Manchester United vs Manchester City Predictions

• Man City have lost just one of their last 21 fixtures in all competitions.
• Man City were beaten just once in their last five trips to Old Trafford.
• Man Utd have already lost four times at Old Trafford this season in all competitions.
• Man City have conceded one or fewer goals in 12 of their 13 away fixtures this term.

United’s semi-final sorrows

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer continues to defy his critics this season, though the Norwegian faces another major test of his mettle on Wednesday evening when United take on Manchester rivals City in the Carabao Cup semi-finals at Old Trafford.

The Citizens knocked their near neighbours out at this stage of the competition last term – one of three semi final defeat suffered by United during a campaign of near misses in 2019/20.

United will be desperate to shake off their “nearly men” tags this week by securing their first cup final berth under Solskjaer, though turning over a City team that have been moving up through the gears of late could prove tough.

City’s improving performances

Man City warmed up for their tip to Old Trafford with a sublime display of attacking football against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge on Sunday evening.

Pep Guardiola’s charges made light of their list of COVID-19 related absentees to race into a three goal first half lead in London and the current Carabao Cup champions eventually eased to a 3-1 triumph over the Blues.

City’s victory was their fourth on the bounce, and Guardiola’s side have now lost just once in 21 matches in all competitions since late September.

City the value bet

Manchester City rag-dolled a strong Chelsea team on their own patch on Sunday evening, and the Citizens’ statement performance sent a real warning shot to their rivals for domestic silverware this term.

City – who were beaten just one in their last five trips to the red half of Manchester – have reached the Carabao Cup final in five of the last seven seasons, and having lifted the trophy in 2019/20, Guardiola’s serial winners know what it takes to successfully hunt down silverware.

United have only lost once in their last 12 games domestically, though it’s worth pointing out that many of their performances have been hit and miss, and the temperamental Red Devils could find matching City’s class difficult this week.

At Old Trafford – where United have already tasted defeat four times in all competitions since the summer – they are particularly susceptible to slip ups and a City team that romped to victory at Chelsea on Sunday look superb value to knock their bitter local antagonists out of the Carabao Cup again.

United rarely fail to score however, and having notched at least once in 14 of their last 15 fixtures, the hosts look capable of bagging a consolation effort on Wednesday – though a single strike might prove the limit of their output at the Theatre of Dreams.

City have been one of England’s most defensively robust outfits this season though, and having conceded more than a single goal in just one of their 13 away games this season, a brace from the Citizens at Old Trafford should allow them to book a spot in the Carabao Cup Final at their rival’s expense. That in turn makes a 2-1 City correct score prediction a forecast worth backing this week.

Manchester United injuries and team news

Marcos Rojo and Phil Jones remain treatment room comrades, though neither defender would have been involved on Wednesday had they been fully fit.

Victor Lindelof’s lingering back complaint means the Swedish centre-half remains a doubt for Wednesday, though the rapidly improving Eric Bailly might have kept his place ahead of his counterpart had Lindelof been available anyway.

Edinson Cavani is still suspended for United following his three-game ban for an Instagram post.

Manchester City injuries and team news

A COVID-19 outbreak in the Manchester City squad means City will be withouth Ederson, Kyle Walker, Eric Garcia and Ferran Torres for their trip to Old Trafford.

Nathan Ake also remains an injury doubt, as does out of favour centre-back Aymeric Laporte.

Riyad Mahrez, Benjamin Mendy and Fernandinho are all expected to be restored to the City XI in mid-week having been named among the subs against Chelsea on Sunday, while Sergio Aguero will also likely be kept in reserve.