Nottingham Forest vs Man Utd LIVE score: Result from Carabao Cup semi-final as Rashford, Weghorst and Fernandes net

Manchester United boss, Erik ten Hag is determined to end the club’s wait for a trophy as his side take on Nottingham Forest in the quarter-finals of the Carabao Cup tonight. United last picked up silverware in 2017 when they were triumphant in the Europa League final under then boss Jose Mourinho but Ten Hag is confident that he can lead the Red Devils to silverware this season.

United are the only Premier League side still competing in all four competitions, yet the Carabao Cup remains their best chance at winning a trophy. Big hitters such as Manchester City, Liverpool and Arsenal have all been eliminated with Newcastle United the favourites over Southampton to progress from the other semi-final following their 1-0 win in the first leg last night.

Meanwhile, Nottingham Forest have had to wait even longer for a shot at winning some silverware. Although they won the Championship play-off trophy last season, you have to journey back to the 1980s and 90s for Forest’s most recent success in the League Cup. Steve Cooper’s side have a four point gap over the Premier League relegation zone so can afford to field a strong side for their home leg this evening. Will they be able to shock Erik ten Hag’s flying Red Devils?

Relive all the action as Manchester United thump Nottingham Forest in the Carabao Cup semi-finals:

Nottingham Forest vs Manchester United

• Manchester United thump Nottingham Forest 3-0 in the Carabao Cup semi-final first leg

• Man Utd have one foot in the final after Rashford, Weghorst and Fernandes goals

• FULL-TIME! Nottm Forest 0-3 Man Utd

• 89’ GOAL! - Fernandes seals the victory for United (FOR 0-3 MUN)

• 60’ CHANCE! - Gibbs-White smokes a shot over the crossbar (FOR 0-2 MUN)

• 54’ SHOT! - Danilo’s shot is smothered by De Gea (FOR 0-2 MUN)

• 45’ GOAL! - Weghorst doubles United’s lead on stroke of half-time (FOR 0-2 MUN)

• 33’ SAVE! - Hennessey keeps out Antony’s close-range shot (FOR 0-1 MUN)

• 27’ SAVE! - De Gea keeps out Scarpa’s volleyed effort (FOR 0-1 MUN)

• 24’ NO GOAL! - Surridge has a goal ruled out for offside (FOR 0-1 MUN)

• 14’ CHANCE! - Antony fizzes a shot high and wide (FOR 0-1 MUN)

• 6’ GOAL! - Rashford’s great form continues as he puts United in front (FOR 0-1 MUN)

Nottingham Forest FC 0 - 3 Manchester United FC

Full-time: Nottm Forest 0-3 Man Utd

21:55 , Michael Jones

90+3 mins: The full-time whistle brings the curtain down on a brilliant night for Manchester United. They haven’t lost at the City Ground in eight games now and comfortably breezed past Nottingham Forest in the Carabao Cup semi-final first leg.

The main damage is done now and Erik ten Hag will be able to rest some of his key men for the return leg at Old Trafford.

That game takes place at the same time next week.

Nottm Forest 0-3 Man Utd

21:50 , Michael Jones

90 mins: Three minutes of added time to play.

The goal from Bruno Fernandes will be enough for Manchester United to comfortably win this game but it should also secure the Red Devils a trip to Wembley.

It’ll be incredibly difficult for Nottingham Forest to score three goals at Old Trafford without reply.

GOAL! Nottm Forest 0-3 Man Utd (Fernandes, 89’)⚽️

21:48 , Michael Jones

89 mins: That should be that now. Bruno Fernandes threads a lovely ball into the feet of Pellistri who carries the ball into the box. He tries to set up a shot but loses the ball and it bobbles over to substitute Anthony Elanga.

Elanga flicks the ball into the path of the arriving Fernandes who drills a shot past Wayne Hennessey on the half-volley.

Nottm Forest 0-2 Man Utd

21:44 , Michael Jones

84 mins: Nottingham Forest just can’t get the ball of Manchester United. First Aaron Wan-Bissaka holds the ball up and wins a foul before Facundo Pellistri does the same after substitute Jack Colback takes him out from behind.

Nottm Forest 0-2 Man Utd

21:40 , Michael Jones

81 mins: Another goal for Manchester United would probably kill off this tie but they don’t seem overly keen to push for one and potential let this two-goal cushion slip.

