It would be some story if Ryan Mason can win a trophy in just his second game in the dugout.

Having joined the Tottenham academy aged eight, he left Tottenham to play for Hull City in 2016. But in January 2017 he suffered a fractured skull which eventually led him to announce his retirement from professional football in 2018.

Having worked with the Spurs academy since, he only took first-team training on Monday following Jose Mourinho's departure.

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Lawro is up against Theo Ellis, bassist in Mercury Prize-winning band Wolf Alice, in his predictions this week.

Here is what Arsenal fan Theo has predicted...

City are going to batter Spurs. It is a big gamble to sack Jose Mourinho the week before this game - I can't believe Tottenham have made their way into a final and now they are in this state of crisis.

Prediction: 5-1

Perhaps the most surprising thing is he's given Spurs a goal...

Mark Lawrenson
BBC football expert

Jose Mourinho's exit this week changes this whole game for Tottenham. A lot of the game was framed around him, and him possibly winning Spurs their first trophy since 2008.

It helps new Spurs boss Ryan Mason that he is under no pressure whatsoever, because no-one expects him to get the job full-time whether they win or lose at Wembley, but I'm still backing City - I don't see them slipping up again.

City have got Wednesday's Champions League semi-final with Paris St-Germain to consider and they might keep De Bruyne back for that one but, even without him, I think they will be too strong for Spurs.

Chelsea did such a good job of stopping City in last weekend's FA Cup semi-final, but I don't think Spurs are capable of doing the same.

Kane would make a big difference for Tottenham of course and I have a feeling he will feature but I don't think the rest of their team is up to the task.

Lawro's prediction: 2-0

Here come the players, to a standing ovation from the 8,000 fans!

Oh how we've missed that noise.

Let's remind ourselves of the two meetings between these sides already this season.

Both Tottenham and Manchester City won their home fixture in the Premier League, with City getting revenge for their defeat in London with victory at the Etihad in February.

Goals from Son Heung-Min and Giovani Lo Celso sent Spurs top of the table with a 2-0 win in November - and left City 13th, with eight points fewer than Jose Mourinho's side.

Fast forward to the return fixture in Manchester on 13 February, and City went one better with a 3-0 win after a Rodri penalty and two Ilkay Gundogan strikes. By that point, Guardiola's men had emerged as league leaders, while Spurs were down in ninth place - 17 points behind.

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Manchester City

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola to Sky Sports: "Welcome back to the fans. I'm happy to see them.

On how he expects Tottenham to play: "Every manager has his own ideas. We expect an aggressive team, high pressing and who will try to play. They have pace up front and will make movements in behind. It is a tough game for us, it is a top class team and it is a final."

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Guardiola is aiming to win his 30th trophy since being appointed as Barcelona manager in 2008.

The Spaniard, who also managed Bayern Munich before his move to the Premier League in 2016, can also today become the first manager to win the League Cup four years in a row.

He loves a day out at Wembley too.

Guardiola has won all seven of his finals there as a manager - in the Champions League with Barcelona in 2011, plus three League Cups, two Community Shields and an FA Cup.

Not bad.

This League Cup final is just the second between Tottenham and Manchester City in a domestic cup competition.

That came in 1981, when Spurs won the FA Cup after a 3-2 win against City in a replay at Wembley.

That day, two goals from Ricky Villa and one from Garth Crooks did the job for Tottenham, with Steve MacKenzie and Kevin Reeves netting for City.

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Tottenham have lost their last three finals in all competitions since their League Cup triumph in 2008.

They have also failed to score in those three finals - the 2009 and 2015 League Cup finals to Manchester United and Chelsea respectively, and the 2019 Champions League final against Liverpool.

Only Arsenal (six), Aston Villa (four), Liverpool (four) and Manchester United (four) have lost as many League Cup finals as Spurs (four).

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While Manchester City's FA Cup semi-final defeat to Chelsea last week ended their hopes of a quadruple haul of trophies for another year, securing the remaining three would still represent a remarkable season.

Pep Guardiola's side are closing in on the Premier League title - in fact closest challengers Manchester United have just drawn 0-0 draw against Leeds United - and have the first leg of the mouthwatering Champions League semi-final with Paris St-Germain to come on Wednesday.

