EFL Cup

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Attendance: 82,145

EFL Cup | Final

Mar 1, 2020 at 4.30pm UK

Aston Villa
1-2
Man City Manchester City

Samatta (41')

FT(HT: 1-2)

Aguero (20'), Rodri (30')

How Aston Villa could line up against Manchester City

By Barney Corkhill, Editor | 28 February 2020

Sports Mole looks at how Aston Villa could line up for Sunday's EFL Cup final against Manchester City as they look for their first trophy since 1996.

Aston Villa will be bidding for their first piece of silverware since 1996 when they take on Manchester City in the EFL Cup final at Wembley on Sunday.

Dean Smith's side will need a shock even greater than their semi-final success over Leicester City in order to dethrone Pep Guardiola's men, who are looking to lift the trophy for a third successive season.

However, Villa have lost all three games since booking their place at Wembley and go into Sunday's showdown knowing that a relegation battle awaits them in the Premier League.

Here, Sports Mole looks at how Villa could line up for the final.

Out: John McGinn (ankle), Danny Drinkwater (cup-tied), Wesley (knee), Tom Heaton (knee), Jed Steer (calf)
Doubtful: Anwar El Ghazi (face), Keinan Davis (hamstring)

John McGinn's hopes of making his return from an ankle injury in this match have fallen just short, with Smith confirming that the Scot will play no part at Wembley.

Fellow midfielder Danny Drinkwater is cup-tied, but there are no new injury problems for Villa, with Anwar El Ghazi expected to be fine despite coming off during last weekend's defeat to Southampton.

Indeed, Smith is expected to be able to welcome Keinan Davis back into his side, although Mbwana Samatta will likely lead the line in a team showing few changes from their last outing.

Trezeguet, who scored the last-gasp winner in the semi-final, may be hopeful of a start instead of El Ghazi, while there is a decision to be made in goal with Orland Nyland having pulled off a string of fine saves against Leicester to help Villa book their place in this showpiece.

Pepe Reina is Villa's first-choice goalkeeper in the long-term absence of Tom Heaton, but Nyland's semi-final heroics may be enough to earn him the nod in this contest.

The underdogs will be looking to Jack Grealish more than anyone to inspire an upset, with the talismanic skipper having scored nine goals and created eight more in 29 appearances this season - including two goals and two assists in his four EFL Cup outings.

> Click here to see how Man City could line up for this contest