Game: Manchester City vs Manchester United
Competition: League Cup Semi Final Leg 1
Kickoff: January 19, 19:45 GMT
Venue: City of Manchester Stadium

Roberto Mancini’s first Manchester derby couldn’t have come at a more crucial stage in City’s season. Manchester City host rivals Manchester United in the first leg of the League Cup semi-final wanting to end a 33 year trophy drought. City won the League Cup last in 1976. If City manage to pip United over two legs, City fans will quite literally be “over the blue moon” and a new set of heroes will be created overnight.

Manchester City – recent form
v. Everton (Loss 0-2)
v. Blackburn (Win 4-1) Tevez*3,Richards
v. Middlesbrough (Win 1-0) Benjani
v. Wolves (Win 3-0) Tevez*2,Garrido

Mancini has managed to win his first three games keeping a clean sheet in each of them.But the loss against Everton at Goodison has exposed the frailties of the City side. City are again short in numbers at the back. Joeleon Lescott and Wayne Bridge are still unfit. Toure is away at CAN. Ireland is nursing a hamstring strain. Roque Santa Cruz and Martin Petrov limped off against Everton. Vieira is still not fit enough to take to the field. Robinho might not feature at all after he stormed off into the dressing room after being substituted against Everton.

Manchester United – recent form
v. Burnley (Win 3-0) Berbatov,Rooney,Diouf
v. Birmingham (Draw 1-1) Dann OG
v. Leeds (Loss 0-1)
v. Wigan (Win 5-0) Rooney, Carrick, Rafael, Berbatov, Valencia

Sir Alex was fuming after his side’s defeat at the hands of Leeds in the FA Cup and has threatened to axe most of his players who started the FA Cup tie. Sir Alex has suggested that there will be a youthful look to his squad. There could be starts for Wellbeck, Gibson, Park, Tosic, Valencia, Carrick, de Laet and Michael Owen who have all featured extensively in the League Cup. Frederico Macheda, who has been instrumental is United’s League Cup run thus far misses out due to injury.

Match Verdict: I suspect that this will be a very cagey affair. I’ll go with a 1-1 draw with United getting that all important away goal.

City 1-1 United (Tevez//Berbatov)

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Game: Hull City vs Everton
Competition: Carling Cup Round 3
Venue: Kingstons Communication Stadium
KO Time: 19.45 GMT

Everton and Hull look forward to put behind their Premier League woes and battle it out for a place in the fourth round of the Carling Cup.

Form Guide (Last five games- all competitions- Hull City)
Hull City 1-0 Bolton Wanderers
Hull City 3-1 Southend
Wolverhampton Wanderers 1-1 Hull City
Sunderland 4-1 Hull City
Hull City 0-1 Birmingham City

Hull City beat Southend in the second round comfortably to make it to the third round. However, Phil Brown will not expect a similar match with a Premier League opposition to play against. Kamel Ghilas and Jozy Altidore showed promising signs at the start of the season but have since disappointed. Altidore scored in their second round win over Southend, Geovanni and Tom Carney being the other scorers. The Tigers expect goals from the same players in this round as well while Ghilas and Stephen Hunt are also expected to fire.
Hull have no injury problems with Dean Marney returning back to the starting lineup on Saturday.

Form Guide (Last five games- all competitions- Everton)

Sigma Olomouc 1-1 Everton
Everton 2-1 Wigan Athletic
Fulham 2-1 Everton
Everton 4-0 AEK Athens
Everton 3-0 Blackburn Rovers

The Toffees have gained some form after their dismal start to the season with just one win in the league prior to Sunday. However they have been doing well in the Europa Cup. Louis Saha is the man to watch out for after he scored a double against Blackburn in the last match. Similar to their opponents, the Toffees have no suspension or new injury problems, while long term absentees Mikel Arteta and Phil Jagielka are still out.

Last meetings
Hull City 2-0 Everton (Dean Marney, Michael Turner)
Everton 2-0 Hull City (Marouane Fellaini, Mikel Arteta)

Match Verdict: - With the home side taking the plaudits in their previous meetings, a similar outcome is expected from the match. Hull City may just edge out this one by a goal.
Hull City 1-0 Everton (Stephen Hunt)

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Game: Manchester City v Fulham
Competition: Third Round, League Cup
Venue: City of Manchester Stadium, Manchester
Time: 8:00 pm BST

Manchester City’s slickers continue their Carling Cup campaign in the third round as fellow Premier League club Fulham pay them a visit at the CoMS. Manchester City won a tricky away tie at Palace in Round 2 to advance to this stage while Fulham had a direct passage to the third round on account of their participation in Europe.

Here are some excellent bookmakers for you to place a bet. Be sure to read our preview before heading over to bet.
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Form guide (Man City- last five games)
Man City 1-0 Wolves (Emmanuel Adebayor)
Crystal Palace 0-2 Man City (Shaun Wright Phillips, Carlos Tevez)
Portsmouth 0-1 Man City (Emmanuel Adebayor)
Man City 4-2 Arsenal (Almunia OG, Craig Bellamy, Shaun Wright Phillips, Emmanuel Adebayor)
Man City 3-4 Man Utd (Barry, Bellamy*2)

City have been playing free flowing football and creating a lot of chances. One would expect them to continue in the same fashion and put a couple past a shaky Fulham defence. Craig Bellamy is in white hot form and should be a firm contender to score.

