Man City win the Carabao cup again, but are they the best?

Man City win the Carabao cup again, but are they the best?

Man City are just the second side to win three consecutive League Cup titles after Liverpool between 1980-81 and 1983-84 (4 in a row). (Stats via Twitter / @optajoe)

Manchester City’s route to the League Cup Final saw them facing teams you really won’t see in the spotlight often and the way Villa stood toe to toe with them on Sunday tells a story of an ending era of sheer dominance but the Citizens are still the team to beat on the domestic front.

Only Chelsea have won one of the last nine domestic trophies with the Pep Guardiola's side scooping the rest.

Regardless of what happened at the Vicarage Road on Saturday, Liverpool will still be champions.

And with or without the ban, City need to fix lots of holes, age is catching up on their best legs, the weaknesses at the back need to be addressed and opponents are beginning to read and predict them.

Some can argue that Mikel Arteta took a lot out of them but on what evidence?

Questions will be asked of certain individuals, Raheem Sterling is one of them, John Stones is another, and the national team set up will be wary of this.

Several big names are out of contract in the summer.

Sergio Aguero is one, at 31, contract renewal will depend on whatever happens at the CAS as City attempt to fight the hefty ban.

David Silva will exit the club in the coming summer too, he’s 34 and will look at the MLS or a return to La Liga where he made his name with Valencia.

Liverpool remain the team to beat, but are we going to see Manchester City at the very top again?

If the ban is upheld, will these big names stay? Regardless of the PR statement majority of them made when the news broke out, will things be the same at the Etihad?