Saturday 25 February 2017 09:59, UK
Southampton legend Matt Le Tissier provides us with six reasons why his former club can beat Manchester United in the EFL Cup final.
Jose Mourinho's men are odds-on favourites with Sky Bet, but Le Tiss is confident of an upset, tipping Saints to triumph 1-0, as they did in their previous cup final success.
Here are his six reasons why the Saints will be climbing the Wembley stairs as winners on Sunday...
Defensive masters
We've played Premier League teams in every round, including trips to the Emirates and Anfield, and kept clean sheets in every single match. That set a record in the process and now it's time to make it unbreakable.
Better rested
Southampton will certainly be the fresher of the two teams after a two-week break in which United played three games, including a strong side on Wednesday in the Europa League. I was certainly happy to see Mourinho name such a strong starting XI against St Etienne.
Mkhitaryan's absence
Henrikh Mkhitaryan's injury on Wednesday was a big boost as he's been a really important player for them in recent weeks. However, it says something when they can bring in somebody like Wayne Rooney, and he'll probably only be on the bench.
The form of Romeu
Oriol Romeu is going to be vital in protecting the defence and stopping the service to Zlatan Ibrahimovic. He's been crucial to us this season and without Virgil van Dijk we'll need him to help Jack Stephens and Maya Yoshida out.
The Gabbiadini effect
He's made a flying start at St Mary's. With three goals in two games he's the best in the Premier League in terms of goals-per-game ratio. He's given us more belief than we've had going forward in recent weeks.
History on Saints' side
We're unbeaten against United in cup finals! Our only previous cup final triumph was a 1-0 victory over Manchester United in the 1976 FA Cup and I think it's perfectly set up for us to do it again.
