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Dave Thompson
AS IT HAPPENED

As it happened: Manchester United v Manchester City, EFL Cup

Manchester United took on Manchester City, with both sides experiencing indifferent form of late.

Hello, and welcome to tonight’s liveblog.

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Manchester United v Mancheser City - EFL Cup - Round of 16 - Old Trafford Fans outside the ground before the EFL Cup, round of 16 match at Old Trafford. PA Wire / PA Images PA Wire / PA Images / PA Images

Here are tonight’s teams…

Man United: De Gea, Valencia, Rojo, Blind, Shaw, Carrick, Herrera, Mata, Pogba, Rashford, Ibrahimovic.

Man City: Caballero, Maffeo, Kompany, Otamendi, Clichy, A Garcia, Fernando, Nolito, Iheanacho, Sane, Navas.

Manchester United v Manchester City - EFL Cup - Round of 16 - Old Trafford Scarves for sale outside Old Trafford before kick-off. Tim Goode Tim Goode

We’re underway…

Decent chance for City early on.

Navas’ cross finds Iheanacho, but the striker cannot direct his header on target.

It’s been a fairly scrappy opening.

Neither side has been able to grab hold of the ball for a sustained period yet.

United’s build-up play has been a little slow and laboured so far.

You would expect more in the early stages given that they are the home side and have the stronger XI (in terms of the number of first-team players included).

It continues to be a very cagey opening, with plenty of misplaced passes.

That Iheanacho header aside, there has been little goalmouth action of note.

Ibrahimovic tries to play Rashford through but woefully overhits the pass.

The Swedish striker could do with a big game tonight.

Manchester United v Manchester City - EFL Cup - Round of 16 - Old Trafford Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho (left) hugs Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola (right) before kick-off. Tim Goode Tim Goode

Otamendi trips Mata, after a clever turn from the Spanish midfielder.

Ibrahimovich’s subsequent free kick deflects out for a corner, which is overhit, ultimately enabling City to clear.

Navas plays it to Iheanacho, but the youngster’s heavy touch causes the ball to roll harmlessly into De Gea’s hands.

This game has yet to really take off, with a distinct lack of intensity evident in both sides’ play.

Vincent Kompany has just hit a woeful pass that goes straight out of play.

Pep Guardiola won’t be too impressed, particularly given the ball-playing qualities he demands of his defenders.

Manchester United v Mancheser City - EFL Cup - Round of 16 - Old Trafford Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho with mascot Fred The Red before the EFL Cup. PA Wire / PA Images PA Wire / PA Images / PA Images

Luke Shaw makes a surging run down the left. The defender’s cross finds Ibrahimovic, whose shot is deflected off target, with Otamendi doing well to throw himself in the way of the ball.

Moments  later, Rashford gets a glimpse at goal inside the box, but he hesitates, and Maffeo has time to get in the correct position and block the forward’s shot.

Otamendi makes a good tackle to stop Pogba surging down the right wing.

United have looked far livelier and more threatening in recent minutes.

City’s turn to threaten. Iheanacho sprints through on goal, only for Rojo to make a good last-ditch challenge.

Meanwhile, down the City right, Navas is causing Shaw plenty of problems.

The game has been far more open in the past 10 minutes than it had been initially.

19-year-old Spaniard Pablo Maffeo has looked very impressive so far, and he’s just made a beautifully judged tackle to deny Rashford on the counter attack.

Down the other end, Shaw could do with some help, as Navas has eluded him and found space on the right-hand side not for the first time.

HALF-TIME: MAN UNITED 0-0 MAN CITY

Half-time and it hasn’t been the best of games so far.

Aside from Iheanacho’s header early on, there have been no real chances.

Given United’s strong XI and home advantage, Jose Mourinho is probably the more disappointed manager at half-time, with his side lacking urgency throughout that first 45 minutes.

But the game in general has been scrappy and short on quality in attack.

There hasn’t been a single shot on target in that first half according to Sky.

That stat sums up what has been a disappointing game so far.

Meanwhile, Jamie Carragher makes a good point about City playing a style that’s not really associated with Pep Guardiola — 4-4-2 and far more long balls than usual.

The second has begun…

Kolarov has replaced Kompany for City at half-time.

The Belgian defender will be pleased to get 45 minutes under his belt as he continues his recovery from a long-term injury.

Big chance for Pogba as the United attack finally clicks.

A lovely flowing move ultimately sees Ibrahimovic skip past Otamendi before laying it off to the French international, whose powerful shot is tipped onto the post by Caballero.

MAN UNITED 1-0 MAN CITY (MATA 54)

Ibrahimovic’s cross sees Herrera go down under a challenge from Fernando, before the ball falls to Mata, who is on hand to finish consummately from the edge of the box.

United have looked a different team since half-time and deserve that goal on the basis of how positive they’ve been.

Navas goes down under a rash challenge from Shaw, but the referee points for a goal kick after the ball rolls out of play.

The English full-back has looked a little rusty tonight and was lucky to get away with that.

Raheem Sterling is about to come on for City.

Pep Guardiola’s men could do with some inspiration, as they have plainly been second best since the break.

A long passage of City passing ends with Kolarov blasting well over. City look short of ideas at the moment.

Meanwhile, Sterling replaces Sane, who has looked a little lightweight this evening, struggling to influence the play as a result.

Navas tries to beat Shaw, but this time, the England defender blocks his cross.

Worryingly for United, City are having a decent spell and are beginning to control the play.

It’s getting serious now.

City are bringing on Sergio Aguero to replace Nolito.

Interesting stat via @MailSport.

Man United have 13 out of 15 points in games where Mata has started and 1 from 12 in his absence.

Juan Mata is replaced by the forgotten man of Old Trafford — Morgan Schneiderlin.

Clearly, United are intent on shutting up shop in true Mourinho fashion now.

It looks set to be a nervy last few minutes for Man United fans.

City are increasingly dominating possession and continuing to probe in United’s final third.

As I type, however, Rashford bursts down the right and narrowly fails to pick out the onrushing Pogba with his cross.

Marcus Rashford is now replacing Jesse Lingard, with about 10 minutes left.

City are enjoying their best spell in the match currently.

Man United have been very impressive defensively in these last few minutes.

City have seen plenty of the ball and have been more or less camped in United’s half, yet they have never really looked like scoring.

There’s a coming together between Maffeo and Shaw in the United box.

The youngster doesn’t appeal for a penalty and awarding one would have been incredibly harsh judging by the replay.

Pogba sprints through on goal, but the ball just gets away from him and Caballero is alert to make a good tackle.

Two minutes left…

Man City have not registered a shot on target all night.

That’s certainly a rarity for a Guardiola side.

FULL-TIME: MAN UNITED 1-0 MAN CITY

So that’s six games without a win for City — the worst run of Pep Guardiola’s career.

United were far from spectacular, but they were undoubtedly the better team in the second half and deserved the win ultimately.

After going ahead, the Red Devils never looked in danger of conceding against an understrength City team.

Right, that’s it from me.

Thanks for reading and commenting. We’ll have more reaction to follow.

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