Kick-off Wednesday, January
27, 2010 – 20:00 GMT
Old Trafford, Manchester
Defending the League Cup
may not have been at the
very top of Manchester
United manager Sir Alex
Ferguson’s list of priorities at
the start of the season,
although following last
week ’s narrow defeat to
Manchester City in the semi-
final first leg, getting to
Wembley for the final will
surely now take immediate
precedence.
United fans will undoubtedly
argue against the notion, but
Carlos Tevez ’s brace for the
Citizens against his former
employers last week went some way to demonstrating that Roberto Mancini ’s side are capable of mixing it up with the Premier League ’s established elite. Since Mancini’s arrival, City have lost just once in seven games and are clearly serious contenders in the race to finish fourth in the Premier League. Mancini himself may have even higher expectations, although a place in next season ’s Champions League will undoubtedly be seen as a success story in the eyes of Citizens ’ supporters. Ferguson’s United, meanwhile, comfortably dispatched of Hull City on the weekend to assume top spot in the title race.However, having already been dumped out of the FA Cup by Leeds United, defeat to City would be a bitter pill to swallow. It’s one apiece in terms of meetings this season and while the outcome of Wednesday ’s encounter may be difficult to predict, one thing for sure is that Manchester ’s cross-city rivalry is well and truly alive and kicking once again.