League Cup ties have an odd tendency to take on "added significance" when two sides are struggling in the league, and tonight's Manchester Derby is no different. Both United and City have struggled for form of late: United added a defensive implosion to their struggle for goals at Chelsea last weekend, while Pep Guardiola is currently engaged in the eminently predictable battle of justifying his 'philosophy' to the wider English football media following a couple of stodgy results.
So while the League Cup may not sit high in the list of both manager's priorities, both could do with a result tonight, to keep the 'This Week's Club in Crisis' role firmly restricted to the other side of Manchester.
Here's the United team, with Michael Carrick's inclusion the most notable change, along with the continued non-inclusion of Henrikh Mkhitaryan:
Our #EFLCup team to face City! #MUFC pic.twitter.com/bWjyUAVRQn
— Manchester United (@ManUtd) October 26, 2016
City have gone for a much-changed line-up, with no room for first-teamers Aguero, Sterling, De Bruyne and John Stones. Youngsters Pablo Maffeo (50) and Alex Garcia (75) get an opportunity to impress from the start:
Here's your line-up for the @EFLCup, #unitedvcity #ManchesterDerby!
Presented by @HaysWorldwide #mcfc pic.twitter.com/uTgzg9wVSb— Manchester City (@ManCity) October 26, 2016
