Carabao Cup Final: No space for Son in Man City-Tottenham Ultimate XI

 

It's Carabao Cup final day as both Manchester City and Tottenham contest the first major piece of domestic silverware of the season. City are seeking to go level with Liverpool on eight League Cups as the competition's most successful team, while Spurs are looking to win a first trophy since their 2008 success over Chelsea. 

 

City have become masters of the Carabao Cup in recent years, winning it five times in the last seven seasons, but Spurs are not to be underestimated in this one off enounter. 

 

In the build up to the final, WhoScored provide their combined XI ahead of the clash at Wembley. For this XI, both Premier League and Carabao Cup ratings are taken into account, while the ratings are taken from starts alone, of which players must have made 10 or more across the two competitions. This XI also excludes injured or suspended players, so John Stones and Ben Davies, of Manchester City and Tottenham, respectively, don't come into consideration. 

 

Starting from the back, it's Hugo Lloris (6.71) who gets the nod in this side. The Frenchman has been one of the Premier League's best performing goalkeepers this season and secures his spot at Ederson's expense. Toby Alderweireld (6.87) ensures it's not an all-City backline, though had Stones (7.07) been available, it would have been the Englishman and Ruben Dias (6.98) at the back. 

 

Joao Cancelo (7.43) and Oleksandar Zinchenko (7.11) feature at right and left-back, respectively, with Serge Aurier (7.00) and Sergio Reguilon (6.93) forced to watch from the sidelines. Riyad Mahrez (7.54) and Phil Foden (7.67) feature on the wings in this 4-4-2 setup with the pair crucial in City's progression to the Carabao Cup final. 

 

Carabao Cup Final: No space for Son in Man City-Tottenham Ultimate XI

 

There has been plenty of focus on Kevin De Bruyne (7.65) in the build up to Sunday's final given his potential absence, but the Belgian has travelled to London with the squad and joins Ilkay Gundogan (7.46) in the middle of the park in this City-conquering midfield. 

 

Like De Bruyne, there has been ample interest surrounding Harry Kane (7.77) and whether he will be fit to feature. The striker is the third and final Tottenham representative in this team, but sustained an ankle injury in the 2-2 draw with Everton over a week ago so it remains to be seen whether Kane will start at Wembley. 

 

Rounding off this side is City star Raheem Sterling (7.44). Sterling has recently lost his spot in the City starting XI having featured from the off in just two of their last six games, but will hope to return to the first team fold this afternoon.

Carabao Cup Final: No space for Son in Man City-Tottenham Ultimate XI