Manchester United vs Nottingham Forest Live
Manchester United will line up in a 4-2-3-1 formation in front of Heaton, with Raphael Varane and Lisandro Martinez returning as the centre-backs. But Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Tyrell Malacia will continue as the full-backs.
McTominay’s continued absence will mean that Casemiro and Fred pick themselves as the two central midfielders. The duo will look to keep Manchester United on the front foot on Wednesday. Meanwhile, Bruno Fernandes should be the most advanced midfielder for the hosts.
Alejandro Garnacho and Facundo Pellistri should be the two wide attackers, allowing ten Hag to rests Marcus Rashford and Antony. Anthony Elanga will likely start as the striker if he does not leave on loan. But with Barcelona plotting a late move for Elanga, Wout Weghorst will lead the line for Manchester United.
Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Heaton; Wan-Bissaka, Varane, Martinez, Malacia; Casemiro, Fred; Pellistri, Bruno Fernandes, Garnacho; Weghorst
Nottingham Forest
Like his counterpart in the Manchester United dugout, Steve Cooper has a spate of injuries on his hands ahead of the trip to Old Trafford. The Nottingham Forest manager might be without as many as ten first-team players on Wednesday.
The illness bug has gripped the Nottingham Forest, with Ryan Yates, Jack Colback and Chris Wood fighting a race against time to be available. In addition, Dean Henderson (hamstring), Omar Richards (shin), Moussa Niakhate (thigh), Giulian Biancone (knee), Cheikhou Kouyate (hamstring), Morgan Gibbs-White (ankle), and Taiwo Awoniyi (groin) are on the sidelines.
Nottingham Forest wanted to sign Keylor Navas from Paris Saint-Germain. But the deal for the veteran goalkeeper seems off. So Wayne Hennessey should pick himself between the sticks for the visitors, who will line up in a 4-3-3 formation in front of him.
Serge Aurier has been a breath of fresh air at City Ground and should start as the right-back. Renan Lodi will likely feature on the left flank, with Joe Worrall and Willy Boly forming the central defensive partnership.
Danilo will likely sit at the base of the midfield, with Orel Mangala and Remo Freuler being his partners. Mangala and Freuler will be the workhorses in the middle of the park while attempting to be defensively resolute. Meanwhile, Danilo will look to keep things tight in the centre of the pitch.
Gustavo Scarpa will reprise the no. 10 role and will have the license to roam freely on the pitch. The Brazilian playmaker will play behind a strike partnership of Brennan Johnson and Emmanuel Dennis. Meanwhile, former Manchester United attacker Jesse Lingard will be an option on the bench.
Probable Lineup (4-3-1-2): Hennessey; Aurier, Worrall, Boly, Lodi; Mangala, Danilo, Freuler; Scarpa; Johnson, Dennis
Key Stats
- Manchester United have won their last eight meetings with Nottingham Forest, netting at least three goals in seven of these (32 in total). The Red Devils have won both meetings with Nottingham Forest 3-0 this season. They have never beaten an opponent by 3+ goals on three occasions in a single campaign before.
- Manchester United hold a 3-0 advantage from the first leg. No team to have won the first leg of a League Cup semi-final by at least three goals has been eliminated (11 previous instances).
- Manchester United have only won both legs of a League Cup semi-final tie on three occasions (out of 15 two-legged ties contested). Each time they’ve done so, they’ve gone on to lose in the final (1982/83, 1990/91 and 1993/94).
- None of Nottingham Forest’s last 16 away games in the League Cup has ended in a draw (W9 D7). Both of their victories on the road this season have been by 3+ goals (3-0 vs Grimsby Town, 4-1 vs Blackburn Rovers).
- Marcus Rashford is the top scorer in the League Cup this season with five goals. He has been involved in 16 goals in his last 14 appearances in the competition (12 goals, four assists). Rashford, Wout Weghorst and Bruno Fernandes were on the scoresheet in the first leg. The last Manchester United player to score in both legs of a League Cup semi-final tie was Louis Saha in 2005/06.