Form guide (Fulham- last five games)
v. Amkar Perm (Loss) 0-1
v. Aston Villa (Loss) 0-2
v. Everton (Won) 2-1 (Konchesky, Duff)
v. CSKA Sofia (Draw) 1-1 (Diomansy Kamara)
v. Wolves (Lost) 1-2 (Danny Murphy)

Fulham have been struggling at the foot of the table and lost last weekend to Wolves. But they have lot of quality players in their squad. If City act complacent, they might be in for a rude shock.
Emmanuel Adebayor is suspended for City as part of a three match ban following a suspected ‘stamp’ on van Persie. Roque Santa Cruz, Robinho, Vincent Kompany and Michael Johnson are all out for City through injury.

Match verdict: With City being weakened with injuries, the game suddenly becomes very difficult to call. I’d predict a narrow 2-1 win for City (given home advantage). But don’t be surprised if the game needs extra time or even penalties to sort itself out.
Man City 1-1 Fulham (after 90 mins). City to win in extra time.

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Game : Arsenal v West Bromwich Albion (WBA)
Competition : Third Round, Carling Cup
Venue : Emirates Stadium, London
Time : 20:45 GMT

Arsenal start their campaign for the 2009-10 Carling Cup at home to WBA. Arsenal play their first game of the tournament whereas their opponents scraped through in the second round. WBA overcame Rotherham United 4-3 on penalties after a 3-3 draw in round two of the competition. Arsenal are well-known for trying out their junior players in the Carling Cup, but that should not be a hindrance as they start clear favourites for this game at home.

Here are some excellent bookmakers for you to place a bet. Be sure to read our preview before heading over to bet.
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Bodog

Form guide ( Last five games- all competitions- Arsenal)
Arsenal v Celtic (3-0) Win
Manchester United v Arsenal (1-2) Loss
Manchester City v Arsenal (2-4) Loss
Standard Liege v Arsenal (3-2) Win
Arsenal v Wigan (4-0) Win

As we clearly see, Arsenal have won their last two home games scoring a minimum of three goals and keeping two clean sheets. It will be difficult to for WBA to score at Emirates.

Form guide (West Bromwich Albion – last five games)
WBA v Rotherham (3-3) Draw
Sheff Utd v WBA (2-2) Draw
WBA v Plymouth (3-1) Win
WBA v Doncaster (3-1) Win
WBA v Middlesbrough (5-0) Win
WBA are in healthy form going into the game, winning their last 3 and have not lost a single game in the entire season so far. Chris Brunt was the chief destroyer as they put five past Boro in their previous game. He will be the man to watch out for. Also, striker Roman Bednar and winger Jerome Thomas are in good form.
WBA lost to Arsenal both times last season. A 1-0 loss on the opening day at the Emirates Stadium was followed by a 3-1 defeat at the Hawthorns. Albion would need a miracle to ruffle Arsenal’s feathers.

Match verdict: I’d probably put my money on Arsenal. Even if they play the likes of Mannone, Wilshere, Ramsey and Gibbs, the quality would just be too much for WBA to handle.
Arsenal 2-0 WBA (Ramsey, Rosicky)

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Game : Manchester United vs Tottenham Hotspur

Competition : Carling Cup Final

Date : Sunday, February 27, 2009

Venue : Wembley Stadium

Time : 15.00 UK Time

Bet today at 12Bet.com in this game.

Defending champions Tottenham Hotspur face Manchester United on Sunday in the Carling Cup- the first domestic final of the 2008/09 season.

Spurs beat Chelsea last year, but United, in the form that they are in, will pose a stiffer test. Harry Redknapp put out an experimental side against Shakhtar in the second leg of the UEFA Cup in order to save his first team regulars for this crunch fixture. This tournament is probably Tottenham’s only chance of silverware for the 2008-09 season. Michael Dawson might have to do with a spot on the bench if Ledley King passes a late fitness test. Roman Pavlyuchenko should get the nod ahead of Darren Bent. Robbie Keane, Carlo Cudicini and Wilson Palacios are cup tied.

Tottenham Hotspur route to Carling Cup final

Newcastle 1-3 Tottenham Hotspur
Tottenham 4-2 Liverpool
Watford 1-2 Tottenham
Tottenham 4-1 Burnley (SF Leg 1)
Burnley 3-2 Tottenham (SF Leg 2)

Roman Pavlyuchenko has scored in every round of the Cup, and is of Tottenham’s best bets to score here.

Manchester United have said that they will give their youngsters a chance to shine. Evans, Gibson and Wellbeck will all start, according to manager Sir Alex Ferguson. Right back Rafael is injured. Carlos Tevez should start, given his record in this competition.

Manchester United route to Carling Cup final

Manchester United 3-1 Middlesbrough
Manchester United 1-0 QPR
Manchester United 5-3 Blackburn Rovers
Derby County 1-0 Manchester United ( SF Leg 1)
Manchester United 4-2 Derby County ( SF Leg 2)

United have already beat Tottenham in the FA Cup and the League.

But I think Spurs will give this their all, and might make it two in a row.

Tottenham Hotspur 2-1 Manchester United ( Pavlyuchenko, Modric/ Ronaldo)

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