This is no doubt the most unbalanced of the two EFL Cup semi-finals as in-form Manchester United take on the Premier League’s bottom side Hull City.
After experiencing a rocky patch a couple of months ago, Manchester United have recovered to win their last eight matches in all competitions and remain very much alive in of them.
Jose Mourinho’s side showed their ruthlessness as they dispatched of Championship side Reading 4-0 in the FA Cup on Saturday. Before that though, it was their solid defence which had been the backbone of their recent run with no more than one goal conceded in any match prior to their victory against the Royals during this winning streak.
Before this excellent run had started, The Red Devils had always looked solid on home soil – just the one loss at Old Trafford occurring all the way back in September. One problem was the fact that they were drawing too many home matches in November, but Mourinho’s men seem to have shaken that habit and have now won their last five at home in all competitions.
The Portuguese manager has a history of taking this competition seriously and is all too familiar with the importance of doing well in it in your first season as manager. With this is mind, I expect him to field a strong side as opposed to the weaker one he sent out for the match against Reading.
Hull City’s new manager Marco Silva won his first match in charge of the Tigers as they beat fellow Premier League strugglers Swansea City in the FA Cup on Saturday. Hull had failed to win a match in any competition in normal time in 10 attempts before that so it should give them confidence.
As you would expect with a side bottom of the Premier League, Hull ship goals like there is no tomorrow with 44 conceded in just 20 game. Unfortunately they do not compensate for this in forward areas having found the back of the net just 17 times in the league this campaign. This of course may all change under the new management but this game against Manchester United comes far too soon to think of it now.
Going to Old Trafford is a daunting task for any team but even more so for the Tigers at the moment having lost their last six on the road, scoring just once in the process.
Although Hull’s FA Cup win will have boosted their confidence and this is another cup game where surprises can happen, I expect United to run out fairly comfortable winners. As previously mentioned, Mourinho is likely to pick a strong side and should oversee a comfortable home victory. ‘Manchester United Win -2 Handicap’, at 8/5 is a nice way to play this one.
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