This game kicks off at 8.05pm. The match between Liverpool and Arsenal started at 7.30pm; if you don’t want to know the score, don’t click this.
“Evening Rob,” says Simon McMahon. “Gregg has the current Big Cup holders on his MBM, and Guest appearances from both Donald McRae and David Squires. I think you need to make your readers an offer they can’t refuse. Cute cat video, perhaps?”
I’m offering Phil Fred, mate. I think I know who’s winning.
Team news
So much for giving old age a chance. Both have picked strong, young sides, with United close to full strength.
Chelsea (4-3-3) Caballero; James, Guehi, Zouma, Alonso; Gilmour, Jorginho, Kovacic; Hudson-Odoi, Batshuayi, Pulisic.
Substitutes: Cumming, Lamptey, Azpilicueta, Mount, Pedro, Giroud, Abraham.
Manchester United (3-4-1-2) Romero; Lindelof, Maguire, Rojo; Wan-Bissaka, Fred, McTominay, Williams; Lingard; James, Rashford.
Substitutes: Grant, Jones, Young, Pereira, Garner, Mata, Martial.
Referee Paul Tierney.
Updated
Ambassador… department We have two MBMs tonight, such is our commitment to the Carabao Cup. If you’d rather follow Liverpool v Arsenal, Gregg Bakowski is your man.
Preamble
Evening. The Carabao Cup is seen as the competition in which Chelsea and Manchester United give young players a chance. In practice, that hasn’t always been the case. Jose Mourinho, in particular, won the competition with both clubs by picking experienced sides. And while we should see one or two newish faces tonight, it’s likely that the average age of both teams will increase.
That’s because both teams have already picked their best young players in the Premier League. The average age of their starting XIs this season has generally been 24 or 25, among the lowest in the league, so tonight is a chance for older players like Pedro, Olivier Giroud, Willy Caballero, Juan Mata, Sergio Romero and Phil Jones to remind us of their existence. It’s what the Carabao Cup is all about!
Kick off is at 8.05pm.
Updated