Hello, and welcome to Sports Mole's live coverage of the EFL Cup final between Southampton and Manchester United.

In an interview earlier this week, Jose Mourinho claimed that he had already won a trophy as Manchester United manager after lifting the Community Shield in August but that doesn't really count, does it? In our opinion, it doesn't, and this afternoon, we see it as Mourinho going for his first cup since moving to Old Trafford and who knows, it may be the first of three this season.

However, while United are the overwhelming favourites, they face a Southampton side motivated on a number of levels. Claude Puel is looking for his first trophy as Saints boss, the club have never won this competition and it's most probably their only chance to earn a place in next season's Europa League. The likes of Everton and West Bromwich Albion will most certainly be hoping for a Manchester United triumph today. A Saints win would mean that seventh place in the Premier League miss out on Europe.

Anyway, enough rambling for now, let's crack on with the team news which is emanating from Wembley Stadium.

SOUTHAMPTON XI: Forster, Soares, Yoshida, Stephens, Bertrand, Romeu, Davis, Ward-Prowse, Tadic, Redmond, Gabbiadini

MANCHESTER UNITED XI: De Gea, Valencia, Bailly, Smalling, Rojo, Herrera, Pogba, Lingard, Mata, Martial, Ibrahimovic

We will get to the substitutes later but first, let's take a look at the two starting lineups. Southampton boss Puel had to decide whether to hand an immediate debut to Martin Caceres but he goes for Jack Stephens, who impressed in the semi-final second-leg win over Liverpool. Oriol Romeu and Steven Davis get the nod in midfield, while James Ward-Prowse's set pieces could play a part in this game. Manolo Gabbiadini - after three goals in two Premier League games - is preferred to James Rodriguez in attack.

As for United, Mourinho recalls the likes of David De Gea and Antonio Valencia to the starting lineup after being rested over the past couple of games, while Jesse Lingard is perhaps a surprise starter on the flank. With Paul Pogba dropping back to fill in for Michael Carrick, Juan Mata and Anthony Martial are the other two players to line up behind Zlatan Ibrahimovic.

SOUTHAMPTON SUBSTITUTES: Hassen, Long, Rodriguez, Caceres, Boufal, Hojbjerg, McQueen

MANCHESTER UNITED SUBSTITUTES: Romero, Blind, Young, Carrick, Fellaini, Rooney, Rashford

Both managers are able to welcome back key players to the bench, with Sofiane Boufal and Wayne Rooney returning to the fold. Shane Long and Jay Rodriguez could also make a difference for the Saints, with Marouane Fellaini and Marcus Rashford possessing the attributes to do the same for United.

HEAD TO HEAD! This afternoon's match represents the 120th time in which these two teams have faced each other in a competitive fixture, with United claiming 62 wins in comparisons to just the 28 victories for Southampton. United have largely dominated this fixture since 2004 but the past four games have seen two wins for both sides.

However, the two teams have only met once since both Mourinho and Puel arrived at their respective clubs during the summer. It also marked the home debut of Ibrahimovic and he proved to be the difference on the night. Click here to read our on-the-whistle report of that game.

RESULT! Despite the EFL Cup final taking place this afternoon, the action in the Premier League has continued with the game involving Tottenham Hotspur and Stoke City. It's a fixture which potentially has ramifications for both United and Southampton, and United fans won't be pleased to know that Spurs ran out 4-0 winners. Click here to read our on-the-whistle match report. The game featured a hat-trick from a home-team player...

It's starting to fill up at Wembley!

Less than 30 minutes until kick-off! pic.twitter.com/E1rn5j5Xft — Manchester United (@ManUtd) 26 February 2017

We have already mentioned in our build-up that Southampton have progressed to the final without conceding a goal. What we failed to tell you is that they have only faced Premier League sides! It's an incredible achievement with Crystal Palace and Sunderland being defeated at St Mary's before Southampton ran out 2-0 winner against Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium. A two-legged tie with a then free-scoring Liverpool awaited the Saints but back-to-back 1-0 victores were enough to edge out the Merseyside giants. It they can add Manchester United to their list of scalps, then it's surely one of the greatest EFL Cup triumphs of all time.

United haven't had it easy either but two home ties - against Manchester City and West Ham United - which came after an away trip to Northampton Town what a slightly easier route than Southampton were required to take. United made heavy weather of the semi-final tie with Hull City but they were never behind in the tie and were relatively comfortable winners.

