Trivia
When Sunderland last played in a League Cup final, only FIVE of the current playing squad had been born (Andrea Dossena, Wes Brown, John O'Shea, Keiren Westwood and Carlos Cuellar)
Sunderland's defence will have to go some to stop Manchester City. Sunderland's leading goalscorer, Adam Johnson, has seven Premier League goals. That total is bettered or equaled by four Manchester City players. Johnson's team-high total of three assists is also bettered or equaled by no fewer than nine City players.
There is cause for optimism though. It's been five games since City scored more than twice in a game.
In League Cup clashes between the two sides Sunderland are actually unbeaten. Okay, so it's only two games (one win, one draw) but it's something to hold on to.
In their last eight Premier League meetings Sunderland have won four, drawn two and lost two against Manchester City.
The aggregate score of those eight games would however be 12-8 to Manchester City.
The two teams last met on neutral ground in the summer in the Barclays Asia Trophy. The score that day was 1-0, with Edin Dzeko grabbing the only goal after nine minutes.
Manchester City have scored 45 goals from open play this season. Sunderland have scored 26 from all situations this season.
The Capital One Cup final this season will be broadcast in 175 territories around the world.
This will be only Sunderland's second appearance in the League Cup final. The other ending in a 1-0 defeat to Norwich City in 1985.
Manchester City have won the competition twice in three appearances in the League Cup final, with the most recent being in 1976.
Alvaro Negredo and Edin Dzeko are the competition's joint top scorers with six goals each.
Referee Martin Atkinson has officiated two Sunderland games this season. The 3-1 home defeat to Arsenal and the 0-0 draw with Norwich City, also at the Stadium Of Light. Atkinson has only overseen one Manchester City fixture this season, their 6-3 win over Arsenal at the Etihad Stadium.
This will be the first time in League Cup finals that two South American managers have met.
Season Stats
Statistic | Sunderland | Manchester City |
Yellow Cards | 39 | 49 |
Red Cards | 6 | 0 |
Pass Success | 78% | 86% |
Average Possession | 45% | 58% |
Aerial Duels Won | 45% | 53% |
Tackles Per Game (Average) | 19 | 20 |
Fouls Per Game (Average) | 12 | 9 |
Short Passes Per Game (Average) | 332 | 505 |
Long Passes Per Game (Average) | 65 | 55 |
Crosses Per Game (Average) | 20 | 24 |
Shots From Left Side Of Pitch | 22% | 15% |
Shots From Right Side Of Pitch | 19% | 14% |
Shots From Middle Of Pitch | 58% | 71% |
Shots From Outside Area | 53% | 33% |
Shots From Inside 18-Yard Box | 41% | 60% |
Shots From Inside 6-Yard Box | 6% | 7% |
Offsides Per Game (Average) | 2 | 2 |
Shots Taken Per Game (Average) | 12 | 18 |
Shots Conceded Per Game (Average) | 17 | 10 |
Goals From Open Play | 11 | 45 |
Goals From Set-Pieces | 8 | 14 |
Goals From Penalties | 4 | 3 |
Goals On Counter Attack | 3 | 3 |
Own Goals For | 0 | 4 |
Fouls Per Game (Average) | 12 | 9 |
Interceptions Per Game (Average) | 10 | 12 |
Most Goals (Premier League) | Adam Johnson (7) | Sergio Aguero (15) |
Most Assists (Premier League) | Adam Johnson (3) | David Silva (7) |
Most Key Passes (Premier League) | Adam Johnson (32) | David Silva (67) |
So there you have it. Arm yourself to the maximum with stats and trivia to bore your friends to death with down the pub/on the bus to Wembley!