Gonzalo Higuain has been left out of the Chelsea starting lineup for this afternoon's EFL Cup final against Manchester City at Wembley.

Under-fire Chelsea boss Maurizio Sarri has opted for Eden Hazard in a false nine role, with Pedro passed fit to join the front three alongside Willian.

That means that Callum Hudson-Odoi is once again forced to settle for a place on the bench, alongside the likes of Higuain, Olivier Giroud and Mateo Kovacic.

Chelsea are able to welcome back goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga between the sticks, with the Spaniard coming in for Willy Caballero having recovered from a hamstring injury.

Man City also had a decision to make in goal, with Ederson replacing Arijanet Muric despite the latter having played in every previous round of the competition.

The City XI is otherwise as expected, though, with Sergio Aguero leading the line having netted a hat-trick against the same opponents just two weeks ago.

The Argentine is joined in the front three by Bernardo Silva and Raheem Sterling, with the likes of Leroy Sane, Riyad Mahrez and Ilkay Gundogan all having to settle for a place on the bench.

Chelsea: Kepa; Azpilicueta, Rudiger, Luiz, Emerson; Kante, Jorginho, Barkley; Willian, Hazard, Pedro
Subs: Caballero, Christensen, Kovacic, Loftus-Cheek, Hudson-Odoi, Giroud, Higuain

Manchester City: Ederson; Walker, Laporte, Otamendi, Zinchenko; D Silva, Fernandinho, De Bruyne; Bernardo, Aguero, Sterling
Subs: Muric, Danilo, Kompany, Gundogan, Sane, Mahrez, Foden

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