The first touch for Loris Karius is to gather a header back towards him by a Newcastle centre-back. Nice early grasp of the ball for the emergency Toon keeper.

And away we go, to huge roars from around the ground!

It's the first major trophy of the season and it will be decided this afternoon.

Nedum Onuoha
Former Manchester City defender on BBC 5 Live

It's always a big occasion and today should be a fantastic game of football.

The feeling of walking out and seeing 30 or 40 thousand of your own fans with excitement, nervousness and tension is truly fantastic.

Image source, Reuters

Ben Mee
Brentford defender on BBC Radio 5 Live

For me, Manchester United are favourites. I think they'll have most of the ball and Newcastle will look to keep it tight in the first half.

Hopefully, we see Newcastle come out and play the way they can with the quality we know they have.

As always with these finals, we have formalities to take care of. Handshakes all round for the chairman of the EFL, Rick Parry, and some reps from the sponsors.

That's followed by a rendition of 'God Save The King'.

For the latest round of predictions, Chris Sutton is up against Those Damn Crows drummer Ronnie Huxford, who supports Manchester United and Wales.

Image source, BBC Sport

Sutton's prediction: 1-1, Newcastle to win after extra time and penalties

Manchester United are a club with great harmony now and I have nothing but praise for the work Erik ten Hag has done there, but I don't think Sunday will be as straightforward for them as many seem to be expecting.

Everyone is writing Newcastle off because Nick Pope is suspended and they will have to play their third-choice goalkeeper Loris Karius instead.

Whether we like it or not, we all remember Karius for what happened in the 2018 Champions League final. I really felt for him then, but this is his chance for redemption.

For him to win at Wembley, and be the hero too, would be a fairytale because it is so unlikely - but you know what, let's go for the fairytale.

Marcus Rashford is in ridiculous form for Manchester United at the moment and you have to make the Magpies the underdogs here.

Yes, Ten Hag's side got away with things a little bit against Leicester and also had to play Barcelona on Thursday, while Newcastle have a free week - but Manchester United are clear favourites.

I don't care about that, though. I think this game will go the distance and Karius will make the difference, right at the very end.

Ronnie's prediction: 3-1

If both teams were at full strength I would say it would be a bit closer, but Pope being out is a big boost for us. The main reason I am backing Manchester United to win, though, is the way we are playing. I just can't fault us at the moment, and that's not me being biased as fan, it is just I trust us to score goals.

Stephen Warnock
Former England and Liverpool defender on BBC Radio 5 Live

Dan Burn is one of the best one v one defenders that I've seen in the Premier League. With his height, he's an imposing figure and he's got a bit of pace when he starts moving.

He'll need to be aggressive against Antony.

Here come the teams, into an absolute cauldron of noise.

Simon Stone
BBC Sport at Wembley Stadium

Is there a set of fans who wear their team's kit in quite the same numbers as Newcastle's.

Young and old, there are so many supporters with the distinctive black and white shirt over their tops.

There are still some empty seats in the Manchester United section but the Newcastle section is packed.

Newcastle fans are certainly making the most of their return to Wembley!

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, Getty Images

Simon Stone
BBC Sport at Wembley Stadium

A picturesque sight at Wembley as Newcastle's fans wave their flags.

Interestingly, Manchester United opted not to follow suit and have instead given their supporters a scarf.

Their argument is it is 'more collectable and sustainable'.

Image source, BBC Sport

Used to be the case that clubs recorded songs to mark them reaching an FA Cup final. Ossie's Dream by the Tottenham squad, along with Chas and Dave in 1981, Liverpool's Anfield Rap in 1988, Arsenal doing Hot Stuff in 1998 and the rest.

They've fallen out of favour of late, but one Newcastle fan has revived it for his side's trip to Wembley this year.

MC Tazo from Felling, Gateshead, said one of his friends suggested he recorded something after the Magpies won a place in the Carabao Cup final.

Originating in Spain in the 1990s, Makina techno music is hugely popular in the North East. MC Tazo - real name Kevin Hogg - said he grew up listening to it before "falling in love with it"...

That's a lot of black and white flags. The Newcastle end at Wembley is currently a sea of fabric, getting waved back and forth.

They've waited a while for this.

Kieran Trippier wants to "put a smile" on every Newcastle United fan's face on Sunday when they face Manchester United in the Carabao Cup final, the Magpies' first Wembley showpiece since 1999.

And the England right-back, who joined Newcastle in January 2022, said having local players in the squad helps motivate the others to win the final.

He said: "The Geordie boys here, like Burny [Dan Burn] and Longy [Sean Longstaff], say it would be like another lockdown to win the trophy.

"It’s good to have players like them in the squad, because they can relate to us what it would mean.

"You’re in a final, you’ve earned the right to be there and that’s the motivation in itself - to win a cup.

"Taking my kids to school, the headmaster is coming out and saying thank you. They’re so passionate and thankful. As players that’s all we do: try to put a smile on everyone’s face who supports us."

It will be a third major final of Trippier's career, though he has lost his first two - the 2019 Champions League final and the European Championship final in 2021.

"From my experience, you can’t overthink it because you’re in a final and think you can’t change things," he added.

"You have to do what’s got you to this position, which is hard work and listening to the manager."

Follow all the build-up and action from Wembley on Sunday when BBC Radio Newcastle will be on air from 12:00 GMT from Wembley Way. They’ll move inside the stadium at 14:30 and former players John Anderson and Steve Howey will be on site to give their views on a landmark day.

Newcastle fan Holly Blades and Manchester United supporter Joe Smith share their hopes and fears with The Football News Show before the Carabao Cup final...

Simon Stone
BBC Sport at Wembley Stadium

We obviously have a fourth official today in Simon Hooper but we also have a reserve assistant referee in Nick Greenhalgh.

Newcastle United defender and lifelong Magpies fan Dan Burn tells Football Focus how winning the Carabao Cup on Sunday would fulfil his childhood dreams...