Wednesday 22 February 2017 18:49, UK
There will be a host of star names on display at Wembley when Manchester United and Southampton meet in the EFL Cup final on Sunday - but deep-lying midfielders Ander Herrera and Southampton's Oriol Romeu will play pivotal roles for their teams.
N'Golo Kante was integral to Leicester's title success last season and has helped Chelsea to the top of the table this time around, and as a result the defensive midfielder role has become a coveted position for many clubs this season, not least this year's EFL Cup finalists.
Herrera and Romeu have emerged as key men in this campaign and rank among the top midfielders for defensive stats in the Premier League.
But although they play in the same position, they have contrasting styles. We take a look at how they compare...
Manchester United's Herrera enjoyed limited success in an advanced position under Louis van Gaal at Old Trafford, but has excelled under Jose Mourinho in a deep-lying playmaker role.
In fact, Herrera has won more duels and made more interceptions and passes than Kante this season, despite playing four fewer games - and makes almost as many tackles as the Chelsea midfielder per game.
The 27-year-old has also made 1,028 passes in the opposition half - one of only five Premier League midfielders to make it into four digits this term.
In other words, the stats suggest Herrera not only excels at his defensive duties but also uses his ball-playing skills further up the field to contribute to attacks.
Former Barcelona youngster Romeu failed to make an impact during a four-year spell at Chelsea and joined Southampton in the summer for £5m to replace Tottenham-bound defensive midfielder Victor Wanyama.
Since then, he's thrived on the south coast. Romeu has matched Kante for tackles and interceptions per game this term - and won more duels, aerials and recoveries.
Unlike Herrera, the 25-year-old plays a deeper role and primarily shields the defence. With over 46 per cent of his passes being made in his own half, much of Romeu's involvement is between his own box and the halfway line.
Bolstered by Romeu's midfield protection, Southampton have not conceded a single goal in the EFL Cup this season and have progressed through the competition with slim winning margins and clean sheets.
It's a shield United will need to break through on Sunday, while Southampton will also look to breach a rearguard who have only conceded 21 league goals this season.
Watch Manchester United v Southampton in the EFL Cup final live on Sky Sports 1 from 3.45pm on Sunday