Nottingham Forest have to try and get one back before the final whistle.

Nottm Forest 0-2 Man Utd

21:38 , Michael Jones

78 mins: Nearly! A sweeping diagonal ball out to the right wing sees Facundo Pellistri bring the ball under control and squirt up to the side of the box.

He whips over a decent cross that Wout Weghorst wins in the air but nods wide of the back post!

Nottm Forest 0-2 Man Utd

21:36 , Michael Jones

75 mins: Manchester United are controlling the ball well. They’re knocking it around with confidence and retreating to try and open gaps up in the Nottingham Forest defence.

The home side look a little tired now. They need a reset before pushing for a goal in the last 10 minutes or so.

Nottm Forest 0-2 Man Utd

21:31 , Michael Jones

72 mins: More changes from Erik ten Hag. Facundo Pellistri and Fred are introduced to replace Christian Eriksen and Antony.

Morgan Gibbs-White is injured. He shakes his head as he hobbles off the pitch. Also going off is Renan Lodi with Neco Williams and Lewis O’Brien replacing them.

Nottm Forest 0-2 Man Utd

21:29 , Michael Jones

69 mins: Manchester United win a corner from a quick break after Lisandro Martinez wins the ball inside his own penalty area. Eriksen whips in the set piece but Forest deal with it without too much trouble.

Nottm Forest 0-2 Man Utd

21:25 , Michael Jones

66 mins: The shot was Gustavo Scarpa’s last involvement for Nottingham Forest as he gets replaced with Jesse Lingard. How badly must Lingard want to score against his old club tonight?

Nottm Forest 0-2 Man Utd

21:22 , Michael Jones

63 mins: Close! Nottingham Forest are really pushing to get themselves on the scoresheet. Serge Aurier gets forward on the right wing and receives the ball. He whips over a deep cross and perfectly picks out Scarpa in the penalty area.

Scarpa hits another volley but Aaron Wan-Bissaka is there to turn the ball behind for a corner.

Nottm Forest 0-2 Man Utd

21:19 , Michael Jones

60 mins: Chance! If there’s a Nottingham Forest player who deserves to score tonight then it’s Morgan Gibbs-White. He takes the ball off Casemiro and immediately puts United on the back foot.

The defenders drop away from him as he brings the ball to the edge of the box and laces a left-footed effort over the far top corner!

Nottm Forest 0-2 Man Utd

21:15 , Michael Jones

57 mins: Close! Scarpa dinks the ball inside of Antony before curling a shot into the middle of the box. Lindelof deals with the initial ball but his clearance drops to Gibbs-White who scuttles a low shot at goal that David De Gea easily keeps out.

Marcus Rashford is now replaced with Alejandro Garnacho for Man Utd. His job is done for the night.

Nottm Forest 0-2 Man Utd

21:12 , Michael Jones

54 mins: Better pressure from Nottingham Forest. Brennan Johnson forces a last ditch tackle and clearance out of Victor Lindelof after United get bullied in midfield.

Danilo then takes a shot from range but tries to place one in the corner and David De Gea has no trouble diving onto and smothering the ball.

Nottm Forest 0-2 Man Utd

21:10 , Michael Jones

51 mins: Rashford links up with Malacia once more as the Man Utd left-back makes another underlapping run to the byline. He flicks a cross back into the middle where it drops to Bruno Fernandes.

The Man Utd captain shoots first time but lifts his effort over the crossbar!

Nottm Forest 0-2 Man Utd

21:07 , Michael Jones

48 mins: Chance! Renan Lodi miscontrols the ball deep inside his own half and loses the ball to Wout Weghorst. He pokes a pass into Antony who returns the ball as Weghorst gets into the box.

The forward takes a shot towards the near post but Scott McKenna gets across and keeps out the effort before yelling at his teammates to buck up.

Second half: Nottm Forest 0-2 Man Utd

21:05 , Michael Jones

Nottingham Forest get the match back underway and immediately win themselves an early corner in the second half. Gustavo Scarpa swings in the cross but Bruno Fernandes wins the header and nods it to Antony who completes the clearance.

HT Nottm Forest 0-2 Man Utd

21:03 , Michael Jones

Wout Weghorst’s strike was his first goal for Manchester United. Can the forward add to his tally in the second half?