Many will question why Jesse Lingard is in the United's starting lineup but he boasts the best Wembley record out of anyone on the pitch. Not only did the 24-year-old score in last season's FA Cup final, he also contributed a goal in the Community Shield win over Leicester City. He hasn't been in the best of form but this setting may provide him with positive memories so don't be surprised to see him improve on his current record of just one goal in his last 17 appearances.

The biggest talking point in the Southampton side was who would start out of Stephens and Caceres and from a personal point of view, I think Puel has made the right call. Stephens has deputised since the injury to Virgil Van Dijk so to drop him for a game of this magnitude for a player who has not played for a long while would have been extremely harsh. He will have his hands full with Ibrahimovic but regardless of whether Saints prevail or not, it will be a learning curve at least.

PREDICTION! Southampton have been brilliant in their run to the final but can anyone justify betting against Manchester United and Jose Mourinho in a major domestic final? We think not. We hope that Southampton can make a game of it and turn this final into the spectacle the occasion deserves but we are predicting a 3-0 win for United.

Here comes the two sides, welcomed by a number of fireworks and pyrotechnics. It has the big-game feel a final should have, but how will this game pan out over the course of the 90 minutes? We will find out shortly!

Southampton get us underway.

It's been a decent start from Southampton with a move down the left resulting in an excellent ball being delivered into the middle but Gabbiadini was too far away to apply the finishing touch inside the penalty area.

SHOT! Southampton can't afford to gift Pogba this kind of shooting opportunity. Ibrahimovic tees up the Frenchman to get an effort on goal from 25 yards but his well-struck attempt is straight at Forster.

United are starting to dominate possession now. They are attempting to draw Southampton out because they are currently defending relatively deep but so far, it's working.

SHOT! Better from Southampton as Redmond gets a shot on goal from 20 yards but it is deflected marginally wide of the post. A couple of corners follow but United defend them well.

Controversy at Wembley! Southampton have the ball in the net but it has wrongly been chalked off! Soares's miscued shot finds the run of Gabbiadini and he converts from close range. He's onside, but the assistant has ruled that Bertrand - who was standing behind him - was offside. Puel will be fuming.

Looking back at replays of the goal which was ruled out, it's a terrible decision from the assistant. He had no hesitation in raising his flag but he has got it badly wrong. Massive let-off for United.

Puel looks really hard done by on the touchline and so he should. His team are having the better of the play as well but United have come back into it over the past minute.

BOOKING! Romeu goes into the referee's book for a late challenge on Herrera. Ibrahimovic is going to have a chance to shoot on goal from 25 yards out.

This is going to do little to improve Puel's mood. United take the lead against the run of play as Ibrahimovic curls a free kick into the corner for his 25th goal of the season. He's barely featured in this match but what's it matter when he can do that?

To their credit, Southampton are straight back onto the offensive but nothing comes from a corner. It's going to be difficult for them to channel their emotions after the last 10 minutes. They should be leading, yet they are behind.

BOOKING! Herrera receives a caution for going in late on Redmond. I'm not totally sure that's a booking but Southampton's won't complain.

SAVE! Southampton are having the better of this match, still, and Ward-Prowse gets a chance to shoot on goal after being teed up by Gabbiadini. However, De Gea comes to the rescue with a one-handed save down to his right.

Gabbiadini looks a top-quality signing for Southampton and he's twice instrumental in breaks down the right-hand side of the pitch. Neither move pays off but the Saints fans are getting into this now. Their team needs their backing.

SAVE! Another save from De Gea, this time from Tadic. A fine pass from Redmond finds the Serbian on the edge of the area but his low shot is dealt with by the Spanish stopper at the second attempt.

I wouldn't say that United appear there for the taking but they are doing nothing whatsoever in the final third and Southampton are growing in confidence. From a corner, the ball stands up for Stephens to volley back across the area and Yoshida has a tap-in unless Bailly makes the interception.

Southampton dominate for large periods and then they go and defend like that? Rojo plays the ball into Lingard around 20 yards out and he has all the time in the world to slot the ball into the bottom corner from around 16 yards out.

BOOKING! Stephens goes into the book for a studs-first challenge on Martial. Fair decision but United are furious. Lingard is cautioned for his protests.

