Manchester City v Manchester United: Carabao Cup semi-final, second leg – live! | Football

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer speaks. First on the Bruno Fernandes transfer: “We’ve agreed with the club so we can hopefully announce it very soon. That’s of course exciting.” Then last night’s attack on Ed Woodward’s house: “Everyone at the club and proper supporters were disgusted with what had happened. Fans can be passionate and opinions can be voiced in different ways. We’ve got to stick together and stay united.” And finally on tonight’s upcoming spat: “We need to score two more goals than them! We’ve done it before. We need to match our performance six weeks ago. PSG away is always a good memory. But we need a proper performance with and without the ball. We will throw loads of energy at it.”

United have also announced the impending arrival of Bruno Fernandes. This is what they’re getting for their £47m, subject to a medical.

There are two differences to the side City put out in the first leg. Joao Cancelo and Sergio Aguero come in for Benjamin Mendy and Fernandinho.

United make four swaps from the first leg. Harry Maguire, Luke Shaw, Nemanja Matic and Anthony Martial come in for Daniel James, Andreas Pereira and Phil Jones, who drop to the bench, and the injured Marcus Rashford.

Manchester City: Bravo, Walker, Rodri, Otamendi, Joao Cancelo, De Bruyne, Gundogan, Bernardo Silva, Mahrez, Aguero, Sterling.
Subs: Stones, Gabriel Jesus, Zinchenko, Silva, Ederson, Foden, Garcia.

Manchester United: de Gea, Lindelof, Maguire, Shaw, Wan Bissaka, Fred, Matic, Williams, Lingard, Greenwood, Martial.
Subs: Bailly, Jones, Mata, Andreas Pereira, Dalot, James, Romero.

Referee: Andre Marriner (West Midlands).

This may not be the greatest Manchester United side of all time, and Manchester City might look well in control of this tie. But if you believe in the spiritual – things like club DNA, that kind of stuff – this League Cup semi-final remains in the balance.

Pep Guardiola certainly thinks so: “It’s Manchester United. They can do it. They have done it.” Twice in the Champions League recently, in fact, coming back from two goals down to beat Olympiakos in 2014 under David Moyes, then repeating the trick against PSG last year with Ole Gunnar Solskjaer at the wheel. Say what you will about the current state of United; they’re still a club who know how to turn around a cup tie.

There’s also the weird lop-sided nature of the Manchester derby to take into account. United have won their last two matches at City’s gaff, and three of the last five. City, who by contrast regularly turn United over at Old Trafford, have won just one of their last five derbies at home. The away side has won five of the last six. There’s no point trying to rationalise any of this. It is what it is.

So while United go into tonight’s second leg 3-1 down, and their chances on the face of things look slim, they’ll retain some hope. Then again, only Tranmere Rovers have ever let a two-goal League Cup semi-final lead slip, in 1994 against Aston Villa; City have won seven of their last eight matches in all competitions; and if Pep’s men turn it on like they did in the first half hour at Old Trafford, the holders will breeze their way to the final yet again.

Who will face Aston Villa in the Wembley final on March 1? City should finish the job, and are the hot bookies favourites. But in the Manchester derby, nothing’s ever certain. So good luck to the blues, good luck to the reds, and may the best team win. It’s on!

Kick off: 7.45pm GMT.