Gary Neville outlines Man City influence after Liverpool defeat Chelsea in Carabao Cup final

Gary Neville has outlined the influence Manchester City have had on Liverpool and Chelsea taking the Carabao Cup seriously this season.

Penalties were needed beneath the famous arch at Wembley on Sunday afternoon as Liverpool reigned supreme vs Chelsea in what was a dramatic penalty shoot-out.

With nothing to separate the sides after 120 minutes and ten spot-kicks each, Liverpool stopper Caoimhin Kelleher netted his penalty before Chelsea goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga - brought on as a specialist - blazed over the frame to ensure the trophy went back to Anfield.

Before that record ninth success in the competition, City had held a monopoly over recent seasons.

Winners in each of the previous four years, the Etihad Stadium club have picked up the Carabao Cup six times since 2014 and that, according to Neville, has served as an inspiration to their closest rivals.

City were eliminated at the fourth round stage this term on penalties against Premier League side West Ham.

Neville said: "You look at the way Manchester City - the best team in the country for the last few years now - have approached this tournament. They've won it five out of the last six times.

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"Liverpool and Chelsea, probably second and third best teams in the country at this moment in time. They really are treating this competition seriously.

"We've had fantastic finals and it has been, at times, the springboard for future successes that are greater like [going on to win] the Premier League or the Champions League."

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