Next weekend sees the first major silverware of the season on the line as Liverpool take on Manchester City in the League Cup Final.
Liverpool have progressed through earlier ties involving Carlisle on penalties (after a 1-1 draw), Bournemouth 1-0, Southampton 6-1, and Stoke City on penalties (after the two legged semi-final finished 1-1 on aggregate). Manchester City on the other hand have progressed at the expense of Sunderland 4-1, Crystal Palace 5-1, Hull City 4-1, and a two legged semi-final against Everton 4-3 on aggregate.
For all the League Cup is seen with lesser importance - especially for clubs playing in Europe – it will mean a whole lot to both managers – but for different reasons.
Reds manager Jurgen Klopp has only been in the job since October (with his first win as manager actually coming in the previously mentioned game against Bournemouth).
In contrast City’s manager Manuel Pellegrini already knows he won't be at the club next season, with Spaniard Pep Guardiola taking over, despite the fact that they can still end the season with 4 trophies.
Naturally there are a few links between both these clubs, with potentially Kolo Toure, James Milner, and Daniel Sturridge all lining up to play against their former employer, and probably most notably Raheem Sterling, who should start for Man City after his high profile and at times awkward £44 million pound transfer from the Merseyside club.
They've played in 15 finals between them, but amazingly never against each other. Liverpool have participated in a record 11 Finals, having previously won 8 (also a record), most recently in 2012 against Cardiff City. Their last loss was in 2005 to Chelsea. Manchester City have made 4 appearances in the final, having won 3 previous times, the last of which as recently as 2014 against Sunderland.
The final can be seen exclusively on Sky Sports at 4:30pm on Sunday 28th February, and for more information please check out the official site here.