The semi-final line-up for this year’s Carabao Cup has been officially confirmed, and Manchester United will be part of the equation after they were able to see off the challenge of Everton at Goodison Park. The Red Devils secured a 2-0 win against the Toffees to ensure that they are now one step closer to a priceless piece of silverware.
Everton let themselves down
There was a whole lot of promise in Everton’s first half performance but for whatever reason, that intensity seemed to fall flat in the second half. Whether it was a lack of motivation or Richarlison’s injury, they weren’t able to keep up the same sort of tempo that their opponents did. Losing this game isn’t going to be the biggest disaster for the club so long as they keep up their strong form in the Premier League, but a defeat like this won’t do wonders for their confidence heading into 2021.
The Cavani effect
The direction of travel is clear: Manchester United are a better team when Edinson Cavani is part of their line-up. The lethal striker has been able to do what Zlatan Ibrahimovic did a few years back, in the sense that his veteran instincts have transferred over to the Premier League with relative ease. Cavani has to be positioned as the focal point for United from an attacking point of view, because we can’t imagine where they’d be without him.
Ole’s silverware awaits?
At this moment in time, Manchester United are the third favourites to win the Carabao Cup at 7/2 with Betfair. The one thing they have on their side, though, is that they’re clearly being underestimated by the majority of fans who believe Manchester City are going to run through them in their semi-final. If it hasn’t become clear enough in recent years, the gap between the two Manchester rivals in terms of quality isn’t quite as dramatic as many first thought. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is dying to lift that one piece of silverware which could really kickstart his tenure as manager, and there’s a good reason to believe this is the competition to do it.
Match Report
Everton: Olsen (7), Godfrey (6.5), Keane (6.5), Mina (6.5), Coleman (6.5), Gomes (6), Doucoure (6), Richarlison (6), Sigurdsson (7), Iwobi (6), Calvert-Lewin (6.5), Davies (6), Tosun (6), Bernard (6)
Manchester United: Henderson (7), Tuanzebe (7), Bailly (7), Maguire (7), Telles (7.5), Pogba (7.5), Matic (7.5), Greenwood (6.5), Fernandes (7), van de Beek (6.5), Cavani (8), Rashford (7), Shaw (6), Martial (7)
Referee: Andy Madley
Goals: Cavani, Martial
Yellow Cards: Tuanzebe, Shaw, Pogba, Martial
Red Cards: N/A
- Soccer News Like
- Be the first of your friends!
