Everton vs Manchester United Carabao Cup quarter-final preview

Manchester United are in a good position to win a trophy this season under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer as they are in the last eight of the Carabao cup and would be facing Everton on Wednesday.

The Reds who are in inspired form will be hoping to extend their winning run this midweek as they travel to Goodison Park to face Everton in the quarter-final.

• Carabao Cup review: Arsenal’s slump continues with 4-1 thrashing at the hands of City

Man Utd seemed to have bounced back well after exiting the Champions League in the group stage and has secured back-to-back wins over Sheffield United and Leeds United.

Everton are also currently one of the most in-form teams in England.

They are, in fact, heading into this game on the back of three consecutive wins in the Premier League and are only trailing Manchester United due to an inferior goal difference, although the Red Devils do have a game in hand.

It is fair to point out that Carlo Ancelotti would also be looking at the prospect of securing silverware at Everton with the Carabao Cup serving as an ideal opportunity.

Team News

Everton will be without James Rodriguez, with the Colombian set to miss a fourth consecutive game as a result of a calf problem.

Fabian Delph and Allan (both hamstring) are unavailable as well while Lucas Digne (ankle)- a long-term absentee will also not be available.

Jean-Philippe Gbamin is edging closer to a return in the new year, while Andre Gomes will have a late fitness test on a thigh injury.

Seamus Coleman could also be handed a first start since the league defeat to Manchester United at the start of November.

United midfielder Jesse Lingard is set to return to the squad for the trip to Goodison Park. The England international has not played since the Carabao Cup tie against Brighton at the end of September.

Young forward Mason Greenwood may also get a start.

“Jesse will be in the squad. He’s been working hard in training. He’s been unfortunate with having to isolate a few times, been in contact, or close contact with Covid, not even having it himself,” said Solskjaer.

“He’s been very unlucky being away from the training ground a few times. He works really hard and he’ll be involved in the squad, definitely, on Wednesday.”

Solskjaer in a bid to manage the squad’s workload also revealed that Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Scott McTominay will miss the trip to Goodison Park.

“Mason [Greenwood] is fit enough to play, he was on the bench (against Leeds) he will be involved in the squad unless something happens,” he added.

“Of course, Luke (Shaw) came off with an injury so that had to be done, Edinson (Cavani) has been out with an injury for a while, we need to get him going and Bruno (Fernandes) is one that I also have to protect.”

Stats and facts heading into the match (Backed by Opta)

• The last League Cup meeting between Everton and Manchester United was back in November 1993 in the fourth round, with the Red Devils winning 2-0 at Goodison Park with goals from Ryan Giggs and Mark Hughes.
• Manchester United are looking to win consecutive away matches against Everton in all competitions for the first time since September 2007 (three in a row), while the Red Devils have only beaten Everton twice away from home in one season once before, doing so in 1993/94 (once in the league, once in the League Cup).
• Everton have reached the League Cup quarter-final in consecutive seasons for the first time since 1986/87 and 1987/88, with the Toffees losing on penalties after a 2-2 draw with Leicester City at this stage last season.
• Manchester United are looking to reach the League Cup semi-final in consecutive seasons for the first time since doing so in 2008/09 and 2009/10, winning 3-0 against League Two side Colchester United in last season’s quarter-final.
• Everton are the top scoring team in this season’s League Cup, netting 12 goals so far. They have only scored more goals in six previous campaigns in the competition, most recently in 2015/16 (13).
• Since the start of the 2017/18 season, only Everton striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin (10) has scored more League Cup goals than Man Utd’s Marcus Rashford (7).
• Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has won all six of his away League Cup matches, winning two with Cardiff City and four with Manchester United, with three of the four with Man Utd coming at Premier League opponents – Chelsea, Man City and Brighton.