Live

It's a free hit for Aston Villa. Manchester City fans are expecting to come here and win. It's a one-off and anything can happen. I believe there's something for Villa today, I really do, if they're not frightened by the occassion, and they don't freeze because they're playing City, and don't concede early on.

Pep Guardiola walks down the City line of players and whacks Sergio Aguero on his backside as the last man.

That's the magic touch of a great manager right there.

So Aston Villa have seen off four Premier League rivals on their way to Wembley. Manchester City, who played one round less, took on two teams from the top flight.

Aston Villa route to Wembley: Crewe, Brighton, Wolves, Liverpool and Leicester.

Man City route to Wembley: Preston, Southampton, Oxford, Manchester United.

It will all be a bit meaningless if the next couple of hours go badly.

Half of the Villa half of the pitch is covered by a huge banner, half of the City half is covered too. It looks a picture and the national anthem is set to follow.

Prince William is in the stands singing - a Villa fan of course. He was in the tunnel and spoke with Villa staff a short time ago.

Image source, Getty Images

These were the days eh?

The mid '90s, when footballers were becoming big-time celebrities and Dwight Yorke was running riot alongside Savo Milosevic.

This was the last time Villa lifted the League Cup as they turned Leeds over at Wembley in 1996.

Thew Villa are competing in their ninth League Cup final today, with only Liverpool playing in more (12).

They feel right at home in the competition this season and have scored 19 goals. The Villa last scored more in a campaign during 1985-86, when they hit 25.

A 6-0 win over City today then and they equal that mark. Easy.

Michael Brown
Former Man City midfielder on BBC Radio 5 Live

I don't think Pep Guardiola can relax or have that down time. Every day, it's relentless, the detail. They'll want to come here and put on a show.

That will be the question - will they have the hunger? After Real Madrid, they'll want to show everyone that they're back and they're playing well.

Here they come. The wonderful walk on to the famous Wembley turf.

Some flames are thrust into the air by those glorified patio heaters major stadiums use before vibig games and the teams line up ready to meet important people.