"We cannot deny the Champions League is close and the Premier League is not over and they are more important. But we want to win this competition," Guardiola said.

"For Tottenham, it will be their first title in years and their commitment will be incredible and the quality of their players is extraordinary."

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Paul Carney: We will know in the first 15 minutes if Kane is fit enough to play in this game

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Tottenham can, in addition to a trophy, clinch a European place by beating Manchester City today.

Just not the Europa League, as in the past.

As of this year, the EFL Cup winners qualify for the play-off round of the Europa Conference League (UECL) - Uefa's shiny new third-tier tournament.

That is of course irrelevant should Spurs qualify for the Europa League - or even Champions League - via their league position, but it's a bit of a back-up should they fall short in the final games of the season.

It makes little difference to Manchester City, who are already guaranteed a Champions League spot.

With everything else going on, it feels as though Jose Mourinho's sacking as Tottenham boss on Monday has flown a little under the radar.

It now falls on Ryan Mason, appointed as interim manager for the remainder of this season, to lead Spurs to League Cup glory - as well as at least a Europa League place via the Premier League.

Mason became the youngest Premier League manager in history when he took charge of Spurs' 2-1 victory against Southampton on Wednesday, at 29 years and 312 days old.

And should he beat Pep Guardiola today, he would become the first English manager to win the League Cup since Steve McClaren with Middlesbrough in 2004.

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Bernard: I'm certain spurs are going to pull off a cheeky 2-1 victory with a last minute Lamela solo effort. But then I have been wrong about these things in the past. Every single time.

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Goalkeeper Hugo Lloris believes winning the League Cup offers Spurs the chance to save a season which has faded badly after a promising start.

His side are seventh in the Premier League and five points adrift of the top four - which represents their last hope of making next season's Champions League following their shock Europa League defeat by Dinamo Zagreb.

"There is still a chance of a European place next season in the league. Before that, we need to win all the games," Lloris said. "Then, a trophy is always welcome, especially after many years without a trophy at the club.

"It will not change the feeling of the season because we had so many ups and downs, but we can save the season, yes, of course.

"We can save the season and obviously to finish in a good way will help the confidence of the players of the club next season."

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Pep Guardiola says he has full confidence in Raheem Sterling, despite the England forward falling down the pecking order of late.

Sterling, who starts today, has scored 13 goals in 42 games this season and had started just three of City's last 10 matches.

"Raheem is an extraordinary player. He was, is and will be," said Guardiola.

"He maybe hasn't played as regularly as previous seasons. Phil [Foden] and Riyad [Mahrez] are in top form.

"But the opportunity will come and he has to be ready to show his quality, be fresh in his mind and play the incredible strengths he has. The only way is to let him play."

Stephen Miller: Spurs need to go all out for this. I’d like to see a more attacking side, back to a 4-2-3-1 allowing Dele to be brought back in.

Manchester City make six changes from their midweek Premier League win at Aston Villa as they bid to retain the Carabao Cup.

Kevin de Bruyne is the headline return after proving his fitness following an ankle knock but Sergio Aguero begins on the bench.

Zack Steffen starts in goal, while Aymeric Laporte, Joao Cancelo, Fernandinho and Raheem Sterling are the other returnees.

Manchester City XI: Steffen, Walker, Dias, Laporte, Cancelo, Fernandinho, Gundogan, De Bruyne, Mahrez, Foden, Sterling.

Substitutes: Ederson, Ake, Jesus, Aguero, Zinchenko, Rodrigo, Bernardo, Torres, Mendy.

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Harry Kane will carry Tottenham's hopes of an upset after recovering in quickfire fashion from his own ankle issues.

Harry Winks also earns a recall with Gareth Bale and Tanguy Ndombele the men to make way from the midweek Premier League win over Southampton.

Tottenham XI: Lloris, Aurier, Alderweireld, Dier, Reguilon, Højbjerg, Winks, Lo Celso, Lucas Moura, Son, Kane.

Substitutes: Hart, Sanchez, Tanganga, Sissoko, Alli, Ndombele, Lamela, Bergwijn, Bale.

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