Don't forget to subscribe 🙏🙏 Jan 6, 2021, at 7.45pm UK at Old Trafford Manchester United vs Manchester City Preview: Manchester United vs. Manchester City - prediction, team news, lineups The two most in-form teams in the Premier League turn their attention to the EFL Cup on Wednesday night as Manchester United host Manchester City in a mouth-watering derby at Old Trafford. The local rivals are meeting in the semi-finals of the competition for the second year in a row, and both of them come into the contest off the back of notable weekend wins. Match preview Manchester derbies are always hugely anticipated affairs, but Wednesday's showdown is particularly promising with a place at Wembley up for grabs and both teams coming into the match in fine form. Victories over Aston Villa and Chelsea respectively at the weekend ramped up the talk of a potential title challenge for both clubs, despite both making underwhelming starts to the season. They have since made up for lost time, though; Man United have taken 26 points from the last 30 on offer in the top flight, with Friday night's triumph over Aston Villa sending them level on points with champions Liverpool at the summit, while Man City have won five and lost none of their last seven league games. The Red Devils also have great pedigree in this competition, with this match being their 16th appearance in the League Cup semi-finals - second only to Liverpool. Man United have progressed from nine of their previous 15 semi-finals, but have been knocked out in two of their last three and, as is the case with the Premier League as well, it is Man City who have had the greater bragging rights in this competition in recent years. Guardiola has won 17 of his 24 matches as a manager in this competition, while Man City as a club have progressed from each of their last five League Cup semi-finals, winning the trophy each time. Add to that the fact that the home team has ended up on the winning side in just three of the last 14 Manchester derbies, and Man City will be arriving at Old Trafford full of confidence. However, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has won three of his six managerial meetings with Guardiola - the Spaniard's worst loss percentage against any manager he has faced at least five times - and the hosts will be similarly convinced of their chance to progress to the final on Wednesday night. The Red Devils have found a winning formula in recent weeks to the extent that Solskjaer's job, which was under threat less than a month ago following their exit from the Champions League, is now seemingly as secure as it has ever been. A 2-1 win over Aston Villa on New Year's Day means that they have now won four and drawn one of their last five home league games, having picked up just one point from their previous four such outings before that. Manchester United EFL Cup form: WWW Manchester United form (all competitions): WWWDWW Manchester City EFL Cup form: WWW Manchester City form (all competitions): DDWWWW Team News The EFL Cup usually results in a raft of changes being made by the Premier League's top teams, but with both of these clubs having FA Cup games at home to Championship opposition next up, there could be two strong sides named on Wednesday. Man City's options are severely limited, though, with as many as eight players in danger of missing out, six of whom have fallen foul of the coronavirus outbreak at the club. Ederson, Gabriel Jesus, Kyle Walker, Ferran Torres, Eric Garcia and Tommy Doyle were all missing against Chelsea due to COVID-19 and are expected to be absent on Wednesday too. Jesus and Walker would have completed their 10-day isolation period by the time the match is played and so could be available in theory. Aymeric Laporte and Nathan Ake could miss out here due to the quick turnaround. Phil Foden scored at Stamford Bridge and will hope to be awarded another start here. Victor Lindelof remains a doubt having missed the last two games with a back injury, while Edinson Cavani serves the second of his three-match ban for a social media post which contained an allegedly discriminatory word. Dean Henderson is expected to return in goal in place of David de Gea, while Solskjaer must also decide whether to bring the likes of Alex Telles, Mason Greenwood, Donny van de Beek and Juan Mata back into the side. Manchester United possible starting lineup: Henderson; Wan-Bissaka, Bailly, Maguire, Shaw; McTominay, Fred, Pogba; Fernandes; Martial, Rashford Manchester City possible starting lineup: Steffen; Cancelo, Dias, Stones, Mendy; Fernandinho, Gundogan; Mahrez, De Bruyne, Foden; Aguero Manchester United 3-2 Manchester City Pep Guardiola Ole Gunnar Solskjaer Ederson Gabriel Jesus Kyle Walker Ferran Torres Eric Garcia Tommy Doyle Aymeric Laporte Nathan Ake Phil Foden Victor Lindelof Edinson Cavani Dean Henderson Alex Telles Mason Greenwood Donny van de Beek Juan Mata David de Gea Football #MUFC #MCFC #ManchesterDerby