MY ACCOUNT
– Manchester United have won their last eight home matches
– Charlton have failed to score on their last four trips to Old Trafford
– Recommended bet: United to win 3-0
Manchester United look to have received the dream draw in the EFL Cup quarter-final as they take on the only non-Premier League team left in the competition, Charlton, at Old Trafford on Tuesday.
United have won all five games they have played since the return from the World Cup break, but manager Erik ten Hag is set to make a host of changes for the game with a crunch derby against Manchester City to look forward to on Saturday.
Charlton, meanwhile, have reacted well to the appointment of new manager Dean Holden, but are 12th in the third tier with nine points separating them from both the playoffs and the relegation zone, so their run to the last eight has been the highlight of what has been a disappointing campaign so far.
Team news
Ten Hag looks likely to shuffle the pack to give some of his fringe players the opportunity to shine but one change has been forced upon him as Portugal midfielder Bruno Fernandes is suspended.
Donny van de Beek is also set to be missing, although the extent of the knee injury he suffered in a recent game against Bournemouth is still being assessed, while on-loan Jack Butland could get a chance in goal after David de Gea was at fault for the Everton goal in Friday’s 3-1 FA Cup win over the Toffees.
Charlton will welcome back Sean Clare, who missed the shootout win over Brighton in the last round through suspension, while hopes are high that goalkeeper Ashley Maynard-Brewer will be available to play in goal after concussion meant he missed Saturday’s 2-1 win over Lincoln.
Meanwhile, striker Chuks Aneke is struggling with a hamstring injury and looks unlikely to start.
The stats
If a trip to the Theatre of Dreams was not daunting enough for the Addicks, they have to have huge concerns that they are playing a United side in great form.
The Red Devils have won nine and drawn one of their last 10 matches on their own patch and scored at least twice in seven of their last eight home games.
While Ten Hag could make changes, it is also worth noting that England forward Marcus Rashford has scored in each of his five appearances since returning from the World Cup, which included the second goal when they beat Burnley in the last round.
Charlton have won their last two games against Portsmouth and Lincoln but their 3-1 success at Fratton Park was only the second away win they have posted in League One this term.
This is the furthest they have progressed in this competition. The last time they reached the last eight was in 2006, their most recent season in the Premier League, when they were beaten at home by Wycombe.
The Addicks have required three sets of penalties to get this far, seeing off QPR, Stevenage and Brighton in shootouts, and before that victory over Portsmouth, they had conceded three goals in four of their previous five away games.
Prediction
United are huge favourites to win this game even if Ten Hag is likely to keep some of his star names under wraps.
Rashford is in such a rich vein of form that he would be worth considering in all goalscorer markets should he be handed a start, but the best move would be to look at the correct-score offers.
United to win 3-0 is available at 11/2 with LiveScore Bet and that looks a good option, especially as the Charlton defence still remains shaky and it might not take long for the hosts to break their resistance.
