Manchester United vs Manchester City Odds & Pick EFL Cup Semifinals Jan 6
- Manchester United and Manchester City matchup in the semifinal of the EFL Cup on January 6, 2021
- Both teams are in good form heading into this clash
- Get the latest odds, betting preview and a pick below
Manchester United and Manchester City are firmly in the Premier League title race. The Manchester derby on January 6th is a League Cup meeting, however, with a place in the 2020-21 season’s first final on the line against either Tottenham or Brentford.
The odds favor Pep Guardiola’s side, who have a proud recent history in the competition, winning it in four of the last five seasons. Rotation is inevitable in the EFL Cup, and City’s supreme squad depth has given them a marked advantage. Both teams are expected to name full-strength sides for this match, though.
Manchester United vs Manchester City EFL Cup Odds
| Matchup | Spread | Moneyline | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Man Utd vs Man City | MUN +1 (-135) | MCI -1 (+280) | MUN +240 | MCI -110 | DRAW +260 | Ov 2.5 (-136) | Un 2.5 (-104) |
All odds taken Jan 5 at FanDuel
Pep vs Ole
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s reign as Manchester United manager looked to be coming to an end just a few weeks ago. A great run of results, and some scintillating performances, have followed. United have been vaulted into the title race, and the former super sub is just a couple of matches away from his first silverware as Red Devils boss.
Solskjaer has a relatively good record against Guardiola, too. United are unbeaten in their last three Manchester derbies, and the Norwegian has got the better of Guardiola in three of their six encounters since taking the job permanently. The last meeting, a 0-0 draw in December, was a dire affair for the neutral, but that might give a blueprint for this one.
I guess @PhilFoden was happy with my goal! 😆 pic.twitter.com/LlfCEGn3uy
— Kevin De Bruyne (@KevinDeBruyne) January 3, 2021
United have undone City on the counter-attack over the last few years. Paul Pogba driving from midfield, Marcus Rashford and Anthony Martial running in behind, has been the formula. City have – as they always do – dominated possession, but United have done a solid job of limiting openings.
Midfield Magicians
Bruno Fernandes and Kevin De Bruyne are pitted against each other as frequently as any other Premier League players. Fernandes’ impact on United has been Eric Cantona-esque. De Bruyne started this season a little out of sorts by his standards, but he was magnificent in City’s thumping of Chelsea at the weekend.
2020 @ManUtd Player of the Month winners:
January: Fred
February: Bruno Fernandes
March: Bruno Fernandes
June: Bruno Fernandes
July: Mason Greenwood
August: Bruno Fernandes
September: Juan Mata
October: Marcus Rashford
November: Bruno Fernandes
December: Bruno Fernandes pic.twitter.com/eYXse0YkZo— utdreport (@utdreport) January 1, 2021
The Belgian wizard has taken over Manchester derbies in the past – he operates in a position between the lines which can expose Manchester United’s weakness in midfield. De Bruyne started as the central forward against Chelsea, and if he plays in a similar role, he could pull this Manchester United defense all over the pitch.
If this follows the pattern of their previous encounter, a moment of magic from Fernandes or De Bruyne could be the difference between the two teams. The team which keeps their opponent’s midfield star quietest will have a great chance of victory. There is so much talent in these two squads, but few players can produce something out of nothing quite like Fernandes and De Bruyne.
Manchester United vs Manchester City Premier League Statistics
| 2nd | Position | 5th |
| 33 | Goals scored | 24 |
| 52.3% | Average possession | 59.8% |
| 26 yellows, 1 red | Cards | 22 yellows, 0 red |
| 14.4 | Shots per match | 15.6 |
| 56% | Shots inside the area | 58% |
| 26.70 | Understat expected points | 31.43 |
City’s to Lose
City have lost one of their last 21 matches. There were some disappointing draws along the way, but there’s no question they have regained something close to top form. The way they dismantled Chelsea at the weekend was a warning sign to the rest of the Premier League. Guardiola’s side were fluid with the ball and didn’t allow their opponent’s any space without it.
United have won five of six, but significant questions remain over their defensive solidity. They are mid-table in expected goals against this term. While Fernandes and Marcus Rashford will make them a persistent threat in transition, it’s unlikely they repeat their defensive performance from the December derby against an improved City team.
Backing City’s moneyline price is the best value bet here, though De Bruyne to score in a City win at +370 is tempter, too.
Pick: Manchester City moneyline (-110)
Sam Cox is a freelance writer and sports junkie, who has spent the past several years immersed in the online gaming industry. He has worked with 888sport, Oddschecker, and Colossus Bets to name a few. Based in the UK, Sam also runs Franchise Sports with his brother.