HT Nottm Forest 0-2 Man Utd

21:01 , Michael Jones

Only Erling Haaland (31) has scored more goals than Marcus Rashford (18) among Premier League players in all competitions this season.

Rashford is riding the wave of this purple patch right now.

HT Nottm Forest 0-2 Man Utd

20:57 , Michael Jones

Marcus Rashford is the first Manchester United player to score 5+ goals in a single League Cup campaign since Carlos Tevez in 2008/09 who banged in six.

HT Nottm Forest 0-2 Man Utd

20:53 , Michael Jones

Rashford and Weghorst both scored in the first half. Will Man Utd add to their tally in the second 45 minutes?

Half-time: Nottm Forest 0-2 Man Utd

20:50 , Michael Jones

45+2 mins: Manchester United head into the break with a two-goal cushion and the echoes of ‘Wembley, Wembley, Wembley’ being chanted by the visiting supporters.

Nottingham Forest will be a bit gutted. They responded brilliantly after Marcus Rashford wonderful opener and had a goal disallowed for offside.

David De Gea was forced into a couple of sharp saves before Wout Weghorst opened his United account to double their lead just before half-time.

GOAL! Nottm Forest 0-2 Man Utd (Weghorst, 45’)⚽️

20:48 , Michael Jones

45 mins: That will settle the nerves! Antony moves into the middle of the pitch, receives the ball then lays it off to Casemiro who carries it up the pitch.

He slides the ball back to Antony on the edge of the box with the winger drilling a shot straight at goal. Wayne Hennessey drops low and keeps out the shot but the rebound bobbles into Wout Weghorst who is the first to react.

He lifts the ball over the sprawled goalkeeper from the edge of the six yard box and puts United two goals to the good!

Nottm Forest 0-1 Man Utd

20:44 , Michael Jones

42 mins: Antony fizzes the ball up to Weghorst who flicks it round the corner to send Fernandes free on the right wing. He brings the ball to the edge of the box and whips a cross over to the back post with the outside of his boot.

Marcus Rashford breaks free of his marker but the ball drops over his head and bounces away to cut short the attack.

Nottm Forest 0-1 Man Utd

20:43 , Michael Jones

39 mins: Manchester United have wrestled back control of the game. For 10-15 minutes there things were almost end-to-end with Forest looking threating on the break.

The visitors are maintaining possession and looking for their opportunity to get it into the box.

Nottm Forest 0-1 Man Utd

20:39 , Michael Jones

36 mins: Brennan Johnson is a quick one. Whenever he gets the ball on the right wing for Forest he turns and flies towards the box. Malacia isn’t having the best of nights against him but so far Johnson’s clinical edge has been lacking.

Nottm Forest 0-1 Man Utd

20:36 , Michael Jones

33 mins: Save! Lovely passing from Man Utd as Antony brings the ball through the middle of Forest’s half and finds Fernandes. He lays it off to Weghorst who flicks it into the box to match Antony’s continuing run.

The winger then sends a low shot back across goal but Hennessey gets out quickly and blocks the effort easily enough! Solid goalkeeping from the Forest man.

Nottm Forest 0-1 Man Utd

20:33 , Michael Jones

30 mins: The momentum of this match is fully swinging Nottingham Forest’s way. Morgan Gibbs-White does brilliantly in midfield to shift the ball away from Marcus Rashford before sliding the ball up to Brennan Johnson.

Johnson weaves his way past Christian Eriksen and Tyrell Malacia before leaning back on his shot from range and blasting it high and wide!

Nottm Forest 0-1 Man Utd

20:29 , Michael Jones

27 mins: They may not be level but the confidence has been injected into the Nottingham Forest side. A cross comes into the box from the left and David De Gea punches it away.

It drops to where Gustavo Scarpa is positioned on the edge of the box and he volleys a side-footed effort back at goal. De Gea spots it in time and leaps to his left to make a diving effort that palms the ball clear!

NO GOAL! Nottm Forest 0-1 Man Utd

20:26 , Michael Jones

24 mins: No they’re not level! VAR takes a look at the replay and Surridge starts his run too early and just strays offside.

There are boos from the home fans as the goal gets chalked off.

GOAL! Nottm Forest 1-1 Man Utd (Surridge, 23’)⚽️

20:25 , Michael Jones

23 mins: From nowhere! A lightning quick counter-attack from the home side sees them sweep up the pitch with Morgan Gibbs-White driving the ball through the middle.

