Today, December 19, 2024, Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester United will clash in the quarter-finals of the EFL Cup at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. This match is of paramount importance for both teams, as in addition to the possibility of progressing in the cup series, a victory could also give momentum to their participation in the Premier League.
Teams' form and previous matches
Tottenham recorded an impressive 5-0 away win over Southampton in their last league match, with James Maddison scoring twice and Heung-Min Son, Dejan Kulusevski and Pape Sarr each scoring once, reflecting a confident attacking display.
Manchester United also started the cup match with a win, as they beat Manchester City 2-1 at the Etihad Stadium. Goals from Bruno Fernandes and Amad Diallo in a thrilling match should give the team confidence going forward.
Injuries and missing persons
Tottenham are struggling with serious injury problems, especially in defence and goalkeeping. Guglielmo Vicario, Micky van de Ven and Cristian Romero are all injured, posing a significant challenge for head coach Ange Postecoglou in terms of defensive formation. In addition, Heung-Min Son and Destiny Udogie are also doubtful due to minor injuries.
Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim is concerned by the absence of Mason Mount and Luke Shaw, while Noussair Mazraoui is also a doubt due to a previous injury. However, Marcus Rashford and Alejandro Garnacho are set to return to the squad, which could provide further reinforcements in attack.
Expected starting lineups
Tottenham Hotspur (4-3-3):
- Goalkeeper: Fraser Forster
- Defense: Pedro Porro, Radu Dragusin, Ashley Phillips, Djed Spence
- Midfield: James Maddison, Pape Sarr, Yves Bissouma
- Forwards: Dejan Kulusevski, Dominic Solanke, Brennan Johnson
Manchester United (3-4-3):
- Goalkeeper: Andre Onana
- Defense: Matthijs de Ligt, Harry Maguire, Lisandro Martinez
- Midfield: Antony, Kobbie Mainoo, Manuel Ugarte, Diogo Dalot
- Forwards: Amad Diallo, Rasmus Højlund, Bruno Fernandes
Analysis and forecasting
Tottenham's attacking line was extremely effective in the last match, but injuries to the defence could leave them vulnerable to Manchester United's speedy forwards. In midfield, James Maddison's creativity and Yves Bissouma's defensive work will be key for the home side.
For Manchester United, Amad Diallo and Bruno Fernandes could pose the biggest threat to Tottenham's defense. Manuel Ugarte could bring stability in midfield, while Harry Maguire's experience in defense could be decisive.
The bookmakers are expecting a close match, with Tottenham slightly ahead. The home win is at 2.30, while the away win is at 2.88. In the total goals market, Over 2.5 goals has lower odds, suggesting that it will be a high-scoring match.
Tipmix recommendations
Considering the current form of the teams and injuries, it is worth considering the following betting option:
- Due to the home field advantage and Manchester United's uncertain form, it might be worth considering a Tottenham victory.
Summary
Tottenham and Manchester United are set to clash in the EFL Cup quarter-finals in an exciting clash. Both teams have their strengths and weaknesses: Tottenham will be playing with a strong attacking line but an injury-plagued defence, while Manchester United's speedy forwards and experienced midfielders could cause problems for the home team.
Based on preliminary analyses and bookmakers' odds, a close match is expected, where Tottenham may have the advantage due to home field advantage.
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