There's a great deal of frustration in this Southampton side now. They will point to the opening stages where they had things go against them but the second goal was just bad defending.

There will be two minutes of added-on time.

Game on at Wembley! Ward-Prowse is found in plenty of space on the right and his low cross is sent through the legs of De Gea by Gabbiandini from close range. It's a very similar goal to the one which should have stood during the early stages.

The half-time whistle goes at Wembley Stadium and that late effort from Gabbiadini is the least that Southampton deserve. United have been second best in all departments, despite their advantage.

I would have expected changes from Puel had Southampton gone into the break facing a two-goal deficit but there's no need now. It's a case of more of the same, but they will expect an improved showing from United. It wouldn't surprise me to see Mata hooked at the break. He has barely touched the ball and Bertrand is having plenty of joy down the left.

United get us back underway. Mata has been withdrawn, with Carrick coming on in his place.

Gabbiadini again! What a signing the Italian is proving to be. United fail to deal with a corner and the ball falls to Gabbiadini. who holds off Smalling and volleys past De Gea on the turn. Just before that, De Gea denied Redmond a wonder goal after his volley from inside the area went on target.

More controversy at Wembley. Lingard has already been booked and he attempts to cynically foul Redmond with no intention of playing the ball. Redmond doesn't go down and it saves him. He gets a talking to from the referee but that's as far as it goes.

This is turning into some final. United haven't turned up but it's made this a much better match than I expected. It surely won't be long until we see either Rashford or Rooney.

BOOKING! Redmond becomes the fifth man in this game to be booked and he can have no complaints. He doesn't time a challenge and his studs go on the top of Carrick's boot.

United are starting to see more of the ball in the final third and Forster has to be alert to come out and deny Ibrahimovic. Pogba should also do better on the edge of the area but a miscommunication with a teammate leads to the chance going begging.

WOODWORK! Almost a third for Southampton! A corner is whipped in and Romeu leaps above Pogba, somehow, and sends his header against the outside of the post. Just before that, Soares's low ball across the box couldn't find a Southampton man.

It would feel an absolute travesty if Southampton don't win this match. They have been sensational. They just can't find a way through a United defence which seems tighter than it was earlier. Puel's yet to make a change. The fresh legs could benefit his team in the final quarter.

Martial hasn't done much in this game but a direct, surging run from the left ends with the winger finding Lingard but Yoshida makes a last-ditch tackle to prevent Lingard potentially scoring his second and United's third.

On several occasions, Southampton have got to the byline and it seems a matter of finding a teammate to convert from close range but on each occasion, the ball goes straight across the box. Tadic failed to find Gabbiadini in this instance.

CHANCE! Lingard misses a chance at Wembley. A shocker! It's not the easiest of chances but after receiving the ball at the back post, he sliced over from no more than eight yards.

SUBSTITUTIONS! Both teams make a change, with Marcus Rashford replacing Lingard for United and Sofiane Boufal coming on for Southampton's Tadic.

There are less than 10 minutes to go at Wembley and this game really is there for the taking. United are competing at a higher level than they have done all match but Southampton look a threat every time they go forward.

SUBSTITUTION! Interesting change from Puel. Gabbiadini is being withdrawn for Long. Not sure of the thinking behind that.

SAVE! Rashford offers United a different threat to Lingard and he almost gets on the scoresheet with a low drive from an acute angle which is saved by the feet of Forster.

Now it's Southampton's time to push forward. They are peppering the United goal but no-one is able to get the finishing touches around goal.

Delirium for United. Heartbreak for Southampton.

The ball falls to the feet of Herrera on the right flank and his perfectly-weighted cross finds Ibrahimovic, who powers a header past Forster from six yards.

There will be four minutes of added-on time. Marouane Fellaini is on for Martial and Jay Rodriguez has replaced Davis.

This game is starting to peter out now. Southampton are huffing and puffing but the chances have dried up.

The full-time whistle goes at Wembley Stadium and United have won the EFL Cup! They were second best throughout the game but that extra bit of quality and experience proved to be the difference. Ibrahimovic didn't do much all game but he's popped up with the two goals which directed the game in his team's favour at crucial times in the match.

That will be all from Sports Mole for this match but as per usual, the reaction is coming to be coming in thick and fast so we hope that you can stick with us. Goodbye for now!