Manchester United will be eager to secure a spot in the Carabao Cup final when they face Nottingham Forest on Wednesday.
The Carabao Cup has reached its penultimate stage, with just two games remaining for the two finalists to be confirmed. Newcastle United and Southampton will meet in the other semi-final at St. James’ Park on Tuesday. And Manchester United will hope to reach the final when they entertain Nottingham Forest at Old Trafford.
Manchester United reached the Carabao Cup semi-finals by beating Aston Villa, Burnley, and Charlton Athletic in the previous rounds. And the Red Devils have been imperious, keeping a clean sheet in three of their four games thus far. On the other hand, Nottingham Forest qualified for the penultimate stage by getting past Grimsby Town, Tottenham Hotspur, Blackburn Rovers, and Wolverhampton Wanderers.
Meanwhile, Manchester United will come into this game on the back of a comfortable win over Reading in the FA Cup. And the recent defeat to Arsenal is the only setback the Red Devils have faced since the World Cup ended. As for Nottingham Forest, the first leg last week was the most recent games the Tricky Trees have played. So they come into this fixture after a week-long rest.
Speaking of the first leg, Manchester United cruised to a 3-0 win over Nottingham Forest at City Ground. The Red Devils also beat the Tricky Trees by the same scoreline in the Premier League last month. The Hard Tackle takes a closer look at the encounter ahead of the latest meeting between the two sides.
Team News & Tactics
Manchester United
Erik has issued his response to @ChrisEriksen8's injury lay-off ⬇️#MUFC
— Manchester United (@ManUtd) January 31, 2023
Erik ten Hag has a new injury concern hampering his preparations ahead of his side’s latest game. Against Nottingham Forest on Wednesday, the Manchester United manager might be bereft of the services of eight first-team players.
Christian Eriksen is the latest absentee for Manchester United after sustaining an ankle injury. And the Danish midfielder will be on the sidelines until the end of April, handing a blow to ten Hag and his side’s prospects for the season. Eriksen has joined Diogo Dalot (hamstring), Axel Tuanzebe (back), Donny van de Beek (knee), and Anthony Martial (hamstring) in the treatment room.
In addition, ten Hag is sweating over the fitness of Luke Shaw (illness), Scott McTominay (knock), and Jadon Sancho (match fitness). The trio will unlikely start for Manchester United against Nottingham Forest on Wednesday.
Having the handy 3-0 lead should allow ten Hag to rotate his troops on Wednesday. And the shuffles will begin with Tom Heaton taking his place between the sticks. Jack Butland has not featured in the matchday squads thus far and might not start this midweek.
Manchester United will line up in a 4-2-3-1 formation in front of Heaton, with Raphael Varane and Lisandro Martinez returning as the centre-backs. But Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Tyrell Malacia will continue as the full-backs.
McTominay’s continued absence will mean that Casemiro and Fred pick themselves as the two central midfielders. The duo will look to keep Manchester United on the front foot on Wednesday. Meanwhile, Bruno Fernandes should be the most advanced midfielder for the hosts.
Alejandro Garnacho and Facundo Pellistri should be the two wide attackers, allowing ten Hag to rests Marcus Rashford and Antony. Anthony Elanga will likely start as the striker if he does not leave on loan. But with Barcelona plotting a late move for Elanga, Wout Weghorst will lead the line for Manchester United.
Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Heaton; Wan-Bissaka, Varane, Martinez, Malacia; Casemiro, Fred; Pellistri, Bruno Fernandes, Garnacho; Weghorst
Nottingham Forest
Like his counterpart in the Manchester United dugout, Steve Cooper has a spate of injuries on his hands ahead of the trip to Old Trafford. The Nottingham Forest manager might be without as many as ten first-team players on Wednesday.
