Manchester United host local rivals Manchester City in the first leg of their Carabao Cup semi-final on Tuesday evening as they look to take one step closer to a first piece of silverware under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.
Exactly one month will have passed since the two Manchester sides last duked it out in the Premier League, an encounter which saw United emerge as convincing winners at the Etihad.
Solskjaer and his team will be hoping to replicate that same performance but it would be surprising if Pep Guardiola, one of the game's best tacticians, has not learned from their last meeting.
Where to Watch
| When Is Kick Off? | Tuesday 7 January |
| What Time Is Kick Off? | 20:00 (GMT) |
| Where Is it Played? | Old Trafford |
| TV Channel/Live Stream? | Sky Sports Football/Sky Sports Main Event |
| Referee? | Mike Dean |
Team News
United will have to face one of the best possession-based teams in recent history without two of their key midfielders. After a string of promising cameo appearances, Paul Pogba needs surgery and will likely miss for another three to four weeks of action.
Scott McTominay faces an even longer spell on the sidelines after injuring his knee during the 4-1 Boxing Day victory over Newcastle. However, Axel Tuanzebe could return having missed each of their last four matches since the Carabao Cup victory over Colchester.
Other than long-term absentees Leroy Sané and Aymeric Laporte - the latter of whom was recently spotted returning to training - City go into the derby with a fully stocked squad.
Ederson has missed the last three matches via a combination of illness and suspension but Claudio Bravo remains the designated cup goalkeeper, so the Brazilian may have to wait another match before he takes to the field again.
The likes of Raheem Sterling, Kevin De Bruyne and Rodri were rested for the FA Cup tie against Port Vale, surely with this fixture in mind.
Predicted Lineups
| Manchester United | De Gea; Wan-Bissaka, Lindelöf, Maguire, Williams; Fred, Pereira; James, Lingard, Rashford; Martial. |
| Manchester City | Bravo; Walker, Fernandinho, Otamendi, Zinchenko; De Bruyne, Rodri, Gündogan; Mahrez, Agüero, Sterling. |
Head to Head Record
The Manchester derby is one of the oldest fixtures in club football, with the first encounter played out on 12 November 1881 which the Ashton Reporter described as "a pleasant game".
Despite the fact that City have finished above United every season since Sir Alex Ferguson retired, the record between the two in that time period has been surprisingly even, with the Citizens recording seven wins, two draws and five losses.
The most recent defeat came in the last match, less than a month ago, and will surely be the blueprint for Solskjaer's side on Tuesday.
Guardiola's team were torn apart by the sheer pace of United's front three, going 2-0 down at home in the opening 30 minutes. The Red Devils' squandered chances didn't come back to haunt them as Nicolás Otamendi's late strike proved to be nothing more than a consolation.
With both sides looking to claim the first trophy of the season, let's hope we're in store for another pleasant game.
Recent Form
United have endured a rather mixed run of form over the festive period, conspiring to win and lose twice while failing to register a single shot on target when they battled out a 0-0 draw with Wolves in the FA Cup.
0 - Manchester United failed to direct a single shot on target in a domestic league or cup game for the first time since January 2015 vs Southampton in the Premier League. Barren. #FACup pic.twitter.com/E8HFv2RWNg
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) January 4, 2020
Since the 2-1 defeat to United in their previous encounter, City have only failed to win once in the following eight matches.
While Guardiola looked as if he had plugged the gaping holes the pace of United's front line exposed when his side defeated Leicester in late December, Wolves and Adama Traoré reopened those wounds with a 3-2 victory in the next match.
Admittedly that loss came when City were reduced to ten men following Ederson's 12th-minute dismissal, but the Premier League champions have only kept two clean sheets in their previous 17 matches and with Claudio Bravo between the sticks on Tuesday it doesn't look like that run will end in the next game.
Here's a look at how both sides have fared in their last five matches in all competitions.
| Manchester United | Manchester City |
| Wolves 0-0 Manchester United (4/1) | Manchester City 4-1 Port Vale (4/1) |
| Arsenal 2-0 Manchester United (1/1) | Manchester City 2-1 Everton (1/1) |
| Burnley 0-2 Manchester United (28/12) | Manchester City 2-0 Sheffield Utd (29/12) |
| Manchester United 4-1 Newcastle (26/12) | Wolves 3-2 Manchester City (27/12) |
| Watford 2-0 Manchester United (22/12) | Manchester City 3-1 Leicester (21/12) |
Prediction
City undoubtedly come into the match in better form, with a better squad and a better manager. But, as the old adage goes, everything goes out the window in a derby. Both coaches seem to have prioritised the game as each side rested their stars in the weekend's FA Cup fixtures.
Guardiola clearly values the Carabao Cup and has won the competition two years running, while Solskjaer needs to restore the good faith he had built up with the last derby win and then subsequently squandered with losses to Watford and Arsenal.
If City haven't wised up to the threat United's front three possess and if the Red Devils can break the first line of press to release their sprint team, Solskjaer's side may be capable of causing another upset.
Prediction: Manchester United 1-2 Manchester City
Source : 90min