Unarguably the two most in-form sides in the English top-flight, United and City are well expected to light up Manchester in Wednesday’s EFL semi-final derby date.
Carabao Cup 2020/21 season
Date: Wednesday 6th, January
Kickoff: 20:45pm
Venue: Old Trafford
Manchester United have gathered incredible momentum in recent weeks. Alongside having gone unbeaten in their last seven in all competitions, they are now just off the top of the Premier League log by virtue of playing a game less.
The Red Devils must have to raise their game here nonetheless, having crashed out to their cross-town rivals at this stage of same tourney last season.
This is the 16th time Manchester United will be appearing in the League Cup semi-finals — second only to Liverpool, and buoyed by their decent run of results should be able to give City a run for their money.
City on their part, go in hunt of a fourth consecutive EFL Cup success, and a pretty impressive eighth in total.
Should they be able to go all the way, Pep Guardiola’s side will equal Liverpool’s record trophy haul in this competition. Despite a clutch of coronavirus-enforced absences, they make the short trip across town unbeaten in their last six competitive games away from home.
History equally favours them on that front, as you have to go as far back as October 2016 to the last time the Citizens lost a Carabao Cup fixture away from home!
Games do not come any bigger than the Manchester derby, but who will carry the day at Old Trafford?
Team news
Manchester United
Victor Lindelof have missed the last two games with a back injury, and so remains a doubt here.
Edinson Cavani is suspended for the second time for his controversial social media post.
Manchester City
All of Ederson, Kyle Walker, Tommy Doyle, Eric Garcia, Gabriel Jesus and Ferran Torres are ruled out of this game due to Covid-19.
Aymeric Laporte and Nathan Ake are injury doubts.
Match stats
Manchester City have failed to score in their last four away games against Manchester United in all competitions.
The away side on the day have gone on to win in six of the last nine Manchester derbies.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has won three of his six managerial meetings with Guardiola, the Spaniard’s worst loss percentage against any manager he has faced at least five times in his career.
Team form
Manchester United’s last five competitive games: WWDWW
Manchester City’s last five competitive games: DWWWW
Betting tips
Manchester City ran out 3-1 winners at this venue in the first leg of last season’s semis but with this one being a one-legged affair, it is looking likely to be a close contest, and will be a lot tougher to call in the betting.
However, we still expect them to come at each other and most likely, goal actions to be seen at both ends. Thus, there is some value in the Both Teams To Score market, which is priced 4/6.
Manchester United’s Bruno Fernandes has been on some awe-inspiring goalscoring form. The midfielder has found the net after the break in three of his side’s last five games, so is one player the visitors will be wary of.
Let’s finish off our betting tips for this one by snapping him up to score anytime at odds of 15/8.
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