Manchester City v Manchester United: Five talking points ahead of Carabao Cup semi-final clash

Ahead of the semi-final second leg at the Etihad Stadium, the PA news agency has taken a look at some of the main talking points.

Will City's Carabao Cup dominance continue?

Manchester City have won the last two editions of the Carabao Cup and can become just the third team to reach three successive League Cup finals - a feat few would bet against them achieving given their 3-1 first-leg win at Old Trafford.

Pep Guardiola's men ran amok in the first half, but Marcus Rashford's second-half goal keeps the tie alive.

Can United cause another Etihad upset?

If it had not been for Rashford's goal three weeks ago, this tie would be as good as over.

History does not make great reading for United given only one of the previous 29 teams to win the first leg by two goals or more have been gone on to be eliminated in League Cup semi-final history.

But Solskjaer's side can take confidence from December's 2-1 shock win at the Etihad Stadium and the United boss has told his players to invoke the spirit of last year's jaw-dropping Champions League comeback at Paris St Germain.

How will injuries hurt United?

Rashford shone when the sides met in December and scored earlier in the month, but misses the return leg with a back injury.

Scott McTominay is another of December's Etihad Stadium starters that is out due to injury, while star turn Paul Pogba continues to be sidelined by a troublesome ankle.

Those issues leave United looking particularly light in midfield, which could be compounded as Solskjaer raised questions over the fitness of Nemanja Matic in his press conference.

Tale of two defences

While City's hopes of retaining the Premier League are surely already over, their 65-goal haul is comfortably the highest in the division.

They have broken the 100-goal barrier across all competitions and it will be a tough ask for Harry Maguire and Co to stop their free-scoring attack on Wednesday evening. City, though, could also be in for a tough evening.

They failed to contain United's counter-attack when the sides met in December and star defender Aymeric Laporte, who missed that meeting with a knee injury, is a doubt to feature on Wednesday.

Derby atmosphere?

Guardiola upset a number of City supporters over the weekend after expressing his frustration about the empty seats against Fulham in the FA Cup fourth round, rather than showing understanding of the expense of going to a match shown on terrestrial TV. The City boss attempted to clarify his remarks about supporters on the eve of Wednesday's semi-final, where it will be interesting to see if there is any reaction to the comments.

Opta stats

• Manchester City have won just one of their last five home matches against Manchester United (W1 D1 L3), all in the Premier League between 2016 and 2019.
• Man Utd are looking to record consecutive away victories against Man City for the first time since winning four in a row between November 1993 and November 2000, with all wins in that run coming in league games.
• In all competitions, the home side has won just two of the last 11 matches between Man City and Man Utd (W2 D2 L7) – indeed, the away side has won five of the last six, including each of the last three.
• Only one of the previous 29 teams to win a League Cup semi-final first leg by two or more goals have then been eliminated, with Tranmere Rovers going out against Aston Villa in 1993-94 (3-1 first leg, 1-3 second leg, lost 5-4 on penalties).
• Manchester City are looking to become only the third team to reach three League Cup finals in a row, after Liverpool (four in a row between 1981 and 1984) and Nottingham Forest (1978 to 1980).
• Since the start of the 2017-18 season, Manchester United striker Marcus Rashford has been directly involved in more League Cup goals than any other player (6 goals, 3 assists). However, the England forward will miss this match through injury.
• Manchester City have scored exactly three goals in all of their League Cup matches so far this campaign – the only previous team to score three or more in every game on their way to reaching the final was Brian Clough’s Nottingham Forest in 1977-78.
• Manchester United have progressed from two of their last three knockout ties when losing the first leg by two goals, eliminating Olympiakos and PSG in the Champions League last 16 in 2013-14 and 2018-19 respectively.
• Pep Guardiola has progressed from 23 of the previous 24 knockout ties in his management career when winning the first leg, with the exception coming against Monaco with City in the 2016-17 Champions League last 16.
• Ole Gunnar Solskjaer could become only the third manager to win two away matches against Pep Guardiola in his managerial career, along with José Mourinho and Jürgen Klopp, while only one team has ever beaten Man City twice at the Etihad in a single season, with Arsenal winning two games in 2004-05.

Manchester City v Manchester United betting preview: Free Carabao Cup semi-final tips, prediction and best bets

Free Carabao Cup semi-final tips, prediction and best bets for the Manchester derby second leg, as Pep Guardiola's side hold the advantage. Take a read by clicking the image below...

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