He sends the ball over to Sam Surridge who takes it into the box and blasts a beautiful finish into the far corner!

Forest are level!

Nottm Forest 0-1 Man Utd

20:24 , Michael Jones

20 mins: Forest win another corner and manage to work the ball into striking distance this time though the effort gets charged down and United transition quickly into a counter attack.

Casemiro finds Rashford out on the wing once more and the goalscorer bombs up the pitch. He slips a pass into the box as Tyrell Malacia makes an underlapping run.

Serge Aurier beats him to the ball and marshalls it to the byline before drawing a foul from the defender.

Nottm Forest 0-1 Man Utd

20:21 , Michael Jones

17 mins: Nottingham Forest are keeping a tight shape and pressing when the opportunity comes knocking as Man Utd look to play out from the back.

The strikers don’t overcommit and they’re making it tricky for the visitors to play through midfield.

Victor Lindelof floats a long ball forward that Antony flicks on for Wout Weghorst but the Dutch forward is beaten to the ball by Renan Lodi who calmly sends it back to Wayne Hennessey.

Nottm Forest 0-1 Man Utd

20:15 , Michael Jones

14 mins: Chance! Manchester United are running rings around Nottingham Forest at the minute. Christian Eriksen is given the ball on the inside left channel and he swiftly darts inside before sending the ball to Bruno Fernandes.

Antony is the extra man in the attack and is played into the right side of the box. The Brazilian rolls the ball onto his left foot and shoots but fizzes his effort over the far corner of the goal.

Nottm Forest 0-1 Man Utd

20:12 , Michael Jones

11 mins: Sam Surridge makes a sharp run into the back from the left and is fed the ball. His square pass is blocked and bounces behind for a corner - the first of the game.

Forest send the ball short and work it to Gustavo Scarpa but his delivery into the box is poor and United work the ball away.

Nottm Forest 0-1 Man Utd

20:10 , Michael Jones

9 mins: That goal is Marcus Rashford’s fifth in the Carabao Cup this season. He’s scored in every round for Man Utd so far and continues his impressive form.

The visitors have banished all thoughts of that defeat to Arsenal last weekend and have started brilliantly. Forest have been a little slow and tentative so far.

GOAL! Nottm Forest 0-1 Man Utd (Rashford, 6’)⚽️

20:08 , Michael Jones

6 mins: Who else? What a brilliant run from Marcus Rashford.

Casemiro sends him the ball on the left wing and Rashford dinks the ball past Serge Aurier before flying down the line. He cuts inside and works the ball between Joe Worrall and Remo Freuler before smoking home and fine strike to beat Wayne Hennessey at the near post!

Nottm Forest 0-0 Man Utd

20:05 , Michael Jones

3 mins: Close! A pass back to Joe Worrall is terribly controlled by the centre-back which allows Bruno Fernandes to nick possession inside the Forest box.

He slides a pass into the six yard area but Scott McKenna is covering and boots the ball clear. That could have been an embarrassing mistake for the Nottingham Forest captain.

Kick off: Nottm Forest 0-0 Man Utd

20:02 , Michael Jones

Manchester United get the ball rolling for this Carabao Cup semi-final first leg. They send the ball to Christian Eriksen who makes a run down the left channel and looks to feed the ball up to Marcus Rashford on the wing but overhits his pass.

Nottm Forest vs Man Utd

19:58 , Michael Jones

Here come the teams! Joe Worrall leads out the home side with Bruno Fernandes captaining Manchester United once again.

There’s a fantastic atmosphere at the City Ground. The place is buzzing. Forest will believe that they can win this game at home and put all the pressure on United for the second leg.

Kick off is up next.

Rashford flying high

19:53 , Michael Jones

Marcus Rashford has scored nine goals in all competitions since the World Cup finished, the most of any player in Europe’s big five leagues.

The unstoppable, the unfit and the unconvincing: Man Utd’s three mismatched musketeers

19:49 , Michael Jones

They are the unstoppable, the unfit and the unconvincing. Erik ten Hag’s first-choice forward line consists of a trio of very different parts, of one at the peak of form and fitness, another who plays too infrequently and a third who does not play well often enough; for outsiders’ liking, if not necessarily Ten Hag’s, anyway.

His preferred attack, even before Manchester United and Cristiano Ronaldo parted ways, is formed of Marcus Rashford, Anthony Martial and Antony.

