Manchester United vs Manchester City: EFL Cup Preview, Team News, Predicted Line-Ups, Stats And Prediction

The city of Manchester will be hit with derby fever for the second time this season. However, as the two of the greatest managers in football history go against one another, two terribly different set of tales have unfolded for the fans. Guardiola despite remaining winless in the past five games has made a glorious start to his premier league career which has seen City climb to the top of the premier league. Mourinho, on the other hand, has been forced to declare his affinity for the club in the light of the embarrassing 4-0 defeat against his former club Chelsea. EFL Cup is usually a chance to give run out to young players but with both managers being desperate for a win, this is ought to be a high-stakes affair.

Manchester United

Team News & Tactics

The Red Devils will be without Bailly and Fellaini. Mourinho said Bailey suffered a “really bad” injury in his knee ligament and will be two months. Fellaini also suffered a knee injury in the same game was replaced at half-time.

The United Captain  Rooney is also a doubt for the fixture. The skipper also missed the trip to Chelsea with a thigh injury, while Luke Shaw might make a return to the team as Mourinho would prefer to start Blind as a centre back instead of the unreliable Marcos Rojo in the absence of Bailly. Henrik Mkhitaryan can feature as well.

Martial and Mata both of whom came off the bench against Chelsea should start this match as they undoubtedly provided some much-needed spark and incisiveness to United attack. The dry form of Ibrahimovic should also force Mourinho to give poacher Rashford a much-deserved start.

Probable Lineup ( 4-2-3-1 ): De Gea; Valencia, Blind, Smalling, Shaw; Herrera, Pogba; Martial, Mata, Young; Rashford

Man City

Team News & Tactics

Pep Gaurdiola has said that he plans to rotate his squad as his team faces six matches in eighteen days. This implies that hot prospects like Nolito and Iheanacho might get a chance to start. Despite this, Kompany and Silva should play an important role in the fixture.

Willy Caballero will start in goal. Key players such as Pablo Zabaleta, Kevin De Bruyne and Bacary Sagna will miss the game through injury.

Probable Lineup ( 3-4-2-1 ): Caballero; Stones, Kompany, Kolarov; Navas, Fernandinho, Gundogan, Sterling; Silva, Nolito; Iheanacho

Key Stats (Taken from BBC):

• Manchester United have won only two of their six previous League Cup meetings with Man City (D1 L3), although they are unbeaten in the three meetings at Old Trafford
• The last time these sides met in the League Cup was in the 2009-10 semi-final, with United winning 4-3 on aggregate thanks to a 3-1 win at Old Trafford in the second leg
• Both times Man City have eliminated their neighbours from the League Cup, they have gone on to win the trophy (1969-70 and 1975-76)
• In all competitions, Man City have won four of their past six meetings at Old Trafford (D1 L1)
• Two of Jose Mourinho’s three wins against Pep Guardiola as manager have come in cup competition (one Champions League, one Copa Del Rey)
• In all competitions, Guardiola has failed to win his past three away games with Man City. He has only ever gone four away games without a win once in his managerial career (March 2009)

Prediction

Man Utd 0 – 2 Man City

The absence of Bailly will hit the already weak defence of the Red Devils hard and despite the squad rotation, City have enough firepower to breach Mourinho’s defence.