The illness bug has gripped the Nottingham Forest, with Ryan Yates, Jack Colback and Chris Wood fighting a race against time to be available. In addition, Dean Henderson (hamstring), Omar Richards (shin), Moussa Niakhate (thigh), Giulian Biancone (knee), Cheikhou Kouyate (hamstring), Morgan Gibbs-White (ankle), and Taiwo Awoniyi (groin) are on the sidelines.
Nottingham Forest wanted to sign Keylor Navas from Paris Saint-Germain. But the deal for the veteran goalkeeper seems off. So Wayne Hennessey should pick himself between the sticks for the visitors, who will line up in a 4-3-3 formation in front of him.
Steve Cooper looks ahead to Wednesday's @Carabao_Cup second leg at Old Trafford. 🎙
— Nottingham Forest FC (@NFFC) January 30, 2023
Serge Aurier has been a breath of fresh air at City Ground and should start as the right-back. Renan Lodi will likely feature on the left flank, with Joe Worrall and Willy Boly forming the central defensive partnership.
Danilo will likely sit at the base of the midfield, with Orel Mangala and Remo Freuler being his partners. Mangala and Freuler will be the workhorses in the middle of the park while attempting to be defensively resolute. Meanwhile, Danilo will look to keep things tight in the centre of the pitch.
Gustavo Scarpa will reprise the no. 10 role and will have the license to roam freely on the pitch. The Brazilian playmaker will play behind a strike partnership of Brennan Johnson and Emmanuel Dennis. Meanwhile, former Manchester United attacker Jesse Lingard will be an option on the bench.
Probable Lineup (4-3-1-2): Hennessey; Aurier, Worrall, Boly, Lodi; Mangala, Danilo, Freuler; Scarpa; Johnson, Dennis
Key Stats
- Manchester United have won their last eight meetings with Nottingham Forest, netting at least three goals in seven of these (32 in total). The Red Devils have won both meetings with Nottingham Forest 3-0 this season. They have never beaten an opponent by 3+ goals on three occasions in a single campaign before.
- Manchester United hold a 3-0 advantage from the first leg. No team to have won the first leg of a League Cup semi-final by at least three goals has been eliminated (11 previous instances).
- Manchester United have only won both legs of a League Cup semi-final tie on three occasions (out of 15 two-legged ties contested). Each time they’ve done so, they’ve gone on to lose in the final (1982/83, 1990/91 and 1993/94).
- None of Nottingham Forest’s last 16 away games in the League Cup has ended in a draw (W9 D7). Both of their victories on the road this season have been by 3+ goals (3-0 vs Grimsby Town, 4-1 vs Blackburn Rovers).
- Marcus Rashford is the top scorer in the League Cup this season with five goals. He has been involved in 16 goals in his last 14 appearances in the competition (12 goals, four assists). Rashford, Wout Weghorst and Bruno Fernandes were on the scoresheet in the first leg. The last Manchester United player to score in both legs of a League Cup semi-final tie was Louis Saha in 2005/06.
Player to Watch
Fred
Fred has endured a frustrating 2022/23 season thus far, with opportunities coming few and far between. But with Christian Eriksen sidelined for nearly three months and Scott McTominay likely to be unavailable, he has the chance to make an impression this midweek.
The Brazilian international was impressive against Reading, scoring a cheeky goal to cap off a solid display. And Fred will be eager to rekindle his partnership with Casemiro from the national side on Wednesday. If he can strike a chord with his compatriot, he will likely keep Manchester United in good stead for the rest of the season.
Prediction
Manchester United 2-0 Nottingham Forest
With Erik ten Hag likely to rotate some of his troops, Manchester United might not run riot. But with Nottingham Forest also missing pivotal players, the hosts should be comfortable in the second leg. However, Nottingham Forest will attempt to take the game to Manchester United, which should work in the Red Devils’ favour.
Alejandro Garnacho and Facundo Pellistri should thus be in business on Wednesday. And Wout Weghorst should fancy his chances to score in a second successive game against Nottingham Forest. The Hard Tackle predicts a 2-0 win for Erik ten Hag’s charges to seal a spot in the Carabao Cup final.