The first semi-final of the new regime will occur without the oft-sidelined Frenchman, who will miss a third successive game since the Manchester derby, who has not played 90 minutes in a competitive match under Ten Hag and yet who, since some auspicious displays in pre-season, has convinced the Dutchman he has qualities he wants to lead the line.

The unstoppable, the unfit and the unconvincing: Man Utd’s three attacking musketeers

Man Utd’s route to semi-final

19:44 , Michael Jones

Manchester United have had an easier time of things in this competition. As they’re playing in Europe this season they entered the competition at the third round stage.

Anthony Martial, Marcus Rashford, Bruno Fernandes and Scott McTominay all scored in a 4-2 victory over Aston Villa at Old Trafford.

Rashford was on the scoresheet once again when the Red Devils defeated Championship leaders Burnley 2-0 in the fourth round before completing his record of scoring in each league cup game this year but bagging a brace in the quarter-final against Charlton.

Rashford score two that night with Antony also chipping in with a goal.

Forest’s route to semi-finals

19:40 , Michael Jones

Nottingham Forest entered the Carabao Cup at the second round stage and were drawn at home to face Grimsby. Ryan Yates and Sam Surridge (2) both got on the scoresheet in a 3-0 win.

The third round saw Forest host Tottenham with Renan Lodi and Jesse Lingard taking them past the tricky encounter to set up a fourth round tie against Blackburn.

Forest were successful once again with Brennan Johnson (2), Taiwo Awoniyi and Lingard again scoring in the 4-1 win away from home.

The quarter-final saw Forest sneak past Wolves after the teams drew 1-1 following the 90 minutes. The fixture went to a penalty shootout with Forest winning 4-3.

Ten Hag on winning trophies and playing at the City Ground

19:35 , Michael Jones

Manchester United’s head coach, Erik ten Hag, says he want the club to get back to winning trophies and has targeted the Carabao Cup as a potential trophy that United can win this year.

That much is clear by United’s starting XI tonight but the boss spoke about what he is expecting from tonight’s match.

“It’s about that, it’s about winning trophies.” said Ten Hag,

“We have a good opportunity, but we have to go from game to game. So now we play Forest, two legs, so focus on the first leg and don’t think further ahead because that will distract. So, the only aim for tomorrow is win that game.“Well, it’s a long time ago that United played there. But I think we like that, a fanatical audience, it’s nice to play for. It will be a good atmosphere, I think that will motivate the players and we have to get ready for that.”

Nottm Forest vs Man Utd

19:30 , Michael Jones

Manchester United are in the house. They are the favourites to win the competition this season but can Erik ten Hag’s men live up to their hype?

United have lost just one game out of their previous 11 in all competitions however that defeat came last time out against Arsenal in the Premier League.

Nottm Forest vs Man Utd

19:25 , Michael Jones

Manchester United are playing their first game at the City Ground since 1999. That last visit resulted in an 8-1 victory for the Red Devils.

Can the visitors get another win under their belts tonight?

Marcus Rashford’s importance to Manchester United is not lost on Erik ten Hag

19:20 , Michael Jones

Erik ten Hag believes Marcus Rashford is in the “best place” to realise his ambitions as the Manchester United boss looks to construct a team that can conquer England and Europe.

The Old Trafford giants are synonymous with silverware but have only won three major trophies since Sir Alex Ferguson bowed out as a Premier League champion in 2013.

United have floundered for much of that time and are in the midst of their worst trophy drought in 40 years, having failed to land silverware since lifting the Europa League aloft in 2017.

Marcus Rashford’s importance to Manchester United is not lost on Erik ten Hag

Cooper says players are aware of importance of tonight’s game

19:15 , Michael Jones

"We’re really pleased to put the club on this stage again and we just want to make sure we do ourselves justice," said Nottingham Forest boss Steve Cooper in the build-up to tonight’s Carabao Cup semi-final against Manchester United.

"Even before this round, we have been very clear about the club’s history in this competition to the players.

"We showed them the history, and I know it was a fairly long time ago, but that’s why supporters will get excited about this tournament, why they will put big importance on it. The players are aware."

Nottm Forest vs Man Utd team changes

19:10 , Michael Jones

Steve Cooper makes four changes to the Nottingham Forest side that started in the 1-1 draw with Wolves last time out in the Carabao Cup.

