Adam Millington
BBC Sport at Joie Stadium

You can't afford to make errors in areas like that against Chelsea.

Laia Aleixandri gave the ball away, Chelsea had three players going forward, and it only looked like there would be one outcome.

Mayra Ramirez had time after receiving the ball to spot Lauren James on the right. It's a tidy finish from James, although Khiara Keating will probably feel she could have done better.

City have probably had the better game so far, but Chelsea are always clinical. They've only had one real chance and they've taken it.

Image source, Reuters

Out of nowhere Chelsea are in again.

City again are guilty of over-playing in their defensive third, and Chelsea nick the ball back and break into the box.

The offside flag is on hand to spare the hosts' blushes.

A first passage of possession in the game for Chelsea, who have started a bit slowly in the opening minutes.

It doesn't last long though as Man City wingers Lauren Hemp and Chloe Kelly apply a very high press and rush the visitors into passing the ball out of play.

Image source, Getty Images

Lindsay Johnson
Ex-England defender on BBC Sport

It's what we see week in, week our from Lauren Hemp on the left. She cuts in and puts in a really quality ball. I think Khadija Shaw will be disappointed she hasn't at least hit the target there. She doesn't make Hampton even attempt a save so I think she will be disappointed.

Close!

Two chances in two minutes for City danger woman Khadija Shaw.

She first takes a snapshot from the edge of the box, which only manages to hit the sidenetting.

Then once Chelsea clear up field from the goal kick, City regain the ball through their high press, before finding Shaw in the middle again. She can only glance a header wide of the target.

Adam Millington
BBC Sport at Joie Stadium

Manchester City, Chelsea and Arsenal have long been in the dominant force in the English women's game.

It's unsurprising, therefore, that they're the only three teams to have won the League Cup.

City have four titles, Chelsea have two, and Arsenal have six.

Arsenal reached the final by beating Aston Villa last night, so there won't be any new names being etched on the trophy after the final at Molineux later this month.

Man City straight onto the attack, pressing high and winning the ball back before breaking down the right through Chloe Kelly.

The Lionesses winger gets a good cross into the middle but Chelsea head the ball clear.

The hosts get us under way at Joie Stadium.

Which way do you see this second League Cup semi-final going?

Image source, Getty Images

Man City boss Gareth Taylor believes that winning the first piece of silverware on offer this season would set his side up well for more success in what remains of the campaign.

In his pre-match press conference he said, "It would be amazing, absolutely amazing. Sometimes people frown a little bit on the League Cup in both the men's and women’s games, but it’s a trophy."

He added, “When we won it previously it set us up for the rest of the season. It’s a great trophy. Nothing will change if we are not successful. But if we can do it it would be amazing."

Forward Khadija Shaw was the difference maker when City and Chelsea last met at Kingsmeadow just under three weeks ago.

Here are the highlights from that clash ahead of what promises to be another intriguing battle between the teams this evening.

The teams are making their way out onto the pitch at Joie Stadium, with just the pre-match pleasantries to go before things get under way.

BBC iPlayer

You can watch this evening’s League Cup clash between Man City and Chelsea live on BBC iPlayer or via the BBC Sport website and app.

Coverage is just getting under way, so click the play icon at the top of this live page to tune in!

Image source, Getty Images

Manchester City are the undisputed 'in-form' team in England at the moment, with their run in the League Cup forming a small part of their quest to win a domestic clean sweep. The Citizens topped Group B, the only group to consist solely of WSL clubs, ahead of neighbours Manchester United.

With a 1-0 win away to another top flight side in Spurs secured in the quarter-finals, Gareth Taylor's side will be confident of continuing their unbeaten run to the final.

Due to their involvement in the Women's Champions League group stage, Chelsea entered this season's League Cup at the quarter-final stage, running out comfortable 5-0 winners against Championship promotion chasers Sunderland.

If the Blues are to reclaim the League Cup, they will have to defeat their previous two conquerors in the competition Man City (2022) and Arsenal (2023) to do so.

Image source, Getty Images

Chelsea boss Emma Hayes was keen to dismiss talk of her side seeking revenge on Man City after their league rivals took all three points from the sides' recent meeting at Kingsmeadow.

"Revenge for me is something I don't think about when it comes to football. What I do know is that they are a top team, they took points off us at home, there wasn't a lot between the two sides," she said.

"If you want to compete to play in cup finals you have to be in the position to do so which we are, and it's important the team learns from the last game and looks at the opportunities that are there for us. I love being in these games and I know the team loves these situations so I look forward to it," Hayes added.

Image source, Getty Images

Gareth Taylor spoke of being wary of Chelsea ahead of tonight's League Cup clash, noting that Emma Haye's side could be out for revenge after City took the spoils from the top of the table clash at Kingsmeadow last month.

"We turned them over at their place recently, now they have the opportunity for a bit of revenge," he said. "There's potential to look at it as the wounded animal a little bit in terms of they will be bottling up that frustration of that result when we went down there. That's normal and natural to expect that reaction."

Chelsea are still fighting on all four fronts in the WSL, League Cup, FA Cup and Champions League and are on course to be the only English side other than Arsenal's women in 2006-07 to achieve the Quadruple.

City still have three trophies up for grabs and Taylor said it is all to play for.

He added, "We could come out with one, a couple, three, or nothing. My way won't change. My feeling won't change about what we are able to achieve."

In the first meeting between Man City and Chelsea this season, which came in the WSL back in October, Chelsea relied on a late Guro Reiten strike to rescue a point away from home.

The sides also went head to head three weeks ago, with Bunny Shaw's goal proving decisive in a huge win for Man City at Kingsmeadow, which drew them level with Chelsea at the top of the WSL table.

So, a draw and a City win from the first two clashes between the two sides this season.

What does the third instalment have in store for us tonight?

Image source, BBC Sport

It was a comfortable semi-final victory over Aston Villa for Arsenal on Wednesday as Jonas Eidevall's side booked their place in the League Cup final. Here are the best bits of their 4-0 win at Meadow Park.

Adam Millington
BBC Sport at Joie Stadium

Gareth Taylor names an unchanged Manchester City line-up from the team who beat Everton 2-1 in the league on Saturday.

The only differences come on the bench, with experienced defender Steph Houghton back in the matchday squad while youngsters Poppy Pritchard and Laura Blindkilde-Brown, who is cup-tied, miss out.

Man City XI: Keating, Aleixandri, Greenwood, Coombs, Kelly, Hemp, Ouahabi, Park, Casparij, Shaw, Hasegawa.

Subs: MacIver, Stokes, Houghton, Fowler, Angeldahl, Morgan, Mace, Kennedy.

Image source, BBC Sport

Lauren James returns from suspension as Emma Hayes makes two changes to the Chelsea team who beat Leicester City 4-0 at the weekend.

Nathalie Bjorn is cup-tied and misses out, while winger Johanna Rytting Kaneryd drops to the bench.

Melanie Leupolz comes in alongside James.

Chelsea XI: Hampton, Perisset, Carter, Nusken, Charles, Leupolz, Cuthbert, Cankovic, Reiten, James, Ramirez.

Subs; Musovic, Ingle, Macario, Kirby, Kaneryd, Hamano, Berger, Beever-Jones.

Image source, BBC Sport

Without further ado, let’s take a look at how both teams line up this evening…