Carabao Cup Semi-Final Second Leg Match Previews
The Carabao Cup semi-finals occur this week with Newcastle United v Southampton and Manchester United v Nottingham Forest games. We preview the action and share the latest odds for the games.
The two remaining ties in the Carabao Cup semi-finals take place this week, with Newcastle United v Southampton tonight (Tuesday) and Manchester United v Nottingham Forest tomorrow (Wednesday).
Newcastle United v Southampton
Newcastle resurgence could hit an all-time high if they can secure its first EFL silverware since 1969 and its first League Cup final appearance since 1976.
The Magpies have one foot in the final after winning the first leg 1 – 0 at the St. Mary’s Stadium, hoping to book the 26th February date at Wembley against likely opponents Manchester United.
Nick Pope is on a career-best run with ten shutouts in a row and has been the pivot of the best defence in the league, conceding just eleven goals this campaign.
Each of Joelinton’s last seven goals came in games where his side went ahead to win their game and did not concede. The Brazilian striker-turned-midfielder will hope to score in his third consecutive league cup game for the first time since Shola Ameobi did so in 2010.
Newcastle has found the back of the net in their last eighteen games against Southampton (thirteen wins, drawing four, one defeat).
The Saints have a harrowing quest to overturn a first-leg home deficit, a fate that only two sides in the competition’s history have managed, with Arsenal doing it last in 1986-87.
Southampton sits bottom of the Premier League, fully embroiled in the relegation battle but has outperformed themselves in the domestic cup competitions. Their quest started with a surprise and exquisite 2 – 0 win against Manchester City but conceded late to carry a one-goal deficit to St. James Park.
The task for Nathan Jones and his camp, who are match fit after triumphing 2 – 1 against Blackpool in the FA Cup over the weekend, will hope to keep up their cup form once again.
James Ward-Prowse has been their most consistent player scoring three of their last four away games will be charged up heading to this encounter, having been rested in the FA Cup win.
Newcastle are favourites to win, bet365 are pricing the Magpies at 2/5. It’s worth remembering that there is only a one-goal deficit, so some adventurous football betting fans may fancy Southampton at 8/1. The draw, which would see Newcastle through, is available at 7/2.
Manchester United v Nottingham Forest
The Red Devils have played some of their best football under Erik ten Hag. They are the only team in the Premier League still contesting in the four competitions they started this season, the league, the FA Cup, the EFL Cup, and the Europa League.
Their quest for a first title since 2017 sees them with one foot into the final after a 3 – 0 win against Nottingham Forest in the first leg of the semi-final. Manchester United had three different scorers in that win: Marcus Rashford, Wout Weghorst and Bruno Fernandes. The goal by Weghorst was his first for the club.
For a team that was set to play ten games in thirty-two days, you would feel their manager would feel they have done enough and rest some key players as they have not lost a home game by any possible scoreline that would see them eliminated since October 2021.
Some superstitious Manchester United fans might hope they lose this game but qualify, as on the three occasions that the Red Devils won both semi-final legs, they lost in the final.
Marcus Rashford has scored ten goals from eleven games since the World Cup, and not surprisingly, he is the bookie’s favourite to open the scoring at 10/3. However, we think the rotation will be in full effect, as stated. Therefore Wout Weghorst (5/1) and Alejandro Garnacho (8/1) are the potentially better bets.
One piece of bad news for Manchester United news is the injury to Christian Eriksen, suffered in his side’s FA Cup win over Reading on Saturday. Eriksen has featured in 31 games for United this season but is sidelined until at least late April.
The Foresters have an arduous task against an in-form Man United side with a three-goal deficit seeming close to impossible, especially at Old Trafford.
Steve Cooper’s side will be well rested, having not featured over the weekend after being eliminated from the FA Cup by Championship side Blackpool in January.
The Tricky Trees need all the encouragement they can to become the first team in footballing history to overturn a three-goal deficit in the EFL semi-final.
The Foresters have had some historic victories at Old Trafford, with one they would be glad to replicate will be the 4 – 0 win back in 1977. A repeat of that scoreline is available at 300/1.
Wayne Hennessey will have a busy day in the office to try to keep out the lethal United attack, given he has conceded at least twice in all but one head-to-head game against Rashford (seven defeats, one draw).
The defence will be critical to keeping the deficit intact as they work on attacking and forcing an unlikely upset that would go down the history books.
The bookies price Manchester United at 2/5, the draw at 15/4 and a Nottingham Forest win is available at 7/1.
Both games will be shown on Sky Sports Football and Sky Sports Main Event. Kick-off time is 8pm for both fixtures.
