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Paddy’s football trader Brian McDonnell fired up the Zoom app to help guide us through the Manchester derby in the second Carabao Cup semi final on Wednesday night at Old Trafford. City love winning this competition and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer could really do with some silverware. It should be a feisty affair and here’s Brian’s best bets.
Man Utd v Man City
Hopefully this is a cracker. In the previous round I said Everton were going to knock Manchester United out. I was wrong on that occasion, but I’m going to go against United again and I’m going to side with Manchester City to Win this one.
That’s just based on United’s home form this season. I don’t think there’s a lot between the sides if you look at their recent form. United have had a couple of home wins recently against Aston Villa and Wolves as well.
They needed a 93rd minute deflected goal to get the win last time. If you look back throughout the season, Arsenal beat them at Old Trafford, PSG beat them comfortably in the Champions League, you think back to when Tottenham beat them 6-1 as well.
Wednesday 7.45pm: Man Utd v Man City
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Manchester City came here in December, as well, it wasn’t a cracker of a game. It was a 0-0 draw. So, United’s home form… they just haven’t convinced me enough that they can come out and beat a team as good as Manchester City.
I think both sides will go as close to full strength as possible. It’s a competition that Pep Guardiola is going to be desperate to win, even though Manchester City have won this competition the last three years in a row.
Manchester City to Win
These sides met at the semi final stages last season where, of course, it was over two legs. City won at Old Trafford, 3-1, and Man United won at The Etihad 1-0. I just think City will have too much for them.
They can sit in and break quickly. We all know the quality of players they have. So, I’m going to go with Man City to Win this one and qualify for the fourth successful final.
Phil Foden to Score First
In terms of a first goal scorer, I’d be looking at Phil Foden and Raheem Sterling. If you saw City against Chelsea at the weekend, they didn’t play with a recognised striker but they had the front three of Bernardo Silva, Sterling and Foden.
They were sort of interchanging in that front striker role and all of them were popping up at different stages in the middle. Foden took his goal very well. If Foden starts he’d certainly he’d be one to look at to Score First at a slightly bigger price than Sterling, Riyad Mahrez and the rest.
Brian’s tips for Man Utd v Man City
Man City to Win
Phil Foden to Score First
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