📰 Table Of Contents
Recommended bets
[RECOMMENDED_BETS]
Match preview
Will Manchester United move one step closer to some much-needed silverware?
The Red Devils are currently enduring their longest trophy draught since 1974, their most-recent success coming in the 2017 Europa League Final.
So, of course, Champions League qualification is key for Erik ten Hag’s team, but lifting silverware is equally important.
On Friday night, the Red Devils saw off Everton in the FA Cup third round, with Antony and Marcus Rashford on target.
This means Man United have now won seven successive matches for the first time since January 2019, back when Ole Gunnar Solskjær first arrived.
In the Premier League, having won four on the spin, ten Hag’s side have moved up to four, just four points below Man City, who they face on Saturday.
Manchester United have already seen off Aston Villa and Burnley, so will the five-times winners have a semi-final to look forward to?
Charlton Athletic meantime are the only non-Premier League club to have made it this far, with this their best run in the League Cup for 16 seasons which, incidentally, is when they were last in the top-flight.
To get here, the Addicks have ousted QPR on penalties, Walsall, Stevenage on penalties and then Brighton, you guessed it, via a shootout.
In stark contrast, Charlton’s League One campaign has been pretty disastrous so far, with Ben Garner sacked on 5 December.
Under new manager Dean Holden, they’ve won both league matches, beating Portsmouth 3-1 on New Year’s Day and Lincoln 2-1 on Saturday.
Scott Fraser and Corey Blackett-Taylor on target at the Valley in the latter, a victory that lifts Charlton up to 12th.
Nevertheless, the Addicks have only ever won three of 31 visits to Old Trafford, these coming in 1932, 1938 and 1986.
So, anything other than a resounding Manchester United victory would be a major shock.
Manchester United team news
Given that they host Manchester City on Saturday lunchtime, Erik ten Hag will surely rotate his squad for this one.
Having been booked against both Aston Villa and Burnley, Bruno Fernandes will miss this tie through suspension.
Luke Shaw has been playing centre-back of late, it’ll be interesting to see if that continues at the weekend, but Harry Maguire and Victor Lindelöf are likely to come in for this tie.
In goal, Martin Dúbravka started in the previous two rounds, but has since been recalled by Newcastle.
So, either 36 year old Tom Heaton or, more likely, new arrival Jack Butland will start for the club for the first time.
Fred and Scott McTominay will start at the base of midfield, but Donny van de Beek could be out for a while.
Marcus Rashford has scored seven goals in his last seven appearances at Old Trafford, but is likely to be kept in reserve.
Alejandro Garnacho and Anthony Elanga will come into the attack; will Jadon Sancho make his first appearance since 22 October?
Predicted XI (4-3-3): Butland; Wan-Bissaka, Lindelöf, Maguire, Malacia; McTominay, Fred, Eriksen; Garnacho, Elanga, Martial.
Charlton Athletic team news
Ghanaian international goalkeeper Joe Wollacott is still sidelined, so Craig MacGillivray will continue to don the gloves.
Miles Leaburn is Charlton’s top-scorer with seven this season, so will the teenager add an Old Trafford goal to his tally?
Predicted XI (4-5-1): MacGillivray; Clare, Ness, Inniss, Sessegnon; Dobson, Fraser, Morgan, Rak-Sakyi, Blackett-Taylor; Leaburn.
Manchester United vs Charlton Athletic: Head to head statistics
[STATISTICS]
