Tottenham Hotspur hosts Manchester United on Thursday in the only all-big six matchup of the League Cup’s quarterfinal round. However, there is nothing “big,” at all, about these two teams right now.
They are both sputtering in mid-table, having endured a season that thus far has seen lots of injuries, disappointments and underwhelming performances.
EFL Cup Quarterfinal FYIs
Manchester United at Tottenham Hotspur
Kick: Thurs. December 19, 8pm, Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, London, UK
Team News: Tottenham Hotspur Manchester United
Starting XI Predictions: Tottenham Hotspur Manchester United
How They Got Here:
Manchester United- Leicester City 5-2 (round of 16), Barnsley 7-0 (third round)
Tottenham Hotspur- Manchester City 2-1 (round of 16), Coventry 2-1 (third round)
Both sides have fared better in the UEFA Europa League, but their standing there isn’t anything much to write home about either. United sit seventh, but in line for qualification to the next round. Tottenham are 9th, and slotted for a position that would require a playoff, in order to advance.
Man United Starting XI Prediction at Tottenham Hotspur
Andre Onana; Leny Yoro, Harry Maguire, Lucha Martinez; Diogo Dalot, Kobbie Mainoo, Christian Eriksen, Tyrell Malacia; Amad Diallo, Bruno Fernandes; Rasmus Hojlund
Paul M. Banks is the Founding Editor of The Sports Bank. He’s also the author of “Transatlantic Passage: How the English Premier League Redefined Soccer in America,” and “No, I Can’t Get You Free Tickets: Lessons Learned From a Life in the Sports Media Industry.”
He currently contributes to USA Today’s NFL Wires Network, the Internet Baseball Writers Association of America and RG. His past bylines include the New York Daily News, Sports Illustrated and the Chicago Tribune. His work has been featured in numerous outlets, including the Wall Street Journal, Forbes, the Washington Post and ESPN. You can follow him on Linked In and Twitter.