The Carabao Cup draw-makers threw up a repeat of the 2023 final in this season’s fourth round with Manchester United hosting Newcastle United on Wednesday night.
United’s 2-0 victory over the Magpies at Wembley is the undoubted highlight of Erik ten Hag’s reign thus far, with the Dutchman yet to taste defeat in this competition.
After enjoying the most unconvincing of three-game winning streaks, Ten Hag and United returned to their rather miserable reality on Sunday when they were beaten 3-0 in the Manchester Derby. It was a walk in the park for City, and Ten Hag can ill-afford another home defeat when Newcastle come to town.
Eddie Howe is currently managing a frantic fixture list, and some might question just how seriously Newcastle should be taking this competition given their other priorities. The Magpies overcame Pep Guardiola’s treble winners in the third round to set up this tie, and they head into it having drawn 2-2 at Wolverhampton Wanderers in the Premier League on Saturday.
Here’s 90min’s preview of this Carabao Cup fourth round clash at Old Trafford.
Manchester United vs Newcastle H2H Record (Last Five Games)
Current Form (Last Five Games)
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United Kingdom |
SKY GO Extra, Sky Sports Football |
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United States |
ESPN+ |
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DAZN |
Ten Hag makes seven changes from the team that started the Manchester derby at the weekend, including the return of Casemiro – the Brazilian also captains the side. Meanwhile, the back four has a more normal look, with Sergio Reguilon fit to start on the left and Victor Lindelof moving central.
Hannibal Mejbri will be looking to impress, as will Antony, whose temper threatened to get the better of him after he came off the bench against Manchester City.
Raphael Varane is curiously absent from the matchday squad altogether, while Lisandro Martinez is a long-term absentee. Jadon Sancho is no closer to being welcomed back.
Manchester United confirmed lineup vs Newcastle (4-2-3-1): Onana; Dalot, Lindelof, Maguire, Reguilon; Casemiro, Hannibal; Antony, Mount, Garnacho; Martial.
Howe wasn’t afraid to rotate against Manchester City in the previous round, and he is using his squad again by making nine changes from their Premier League outing on Saturday, with huge fixtures against Arsenal and Borussia Dortmund coming up.
Alexander Isak is being preserved for the weekend, as is Sven Botman. Both players aren’t fully fit. Jacob Murphy is also be out of action for a couple more weeks with a shoulder injury.
Harvey Barnes remains sidelined along with young midfielder Elliot Anderson. But Sean Longstaff captains the Magpies on his 150th appearance for the club.
Newcastle confirmed lineup vs Manchester United (4-3-3): Dubravka; Livramento, Krafth, Dummett, Targett; Joelinton, Longstaff, Willock; Ritchie, Gordon, Hall.
Despite a sound first half, Man Utd were abject in the derby on Sunday, but very few were surprised by the result or performance. However, even though they’ve been poor pretty much all season, you can envisage the hosts pulling this one out of the bag.
Ten Hag has a perfect Carabao Cup record, and Howe will be forced to rotate pretty heavily given Newcastle‘s upcoming fixtures.
While they’ll undoubtedly want to win some silverware, it wouldn’t be an absolute disaster if the Magpies were to exit this competition.
Prediction: Man Utd 1-0 Newcastle
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