Manchester United fans will be on the edge of their seats all day. Luckily, there’s some Premier League action between Chelsea and Spurs to keep them occupied but the Red Devils are thinking of one match only – the Carabao Cup final against Newcastle United.
The game kicks off in just under two hours, with Erik ten Hag set to unravel his starting lineup in an hour. The boss, who is dubbed as one of the best in England right now, will be unable to select three talented players.
According to Express, the three players Manchester United will be without are – Donny van de Beek, Anthony Martial and Christian Eriksen.
Out of the three, Christian Eriksen is the biggest blow for Manchester United. He likely won’t be back in action until next month, or perhaps even April. In this match, United will miss his creativity and eye for the game. He’s crucial to counter attacks as he’s tactical with the ball at his feet, able to hold it until he eyes the right killer pass.
The other two, Van de Beek and Martial, were unlikely to start in this match anyway. Both have players above them in the pecking order and don’t have much hope for a future at Old Trafford. Van de Beek would’ve been a good creative option from the bench though, particularly with Eriksen also missing.
Despite these injuries, Manchester United are able to field a relatively strong lineup. Particularly with the great news earlier that their best player Marcus Rashford is deemed fit to play. Given Newcastle United’s limited squad choice, you’d hedge your bets on Man United coming away from this one with a trophy in their hands. I’m going to predict a United win of 3-1.
How about you – what’s your score prediction for the Carabao Cup final?