Nottingham Forest vs Man Utd LIVE score: Result from Carabao Cup semi-final as Rashford, Weghorst and Fernandes net
Nottingham Forest 0-3 Manchester United: Erik ten Hag’s side have one foot in the Carabao Cup final after a thumping win
Manchester United put one foot on Wembley Way after taking firm control of their Carabao Cup semi-final with a 3-0 first-leg win at Nottingham Forest.
First-half goals from Marcus Rashford and Wout Weghorst and Bruno Fernandes’ late third at the City Ground mean that only a miraculous turnaround in next week’s second leg will stop United appearing in the League Cup final at the national stadium next month.
Rashford’s strike was a moment of individual brilliance as he raced 50 yards and converted, Weghorst celebrated his first goal for the club since his loan move from Burnley while Fernandes effectively killed the tie at the death.
The win put United on the brink of returning to Wembley for their first domestic showpiece since losing the 2018 FA Cup final and Erik ten Hag will have the possibility of ending the club’s trophy drought, which stretches back to 2017, firmly in his sights in his first season at Old Trafford.
Relive all the action as Manchester United thump Nottingham Forest in the Carabao Cup semi-finals:
Nottingham Forest vs Manchester United prediction
Steve Cooper’s side will take confidence from their penalty shootout win over Wolves in the previous round but they are missing key personnel - not least goalkeeper Dean Henderson who cannot play against his parent club.
Manchester United meanwhile will see this as a competition they can win and Erik ten Hag will not doubt pick a fairly strong starting line-up to ensure his team win this first leg.
Nottingham Forest 1-2 Manchester United.
Nottingham Forest vs Manchester United predicted line-ups
Nottingham Forest XI: Hennessey; Aurier, Worrall, Boly, Lodi; Yates, Freuler, Danilo; Johnson, Gibbs-White, Lingard
Manchester United XI: De Gea; Wan-Bissaka, Maguire, Martinez, Malacia; Casemiro, Fred, Fernandes; Antony, Weghorst, Rashford
What is the early team news?
Forest will be without Dean Henderson, who is out with a thigh injury but could not have played against his parent club anyway.
Chris Wood is cup-tied after already appearing for Newcastle in the competition this season. Taiwo Awoniyi and Moussa Niakhate are among the injury absences.
Casemiro is available again for Manchester United after missing the defeat to Arsenal due to suspension, but Diogo Dalot, Jadon Sancho and Anthony Martial remain out.
How to watch Nottingham Forest vs Man Utd
The match will kick off at 8pm GMT on Wednesday 25 January.
It will be shown live on Sky Sports Main Event and Sky Sports Football, with coverage starting from 7pm.
Nottingham Forest vs Manchester United
Hello and welcome to The Independent’s coverage of tonight’s Carabao Cup semi-final as Nottingham Forest host Manchester United in the first leg.
Forest are hoping to spring a shock on the Red Devils after reaching the last four via a 4-3 penalty shootout win against Wolves. They are unbeaten in three matches across all competitions and will take confidence from being four points clear of the Premier League relegation zone.
In comparison Manchester United will see this as a very winnable competition now that the big guns of Manchester City, Liverpool and Arsenal have all been eliminated. Of the four teams left in the league cup United are the favourites to lift the trophy and Erik ten Hag will be targeting some silverware to cap of his first year at the club and end the Red Devils’ trophyless six year wait.
Marcus Rashford is in fine form and should feature tonight but Forest’s Dean Henderson will miss out as he is not allowed to face his parent club.
We’ll have all the team news, build-up and updates from The City Ground so stick with us throughout the evening.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments