1 Chelsea’s nemesis
If Sergio’s record against Chelsea was good at the start if February, it looks pretty incredible going into the Carabao Cup final.
In short, it is phenomenal.
Sergio is currently on 15 goals and three assists in 17 matches against Chelsea – his best record against any club and given the West London’s consistency over the past decade, all the more impressive.
Sergio has already scored against Chelsea at Wembley in the 2013 FA Cup semi-final.
2 Keeper dilemma
Who starts in goal on Sunday won’t be known until an hour before kick-off.
Pep Guardiola trusts Aro Muric implicitly and the 20-year-old has played in every round so far, but a major cup final is a nervy occasion for the most experienced of players.
It’s a huge decision for the manager, who will no doubt be torn between continuing with the impressive Muric or playing his No.1 Ederson.
With the temperament of both, one thing Pep will be certain of is that whoever is on the bench, they will be willing their team-mate on and accept the decision.
3 City’s phenomenal start to 2019
How do you respond to successive Premier League defeats?
How does 14 wins out of 15 sound?
The Blues put the defeats to Crystal Palace and Leicester City behind them in emphatic style, kicking off with Southampton at the end of December and another 13 wins in January and February.
Only a 2-1 reverse at Newcastle has blotted the Blues’ copybook but the memory of that game has been quickly erased with five handsome victories.
City have scored 52 goals in the last 15 games – almost 3.5 per game – and go into this game having found the net in 20 successive matches.
The last game the Blues failed to score? A 2-0 loss to Chelsea last December.
4 Will Chelsea change tactics?
Maurizio Sarri got his tactics spot on when Chelsea beat City 2-0 at Stamford Bridge.
Things went awry at the Etihad when he saw his side ship six goals, so he knows that whatever the formation and personnel he employed earlier this month, there must be changes.
Wembley tends to suit City’s playing style and Chelsea will feel it suits theirs, too.
They also have the added incentive of revenge for a humiliating loss at the Etihad from which they are still licking their wounds.
So, whether Chelsea opt for a more defensive shape and try and hit the Blues on the counter-attack remains to be seen – one thing is for sure – Pep will have thought about every possible scenario and try and trump whatever Sarri has up his sleeve.
