Prediction: Manchester United vs Manchester City

Verdict: Both teams to score

Best Odds: 2/3

Bookmaker: Unibet

With a spot in the final of this year’s EFL Cup up for grabs on Wednesday night, Manchester United will welcome their crosstown rivals to an empty Old Trafford.

Manchester United

Starting with the hosts, managing to pick up what was a controversial 2-1 victory against a high-flying Aston Villa on New Year’s Day, Manchester United find themselves enjoying quite the purple patch. Despite a rocky start to the 2020/21 campaign and getting hit with that woeful 6-1 drumming at home against Tottenham back in October, some around Old Trafford have suddenly started to believe that their side could be a genuine title contender this season. Still sat level on points with Liverpool after their slip up against Southampton on Monday night, the former Premier League champions still hold a game in hand over their bitter rivals. With the mood in their camp undoubtedly at the highest it has been in recent memory, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s men now find themselves enjoying a domestic unbeaten run that stems back to November 1st. Along with securing their semi-final showdown thanks to a 2-0 win away at Goodison Park last month, it is also worth highlighting that Manchester United have won each of their last three straight contests on home soil.

Team News

Manchester United will again be without Edinson Cavani on Wednesday night as the striker serves the second match of a three-game ban.

However, in a boost for the Reds, defender Victor Lindelof has been given the green light to feature.

Manchester City

As for the visitors, while Manchester City might have been missing a host of first-team stars away at Stamford Bridge over the weekend, the Sky Blues put on a thumping display in the capital. Eventually cruising to a deserved 3-1 romp against a struggling Chelsea side, Pep Guardiola was right to praise his side’s display on Sunday afternoon. With attacking talisman Kevin De Bruyne really shining in his role as a false nine in West London, the former Bayern Munich boss finds his side also enjoying what has been a festive purple patch. Still holding two games in hand over defending champions Liverpool and really starting to make up some ground in the title chase, City find themselves enjoying a four-match winning run across all formats. Managing to cruise their way to the knockout stage of this year’s Champions League with plenty of time to spare, some around the blue half of Manchester feel that their side are playing their best football of the season so far.

Team News

Manchester City could have both Kyle Walker and forward Gabriel Jesus available after periods of isolation.

However, Ferran Torres, Ederson and defender Eric Garcia are all still out in midweek.

Key Factors to Consider

• When the two sides last faced off at Old Trafford on December 12th, the Manchester duo played out a 0-0 stalemate.
• In fact, only one of the last four meetings between United and City at Old Trafford has finished with over 2.5 goals.
• Wednesday’s hosts are enjoying a domestic unbeaten run that stems back to November 1st.
• Likewise, including a 3-1 win against Chelsea over the weekend, Manchester City have won each of their last four matchups across all formats.
• Manchester United have won their last three matchups on home soil by an aggregate score of 9-3.

Conclusion

While the Manchester neighbours might have played out that dull 0-0 stalemate at Old Trafford last month, we’re expecting a far more lively showdown on Wednesday night. With a spot in the final of this year’s EFL Cup up for grabs in midweek, we really do have a showdown between two sides who find themselves enjoying a real festive purple patch. Along with United really managing to turn a corner over the past two months and suddenly tipped as a title outsider, the Sky Blues also appear to be enjoying their brightest spell of the season so far. With both sides picking up eye-catching victories against Aston Villa and Chelsea over the weekend, we’re backing both teams to find the net at Old Trafford.

Verdict: Both teams to score

Best Odds: 2/3

Bookmaker: Unibet