Manchester United v Hull City EFL Cup Review

By: Timothy Dehinbo

Old Trafford for the third time in the past one week hosts another game as Manchester United take on Hull city in the first semi final clash of the EFL Cup and Jose is keen to reaching the finals with the red devils team due to his status in this cup.

Jose Mourinho is set to recall his big names for the clash on Tuesday evening. The manager made nine changes for
Saturday’s FA Cup tie with Reading, but confirmed that the likes of Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Paul Pogba and Ander Herrera are expected to be in the starting XI.

Manchester United have another huge game at the weekend on Nissan Super Sunday as they take on fierce rivals Liverpool, but Mourinho has said his side will still give everything to make the Wembley final.

“Hull face a semi-final, also a big occasion for them, and I don’t know maybe for them, it’s more important the match they have to play three or four days later in the Premier League [against Bournemouth],”he said.

“We play against Liverpool, a big match for us, but we want to be in the final. So we are going to face this Hull match with everything we have, all the power we have, as we know it’s two legs but the second leg is away. If we can do something in the first leg that gives us the advantage, so we will try to do that.”

Marco Silva will take charge of just his second Hull game after being appointed last week, and although he got his reign off to a flying start with a 2-0 FA Cup win against Swansea on Saturday, he knows that Tuesday’s test will be much different.

“It’s about staying in the game [against Man Utd]. We will try to bring it here and bring it back here open and qualify from the second game. That is our focus,” Silva said.

“Tomorrow is not the best game to try and improve in but we will try because my players have a dream of playing in the final.”

With other players expected to be back in the side, Wayne Rooney may have to wait to take the lead as Manchester United’s leading goalscorer after he equalled Sir Bobby Robson’s record against Reading at the weekend.

Marcos Rojo is a doubt for United having come off on Saturday with a muscle problem, while fellow defender Eric Bailly is away on Ivory Coast duty at the African Cup of Nations.

For Hull, they face a defensive crisis with Curtis Davies missing out on the trip to Old Trafford after picking up a hamstring injury.

Michael Dawson will have further tests on a shoulder injury before a decision is made on if he will travel, with the inclusion of Harry Maguire and Abel Hernandez also yet to be decided upon.

Elsewhere, Alex Bruce has yet to feature this season, while Moses Odubajo and Ahmed Elmohamady are absent. Hull are also without strikers Will Keane  and Dieumerci Mbokani.

Man Utd have won 11 and lost none of their last 12 matches against Hull City in all competitions (D1).
Hull City have won only once in their history against Man Utd at Old Trafford (D2 L12) – winning 2-0 in the FA Cup in January 1952.

Man Utd have reached the League Cup semi- final for the 14th time; only Liverpool (17) have made more.
In contrast, this is the first time that Hull City have reached the League Cup semi-final.

Man Utd have progressed to the League Cup final in eight of their last 10 semi-final appearances, falling short in 2004/05 and 2013/14.

Hull have lost only one of their last nine League Cup matches (4-1 v Man City in 2015), winning five and drawing three. The Red Devils have lost only one of their last 25 home League Cup games against fellow top-flight sides (W23 D1), losing 2-1 against Chelsea in January 2005.

Hull have failed to score in each of their last three matches against Man Utd, losing two and drawing the other.
The Tigers have found the back of the net in each of their last 15 games; their longest
scoring streak in League Cup history.

Only Brian Clough (4) and Alex Ferguson (4) have won the League Cup more times than Jose Mourinho (3).
With Mourinho’s men chasing 14th unbeaten run in all competitions this season. Hull should suffer at Old Trafford.

Though they could be good offensively
PREDICTION: MANCHESTER UNITED 3-0 HULL CITY