City make five changes for tonight’s Carabao Cup semi-final, second leg.

There is no Fernandinho and no Aymeric Laporte, with neither passing late fitness tests.

How we line up:

Bravo, Walker, Cancelo, Otamendi, Rodrigo, Gundogan, De Bruyne (c), Bernardo, Mahrez, Sterling, Aguero

Subs: Ederson, Stones, Jesus, Zinchenko, D Silva, Foden, Garcia

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How United line up:

Possible formation and tactics: 4-3-3

It seems unlikely, given the personnel selected, that City will employ the same formation we saw work so successfully against United in the first leg.

Therefore, a more familiar 4-3-3 looks most likely, but don’t be surprised if Pep tweaks things if he feels things are not going our way.

City will back themselves on their own turf and play the way we want to, but Pep will be mindful of well United exposed the Blues’ defence in the Premier League clash at the Etihad last December and is well aware it is United who must chase the game.

This in turn, may allow City to hit United on the counterattack in what could be an open, end to end game.


All change at the back

Though all the back four have obviously played together  before, there will be a slightly unfamiliar look about the defensive back line.

The loss of Fernandinho is a blow and with Aymeric Laporte not ready to return after his game against Sheffield United, so Nicolas Otamendi and Rodrigo will play alongside each other.

Kyle Walker and Joao Cancelo are tonight’s full-back selection, with Ilkay Gundogan sitting just in front of the defence.

In the middle, Kevin De Bruyne is joined by Bernardo, with Riyad Mahrez and Raheem Sterling in attack with Sergio Aguero.

Possible scenarios

There is no extra time in the Carabao Cup except for the final.

Tonight’s score will be added to the 3-1 win City enjoyed at Old Trafford and the winner will be determined by the combined aggregate score.

If United win by two goals – regardless of whether it was 0-2 or 3-5 – the match will be decided on penalties.

Away goals do not count double.

The winners will take on Aston Villa in the final at Wembley on Sunday 1 March.

Facts and stats

  • City have won just one of the last five home matches against Manchester United (W1 D1 L3), all in the Premier League between 2016 and 2019.
  • Oddly, in all competitions, the home side has won just two of the last 11 matches between Manchester City and Manchester United (W2 D2 L7) - indeed, the away side has won five of the last six, including each of the last three.
  • Only one of the previous 29 teams to win a League Cup semi-final first leg by two or more goals have then been eliminated, with Tranmere Rovers going out against Aston Villa in 1993-94 (3-1 first leg, 1-3 second leg, lost 5-4 on penalties).
  • City are looking to become only the third team to reach three League Cup finals in a row, after Liverpool (four in a row between 1981 and 1984) and Nottingham Forest (1978 to 1980).
  • Pep Guardiola has progressed from 23 of the previous 24 knockout ties in his management career when winning the first leg - the exception was against Monaco with City in the 2016-17 Champions League last 16.
  • City have scored exactly three goals in all of their League Cup matches so far this campaign.
  • United have progressed from two of their last three knockout ties when losing the first leg by two goals, eliminating Olympiakos and PSG in the Champions League last 16 in 2013-14 and 2018-19 respectively.

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