Emma Sanders
BBC Sport at Selhurst Park

England international Beth Mead, who is out nursing an ACL injury, has just walked out with the rest of the Arsenal substitutes to a standing ovation and applause.

Working on the railway and refereeing as a "casual hobby", Kirsty Dowle never imagined she would be officiating in a League Cup final when she started out nine years ago.

But that is what she will do on Sunday when she steps out at Selhurst Park today.

"It's crazy now to think I started nine years ago just because I love football and wanted to stay involved and now it's my career and it takes me everywhere," she told BBC Sport.

You can read Jess Anderson's full interview with Dowle here.

Image source, Getty Images

Arsenal remain the only English side to have won the Champions League, doing so as part of a historic quadruple in 2007, but their record in domestic cup finals has been poor of late.

Since 2017-18, they have lost four out of their last five cup finals, while opponents Chelsea have won five of their last six. It is a record captain Kim Little is all too aware of.

"Chelsea have been dominant the last few years and we haven't picked up a trophy - we obviously want that to change," Little says.

"We keep aiming for that and are taking the right steps to get back to the position we have been in before as a club."

Image source, Getty Images

Emma Sanders
BBC Sport at Selhurst Park

The attendance record for the Women's League Cup final should be smashed today.

It was announced as a sell-out earlier this week, with a capacity of around 24,000 at Selhurst Park.

Last season's final in Wimbledon was the highest crowd to date with 8,004 in attendance.

If more than 20,000 do show up today, it will surely be a matter of time before they consider moving the fixture to Wembley to align with the FA Cup.

One of the arguments for holding the final away from Wembley is to take the game to different parts of England.

But, from my calculations, seven of the 12 finals have been played in or around London anyway.

Two have taken place in the midlands, another two in Yorkshire and one at the Academy Stadium in Manchester.

Image source, BBC Sport

Both of these sides entered at the quarter-final stage, as qualification for the Champions League allowed them to skip the groups.

Arsenal beat Aston Villa 3-0 in the last eight before overcoming Manchester City 1-0 after extra time in the semis.

Chelsea meanwhile defeated Tottenham 3-1 in the quarters, then steamrollered West Ham 7-0 in the last four.

The format of allowing two sides to reach the final by playing only two games has been criticised by some managers, with Villa's Carla Ward and Matt Beard of Liverpool especially unimpressed.

2022 - Man City 3-1 Chelsea

2021 - Bristol City 0-6 Chelsea

2020 - Arsenal 1-2 Chelsea

2019 - Arsenal 0-0 Man City (2-4 on penalties)

2018 - Arsenal 1-0 Man City

Emma Hayes' Chelsea have become serial champions in England, winning three successive Women's Super League titles and five cups in as many years.

However they don't always get things their own way, losing last year's final 3-1 to Manchester City.

Chelsea led at half-time but shipped three goals after the break, Caroline Weir scoring twice.

Image source, Getty Images

Side note on that Man City game, my girlfriend is in the crowd today, attending her first ever women's football match.

She's supporting City. Despite my best efforts.

As well as the League Cup final, there are four WSL games taking place today.

There were two games kicking off at 2pm, Manchester City v Tottenham and Reading against West Ham - you can follow the latest updates from those games here.

It is bad news for City as they chase down the leaders in the WSL, with Spurs 1-0 up at Academy Stadium. Reading v West Ham is currently goalless, while Aston Villa lead Everton 2-0 in a game that started at 1pm.

The early kick-off saw leaders Manchester United thrash rock-bottom Leicester 5-1, Alessia Russo scoring a hat-trick.

It moves United four points clear at the top of the WSL, with both Chelsea and Arsenal obviously not in league action this weekend.

Image source, Getty Images

100 games for Chelsea, 81 goals.

Sam Kerr is a cheat code.

Emma Sanders
BBC Sport at Selhurst Park

Image source, Getty Images

Jonas Eidevall was asked this week about Sam Kerr and how Arsenal can minimise the damage she causes.

The Australian scored in Chelsea's 2-0 win last weekend on her 100th appearance and has a good record against the Gunners.

She has five goals in 11 appearances against them and her late equaliser earned Chelsea a point at Emirates Stadium in January.

Eidevall played down her impact though, saying Arsenal managed to keep her away from the action a lot last weekend despite her goal.

The problem is, she's that good, she doesn't need to be involved often... There's a good chance she will have an influence on today's result.

Chelsea boss Emma Hayes is targeting her 12th major trophy with the club, and a third League Cup triumph.

"We like playing in front of a crowd and I'm just looking forward to competing for one of the first available trophies this year," she said.

"I don't own a medal cabinet - it wouldn't last too long with my son in the house," added Hayes.

"Winning is about the people and the memories you create from that. I'm interested in making more memories.

"Preparing the players as best as possible felt a lot easier this week because we had everybody there. The players trained smart and took on the tactical details without interrupting too much of the flow."

Image source, Getty Images

For what has been billed as the premier rivalry in English women's football, Arsenal against Chelsea has been quite imbalanced of late.

The Gunners have not beaten Chelsea in five attempts since the opening day of the 2021-22 season - manager Jonas Eidevall's first WSL match.

With Arsenal having not won in the WSL this calendar year and been dumped out of the FA Cup, Eidevall could really do with breaking that streak today.

Image source, Getty Images

It's a sell-out at Selhurst Park today, with the record crowd for the women's League Cup final expected to be more than doubled.

Sensational stuff.

Emma Sanders
BBC Sport at Selhurst Park

Image source, BBC Sport

There was a great atmosphere outside Selhurst Park as I made my way into the media centre.

The streets were crowded as supporters waited to greet the team buses and trains were packed from Victoria Station and Clapham Junction for journeys to Selhurst.

There was also a lively fan festival set-up outside and Crystal Palace mascot, Kayla, was posing for photos with kids.

It sometimes seems like Arsenal and Chelsea play each other every week... and this time, it's because they do.

Seven days ago, the Blues beat the Gunners 2-0 in the FA Cup fifth round at Kingsmeadow.

Now they come together in the League Cup final, having already met in the WSL back in January.

They will play their return league fixture, and should they both reach the Champions League final there will be five matches between the teams this season.

Image source, Getty Images

Emma Sanders
BBC Sport at Selhurst Park

Jonas Eidevall makes just one change to the Arsenal side who lost to Chelsea on Sunday.

Full-back Laura Wienroither drops to the bench, replaced by Noelle Maritz.

Arsenal XI: Zinsberger, Rafaelle, Williamson, Catley, Little, Maanum, Walti, McCabe, Maritz, Foord, Blackstenius.

Subs: Marckese, Wubben-Moy, Beattie, Hurtig, Pelova, Kuhl, Wienroither.

Emma Hayes names an unchanged Chelsea XI which means it is the same side who beat Arsenal 2-0 in the FA Cup last Sunday.

Chelsea XI: Berger, Bright, Ingle, James, Reiten, Perisset, Eriksson, Kerr, Charles, Cuthbert, Cankovic.

Subs: Musovic, Carter, Leupolz, Fleming, Mjelde, Kaneryd, Buchanan, Abdullina.

One team looking to win it all this campaign...

Image source, Getty Images

...the other looking for a cup to relight their campaign...

Image source, Getty Images

...welcome to our live text coverage of the 2022-23 Women's League Cup final, between Chelsea and Arsenal.

We're accompanying BBC One's coverage today, thank you for joining us for what should be a cracking match.