This week we will get to know which two teams will contest the first Cup Final of the season as we reach the crucial second leg ties of the Carabao Cup semi-finals.
Newcastle or Southampton will go forward to take on Manchester United or Nottingham Forest at Wembley in February in what will be a key game for the first piece of silverware of the season.
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Before we move on to look at the second leg ties, let’s first recap the two first legs of the semi-finals, which resulted in key wins for the away teams.
Joelinton made up for his awful first half miss to hand Newcastle a narrow advantage from the first leg on the south coast. The Brazilian has excelled in a new deeper role for Newcastle, but he looked likely to be the villain for the visitors when firing over an open goal in the first half.
Southampton were second-best for most of the game, but they did have moments, especially when substitutes Armstrong and Adams were introduced, but in the end it was Newcastle who grabbed the only goal of the first leg when Joelinton punished some hesitant defending to fire home.
There was more bad news for the Saints late in the game when centre back Caleta-Car was sent off for his second yellow card of the game and despite their man advantage, Newcastle could not add a second goal to make the tie more comfortable.
Even so, their fans will have been confident that with the second leg to come at St James’ Park and the team boasting the best defensive record in the Premier League at the moment, that the Toon Army should be on course for a rare Wembley final appearance.
Man of the Match – Joelinton (Newcastle United) 8/10.
The travelling Manchester United fans were in great voice as they made a huge stride towards another Wembley Final after a superb 3-0 demolition of Nottingham Forest at the City Ground in the first leg of this tie.
With the City Ground loud in support of the home side, United would have wanted to make a fast start to silence the crowd and that is what they got when a mazy run from Marcus Rashford ended with him firing the ball past the keeper and into the net after just six minutes of the game.
Forest best spell of the game followed as they tried to put United under pressure, but the visitors held off the home side well and then just before half time, Wout Weghorst struck a second to put United well in control of the game.
It was much the same story in the second half as United controlled the flow of the game and they continued to look dangerous on the break when Forest surged forward. Bruno Fernandes then capped a fine display with a lovely drilled finish in the latter stages of the game to almost certainly book Manchester United’s place in the final, even with the second leg still to play.
Man of the Match – Casemiro (Manchester United) – 8.5/10
Although their lead from the first leg may be a slender one, it is still a big advantage to Newcastle in this second leg tie.
Southampton have the 13th best away record in the Premier League this season, which does give the south coast side some hope, but they face a Newcastle team with the best defensive record in the division and who have the third best home record in the league too.
Newcastle have also kept eight consecutive clean sheets in home games, which makes Southampton’s task all the more difficult.
Eddie Howe will be without Jonjo Shelvey, Emil Krafth and Matt Targett for the game, while Southampton may be without Moussa Djenepo and will be without Alex McCarthy, Valentino Livramento and Juan Larios.
Caleta-Car will be able to play after serving his one-game suspension in the FA Cup Fourth Round at the weekend.
Both teams should put out similar teams that started the first leg, but Newcastle may well be tempted to give Alexander Isak a start after he made significant contributions in their last two games, although the Swede is still likely to start on the bench.
The home side could also give Anthony Gordon a debut after signing the youngster from Everton.
Probable Newcastle XI – Pope, Trippier, Burn, Botman, Schar, Longstaff, Guimaraes, Willock, Almiron, Joelinton, Wilson.
Probable Southampton XI – Bazunu, Walker-Peters, Lyanco, Caleta-Car, Salisu, Alcaraz, Diallo, Edozie, Ward-Prowse, Orsic, Mara
After a professional and clinical performance in the first leg in Nottingham, it is not surprising that Manchester United are almost at unbackable odds to reach the Carabao Cup Final and indeed, it should just be a case of getting this game out of the way and confirming their place in the showpiece event next month.
Forest were given a lesson in finishing in that first leg and Steve Cooper’s team will feel that short of a miracle, they are only going to be playing for pride in this game. However, they will want to show that they are better than they displayed in the first game.
So, somewhat oddly, I do think Forest will put up a sterner resistance with nothing to lose here and they could give United some tricky moments early on.
That said, I still fully expect United to play a very strong team and to eventually get to grips with their opponents and the game and secure another win here that will take Erik Ten Hag to his first final as Manchester United manager.
Probable Man Utd XI – De Gea, Wan-Bissaka, Malacia, Martinez, Lindelof, Casemiro, Eriksen, Antony, Bruno Fernandes, Garnacho, Weghorst.
Probable Nottm Forest XI – Hennessey, Aurier, Lodi, Worrall, McKenna, Freuler, Lingard, Scarpa, Johnson, Gibbs-White, Dennis.
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