Manchester United certainly got the best draw of any club left in the EFL Cup field. They’ll take on Charlton Athletic in the Quarterfinals at home on Tuesday night, and that’s a side from League One, the third tier in the English Football pyramid.
Everyone else remaining in the field, other than the Addicks, hail from the top flight, the Premier League. It looks like United will be easily moving on to the semifinals.
Manchester United vs Charlton Athletic (EFL Cup Quarterfinal) FYIs
Kickoff: Tue Jan 10, 8pm, Old Trafford
Team News for Both Sides: go here
Transatlantic Passage: How the Premier League Redefined Soccer in America: LINK
Odds: United -750 Draw +850 Charlton Athletic +2000
Of course, anything can happen in this game, so nothing should be taken for granted. United manager Erik ten Hag is all about tough love, so he’ll do his best to ward off complacency.
Let’s look at the starting lineup we think he’ll draw up for this one.
Anthony Martial has suffered through an injury-riddled season, and as such seems to be “on a pitch count” of sorts. We think he gets a minute managed first team assignment here.
“His physical load is not, at this moment, so high that he can play every third day a game of 90 minutes,” United boss Erik Ten Hag said during his pre-Charlton press conference.
“So I have to manage that together with him.”
Lisandro Martinez, having recently won a World Cup with Argentina, will see his minutes managed as well. Look for him, Martial too, to get a start and then subbed off at halftime.
Manchester United Starting XI Prediction vs Charlton Athletic (EFL Cup Quarterfinal)
Butland; Wan-Bissaka, Lindelof, Martinez, Williams; McTominay, Fred; Antony, Martial, Garnacho.
Prediction: United 3, Charlton Athletic 0
Should not be too tough a task here.
Paul M. Banks is the owner/manager of The Sports Bank. He’s also the author of “Transatlantic Passage: How the English Premier League Redefined Soccer in America,” and “No, I Can’t Get You Free Tickets: Lessons Learned From a Life in the Sports Media Industry.”
He’s written for numerous publications, including the New York Daily News, Sports Illustrated and the Chicago Tribune. He regularly appears on NTD News and WGN News Now. Follow the website on Twitter and Instagram.