Man City v Man Utd: EFL Cup semi-final second-leg prediction and free tip

Free football tips, best bets and analysis for Manchester City v Manchester United in Wednesday's EFL Cup semi-final second leg.

Where to watch

Sky Sports Main Event/Football, 7.45pm Wednesday

Best bet

Sergio Aguero first goalscorer
1pt 11-4 bet365
Bet on this tip with bet365

Team news

Manchester City
Aymeric Laporte, Benjamin Mendy, Riyad Mahrez and Joao Cancelo are carrying minor injuries and face fitness tests but Leroy Sane (knee) is back in full training.

Manchester United
Marcus Rashford (back), Scott McTominay (knee) and Paul Pogba (ankle) are out and Nemanja Matic (unspecified injury) is a doubt.

Match preview

Sergio Aguero was an unused substitute when Manchester City cruised to a 3-1 victory at Old Trafford in the first leg of their EFL semi-final but the Argentinian can help finish the job by bagging the opening goal of the return match.

United were outclassed in front of their home supporters but they were given a glimmer of hope by Marcus Rashford's 70th-minute goal which reduced the arrears.

If they need to look for some inspiration they might think back to last season's Champions League last-16 tie against Paris St-Germain.

Trailing 2-0 from the home leg, the Red Devils looked certain to be heading out of the competition but they responded with an incredible 3-1 victory at the Parc des Princes, becoming the only visiting side in the 2018-19 campaign to defeat the capital team by two clear goals.

However, the challenge facing them against City is probably even tougher.

Over the last three years Wolves are the only side to have won away to City by more than one goal.

Adama Traore was the Wolves hero, scoring twice in a stunning 2-0 success.

His pace and power were too much for City to cope with but United do not have anyone capable of making a similar impact.

The closest thing they have to Traore is Rashford, the outstanding player in United's 2-1 league victory at the Etihad last month. But the England man's best season has been cut short by a back injury, leaving United desperately short of firepower.

Anthony Martial returned to the scoresheet in Sunday's 6-0 success at Tranmere but was off the pace in recent 2-0 defeats away to Liverpool and at home to Burnley when United really needed him to produce a top-notch performance.

Dan James has not scored since August and United's best hope of giving City a scare could be talented teenager Mason Greenwood, who appears unfazed by big occasions.

However, United's reliance on an 18-year-old to get them out of trouble says everything about the yawning chasm between the teams.

City are adrift of Liverpool in the title race but they are the Premier League's most potent team with 65 goals in 24 games.

It is not in their nature to sit on a lead and they will probably attack United from the off with the intention of killing the tie as soon as possible.

The threats to United come from a variety of sources but Aguero remains City's top dog with 21 goals in 23 appearances this season.

Despite recent injury problems he remains lethal in front of goal and has netted eight goals in his last five appearances.

Aguero goes into the game fresh having not started either of the last two matches and he has a good chance of striking the first blow.