Man United will travel to Goodison Park to face Everton in the quarterfinal of Carabao Cup 2020-21. Both sides are in terrific form this season, and this contest would be the toughest one out of three other quarterfinals this week.
Match Timings: Dec 24, 1:30 AM IST
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To grab the semifinal spot in EFL Cup, Everton will welcome United, who are coming off a fabulous away record in England. The Toffees added three successive wins in Premier League, and they would target EFL Cup as the first silverware of the season.
Manchester United has moved on from its shocking Champions League exit, and they turned out as a dangerous side. The Red Devils thrashed its bitter rivals and newly promoted Leeds 6-2 on Sunday to findthird spot in Premier League 2020-21. United have won six matches from its previous seven matches in the top-flight, and they are five points behind leaders, Liverpool with a game in hand. Solskjaer got the ultimate inspiration ahead of Christmas. The best part is that United’s best win this season came at Old Trafford, where they have been under-performed. The home win against Leeds has boosted Man United. Recently, they created a new record of becoming only the fourth side in Premier League history to win 10 successive away games.
The away record of Man United is incredible. The Red Devils are the first team since 1960 who scored at least twice in 10 consecutive away matches in top-flight. The fact assures the semifinal spot in EFL Cup as Solskjaer hasn’t lost a single away game in this competition as a manager. Everton decoded quarterfinals for the second successive year, and they have appeared in the semifinals twice since 1987-88. They have scored at least three goals in each game and ended up as the most scoring side with 12 goals.
Carlo Ancelotti's side have got its form back after beating Chelsea, Leicester City, and Arsenal in the previous three matches. They have moved to fourth in the table with 26 points, and they are behind United on goal difference. They have faced Man United earlier at home in Premier League, and the Red Devils had the final laugh with 3-1, courtesy of Bruno Fernandes’ brace and Cavani’s injury-time goal. Everton would try to take the revenge of this loss to book the place in the semifinals. Toffees’ last silverware came in 1995 when they defeated United in the FA Cup final.
Ancelotti would avoid any big changes in the squad as he is looking for the silverware. Andre Gomes hasn’t recovered from the hamstring injury, and his availability is in doubt. Lucas Digne, Allan, Fabian Delph, and Jean-Philippe Gbamin will also miss this match due to injury. James Rodriguez might get the recall for this important fixture. On the other hand, the quickest brace scorer for United, Scott McTominay, will miss this fixture due to a groin problem. Luke Shaw’s availability is in doubt. Alex Telles, Edinson Cavani, Donny van de Beek, and Paul Pogba can start for the Red Devils. Dean Henderson is likely to come back in the lineup.
Possible Lineups & Current Form
Everton
Lineup: Olsen; Coleman, Holgate, Keane, Godfrey; Davies, Doucoure; Bernard, Sigurdsson, Richarlison; Calvert-Lewin
Current form: W L D W W W
Previous match: 1-0 victory over Arsenal (PL)
Man United
Lineup: Henderson; Wan-Bissaka, Bailly, Maguire, Telles; Matic, Pogba; Mata, Fernandes, Van de Beek; Cavani
Current form: L W L D W W
Previous match: 6-2 victory against Leeds (PL)
Key Players
Everton
Calvert-Lewin
11 goals in Premier League 2020-21
Micheal Keane
2 goals in Premier League 2020-21
Man United
Bruno Fernandes
11 goals in Premier League 2020-21
Edinson Cavani
3 goals in Premier League 2020-21
