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Even though the final stretch of the season in European football has only begun, one of Arsenal and Manchester City can already claim their first trophy of the season as the Premier League giants battle it out at the iconic Wembley for the elusive Carabao Cup.
Previously known as the EFL Cup, or simply, the League Cup, it's considered one of the lesser glamorous competitions in the English football but remains fiercely fought. Over the years, we've been witness to numerous breath-taking taking moments, spectacular goals, history-making wins and a whole lot more episodes that have remained with us, some which have come in the finals of the competition, making it just as enticing an affair as any other competition.
So ahead of the 58th final of the League Cup, we take a trip down the memory lane to relive some of those moments and set the mood before the kick-off.
#5 Yaya Toure cracker spurs City in 2014 final
Just a year on from the shock defeat to Wigan Athletic in the FA Cup final, Manchester City were heading towards another major disappointment when Fabio Borini pulled Sunderland ahead within the opening 10 minutes. The Skyblues huffed and puffed for the remainder of the half to find the equaliser, but the Black Cats stood firm.
Post the interval, the scenario was pretty much the same for the first few moments, until Yaya Toure held on his own and ripped one into the top corner that spurred Pellegrini's side on.
Following a neat one-two with Pablo Zabaleta, the Ivorian found enough space from 30 yards out and unleashed a venomous swing that crashed into the back of the net, sending the anxious City faithful into delirium. It was one of the best that we've seen from him, and the one that inspired City as Samir Nasri and Jesus Navas piled on soon after to bury Sunderland and bring home the first trophy in almost two years.
#4 Zlatan breaks Southampton dreams
Even as Manchester United sailed smoothly towards the final and were heavy favourites to lift the trophy, Southampton were scripting a story of their own, having driven out Liverpool and Arsenal in the previous two rounds; threatening to cause another huge upset in the finals with an incredible comeback.
Swedish sensation Zlatan Ibrahimovic put the Red Devils in front before Jesse Lingard doubled the advantage. Fading Italian star Manolo Gabbiadini was resurrecting his career with the Saints since the 2016 summer move and fueled his revival with an amazing brace on either half of the game to draw Southampton level.
As the match seemed to head to an extra-time, Ibrahimovic sprung out of the blue to jolt Southampton again in the penultimate minute, and douse off their burgeoning title aspirations in what was a thrilling league cup final.
#3 Jose Mourinho shushes Liverpool and sees red in epic 2005 final
Months before the 'Miracle in Istanbul' moment of Liverpool's Champions League triumph, the Rafael Benitez side were denied a double when Chelsea consigned the Reds to a narrow defeat in the cup final. And Mourinho apparently couldn't hide his joy.
After Liverpool took the lead within a minute through John Arne Riise, an own goal by Steven Gerrard in the final quarter of the game drew Chelsea level, triggering the infamous 'shush' celebrations from the maverick Portuguese manager directing towards a section of the Reds faithful.
Mourinho was resultantly sent to watch the game from the stands, and if his shush wasn't enough to silence the Kopites, Didier Drogba and Mateja Kezman's goals surely did as the Blues raced ahead and eventually claimed the cup, despite Antonio Nunez's late attempt to spark a comeback.
#2 Woodgate gives new Wembley a fitting curtain raiser
Once upon a time, the League Cup was to Chelsea what Champions League is to Real Madrid. Their epoch of dominance wasn't only unflinching, but also unparalleled by any side before; swatting aside teams who dared to eye at their prize.
But in 2008, Tottenham Hotspur, a mid-table side then, managed to upset the applecart and claim the bragging rights in London having vanquished Arsenal 6-2 on aggregate in the semis, before pulling off another shocker in the finals against Chelsea.
Quite unsurprisingly, Chelsea enjoyed greater possession and control while Drogba put the Blues ahead just minutes before half-time. Another stroll towards another League Cup beckoned, but Wayne Bridge's bizarre handling of the ball led to a penalty that Dimitar Berbatov dispatched with aplomb.
The equaliser was the turning moment in the game as Spurs then gained ascendancy, and in the fourth minute of extra-time, Petr Cech palmed Jermaine Jenas' free-kick at the face of Jonathan Woodgate that ricocheted off into an empty net.
#1 Arsenal blooper hands Birmingham the title
The Blues swam against the tide to take the lead through a set-piece corner, even though Robin Van Persie restored parity for the Gunners just 11 minutes later. Arsenal continued to dominate the proceedings thereafter but somehow couldn't find the elusive winner which would end the long, enduring quest for a silverware.
An extra-time beckoned with both sides unable to be separated, but a horrible goof up between Laurent Koscielny and Wojciech Szczesny in the penultimate minute of normal time handed Birmingham the title.
An attempt from the St.Andrew's outfit was on its way safely towards Szczesny, but Koscielny's intervention spillled the ball into the path of striker Obafemi Martins, who tapped home into an empty net to win Birmingham only their second League Cup in history.
