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	ASIAN Soccer Expert 1 1 1 Name: Sato

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A place in the last four of the EFL Cup is up for grabs on Thursday night when Tottenham Hotspur welcome Manchester United to North London for a quarter-final showdown.

Both teams enter this contest on a high after picking up maximum points in the Premier League last weekend, with Spurs hitting five past Southampton and the Red Devils claiming the bragging rights over wounded rivals Manchester City.

Match preview

Ange Postecoglou was coming under increased pressure in the Tottenham dugout following a disappointing run of just one win in eight games across all competitions (D3 L4) – a surprise 4-0 triumph at Man City in the Premier League.

However, the Spurs boss got a much-needed reaction from his players – albeit against a struggling Southampton outfit at the foot of the table – when they paid a visit to St Mary’s on Sunday, with James Maddison (2), Son Heung-min, Dejan Kulusevski and Pape Matar Sarr all scoring first-half goals in an emphatic 5-0 victory – a result that ultimately proved to be the final nail in the coffin for Russell Martin.

Only high-flying Chelsea (37) have scored more top-flight goals than Tottenham (36) so far this season, and the North Londoners currently sit 10th in the table after 16 games, although they are only five points behind the top four.

Tricky encounters with leaders Liverpool and fourth-placed Nottingham Forest are on the horizon for Spurs, but they must first turn their attention to Thursday’s EFL Cup clash with Man United as they endeavour to reach the semi-finals for the third time in five years.

Tottenham secured a 2-1 win over Man City in the fourth round of the EFL Cup at the end of October, and in order to come out on top against Man United, they must end their four-game winless run on home soil. Spurs have not suffered a longer run without a win in front of their owns fans since 2008, the same year that they last won a major trophy (the EFL Cup).

After suffering back-to-back Premier League defeats to Arsenal and Nottingham Forest, Man United have since bounced back under new head coach Ruben Amorim and have won their last two away games by a 2-1 scoreline against Viktoria Plzen and rivals Man City.

Three days on from claiming an important Europa League win over Plzen in Czechia, the Red Devils were seemingly on course to lose at the Etihad, but they produced a stunning late comeback, with Bruno Fernandes‘s 88th-minute penalty and Amad Diallo‘s majestic 90th-minute winner turning the contest on its head in dramatic fashion.

Although Man United are still languishing in 13th place in the Premier League table, there are just six points separating them from the top four and Amorim will hope that the “belief” shown by his players against Man City can be carried over into their upcoming fixtures.

Six-time EFL Cup winners Man United will now shift their focus to Thursday’s trip to Spurs whom they have failed to beat in each of their last four meetings, most recently suffering a humbling 3-0 home defeat in the Premier League in September under former boss Erik ten Hag.

However, the Red Devils can be confident of success in North London as they have won each of their last six EFL Cup away ties by an aggregate score of 14-1 – beating Chelsea and Man City during this run – while they have already scored 12 goals across just two games in this year’s competition – thumping Barnsley 7-0 and Leicester City 5-2 at Old Trafford.

Tottenham’s Rodrigo Bentancur will serve the sixth of his seven-game suspension after the club’s appeal over the length of his ban was rejected by the FA on Tuesday, while Cristian Romero, Micky van de Ven, Richarlison, Ben Davies, Wilson Odobert (all hamstring), Guglielmo Vicario (ankle) and Mikey Moore (illness) all remain in the treatment room.

Destiny Udogie is doubtful with a thigh problem sustained against Southampton. Djed Spence impressed on his first competitive start for Spurs last time out – 884 days after joining the club – and the right-back could be forced to play on the opposite side of defence if Udogie is not fit to feature.

Yves Bissouma is available for selection after serving a one-match ban last time out, and the midfielder is in line for a recall, while Brennan Johnson could return at the expense of either Kulusevski or Dominic Solanke. Replacing the latter – who has scored just one goal in his last eight games – would likely see Son moved into the centre-forward spot.

As for Man United, they are sweating over the fitness of Mason Mount (leg) and Noussair Mazraoui (knock) who were forced off in Sunday’s win over Man City in the Premier League. While Mount is expected to miss out, Mazraoui will be assessed ahead of kickoff.

Luke Shaw remains in the treatment room as he continues to recover from a hamstring injury, while fellow defender Jonny Evans has missed Man United’s last six games with an unspecified issue and remains a doubt.

Amorim has a big decision to make over whether to recall Marcus Rashford and Alejandro Garnacho to his matchday squad after they were both dropped last weekend. Both attackers are in contention to return, but a start is not guaranteed for either player.

Having regularly rotated his Red Devils team since arriving at the club, Amorim is expected to freshen up his first XI once again, with the likes of Leny Yoro, Tyrell Malacia, Casemiro, Antony and Joshua Zirkzee all pushing to start.

Tottenham Hotspur possible starting lineup:
Forster; Porro, Gray, Dragusin, Spence; Bissouma, Sarr; Kulusevski, Maddison, Johnson; Son

Manchester United possible starting lineup:
Onana; Yoro, Maguire, Martinez; Dalot, Mainoo, Casemiro, Malacia; Diallo, Fernandes; Zirkzee

We say: Tottenham Hotspur 2-2 Manchester United (Man Utd to win on penalties)

Tottenham cruised to victory in their last meeting with Man United three months ago, but given the unpredictability and inconsistency of Postecoglou’s side, it is difficult to envisage Spurs having a similarly enjoyable evening again on Thursday.