Goalkeeper Dean Henderson is ineligible to play so gets replaced with Wayne Hennessey. Sam Surridge, Scott McKenna and Danilo all start too.

Erik ten Hag elects to pick a strong line-up for this semi-final. Eight players who started the previous round match versus Charlton are switched out.

Casemiro returns along with heavy hitters, Bruno Fernandes, David De Gea and Marcus Rashford.

Nottingham Forest vs Manchester United line-ups

19:01 , Michael Jones

Nottingham Forest XI: Hennessey, Aurier, Worrall, McKenna, Lodi, Danilo, Freuler, Scarpa, Gibbs-White, Surridge, Johnson

Manchester United XI: De Gea, Wan-Bissaka, Lindelof, Martinez, Malacia, Casemiro, Eriksen, Antony, Fernandes, Rashford, Weghorst

Nottingham Forest’s League Cup history providing motivation, claims Steve Cooper

18:55 , Michael Jones

Steve Cooper says Nottingham Forest’s history is something those currently at the club embrace and want to use as motivation as they look to create “new moments”.

Forest’s honours list famously features a league title and two European Cup triumphs under Brian Clough, who also oversaw them winning four League Cups.

On Wednesday, they play in the semi-finals of the latter competition for the first time in 31 years, taking on Manchester United at home in the first leg before heading to Old Trafford for the second leg a week later.

Boss Cooper, who last season guided Forest back to the Premier League after a 23-year absence, said when asked how important the club’s history was to him when heading into big games like Wednesday’s: “I think we embrace it.”

Nottingham Forest’s League Cup history providing motivation, claims Steve Cooper

Forest’s league cup history

18:50 , Michael Jones

Nottingham Forest last reached the final of this competition in 1992 where they lost to Manchester United at Wembley.

They head into this game in good form though having lost just two of their last 11 games. That 1992 defeat was the most recent of their six final appearances in a competition they won four times between 1978 and 1990.

Can Forest go on to win it again this year?

Ten Hag wants to bring the winning feeling back to Man Utd

18:45 , Michael Jones

Manchester United boss, Erik ten Hag, wants to bring a ‘winning feeling’ back to the club after the Red Devils have gone almost six years since lifting their last piece of silverware.

"It’s the best feeling," he said. "I had the luck in my career to win some trophies and it’s magnificent, especially for the fans.

"It’s so great and I think the fans here have some experience, especially the older ones. But now it is a period Manchester United didn’t win trophies and it is too long ago.

"We are aware of that fact and we have to do everything to bring a trophy in."

Erik ten Hag tells Marcus Rashford to reject PSG and make Manchester United great again

18:40 , Michael Jones

Erik ten Hag has told Marcus Rashford to reject the chance of a move to Paris Saint-Germain, commit his future to Manchester Untied and help them become the best team in the world.

PSG president Nasser Al-Khelaifi said in December he would like to sign Rashford, particularly on a free transfer next summer. United then triggered a one-year extension to the forward’s contract and are in talks with him about a longer deal.

Manager Ten Hag said his top scorer to remain with the club he supported as a boy and that his tactics are helping Rashford, who has scored nine goals in his last nine games, find the most prolific form of his career,

Erik ten Hag tells Marcus Rashford to reject PSG and make United great again

Cooper on playing in Carabao Cup semi-finals

18:35 , Michael Jones

Nottingham Forest boss Steve Cooper says that tonight’s Carabao Cup semi-final is an ‘occasion to relish’ for his players and the fans.

The manager says that his team will commit themselves over both legs and look to reach the final of a competition that they have a lot of history in.

“It’s a big focus of ours to make it an occasion to relish. We’re proud to get to the latter stages of an important competition and the Club has a good history in it, so we’ve got to do what it takes to do well and do our best to deliver.” said Cooper,

“It’s going to be a tough couple of games, we’re only focused on the first leg at the moment so we have to commit to it and back ourselves otherwise it’ll be even more difficult.

“We need to recognise that these games might not come around too often and we’ve had to work hard to get here. We look forward to it, embrace it and attack it but in our way.

“This Club has a good history in the competition but we want to create more memories for the supporters because it’s our first League Cup semi final for a long time.

“We’ve got to focus on the tie and be ready to give it everything we’ve got.”

Nottingham Forest vs Manchester United prediction

18:30 , Michael Jones

Steve Cooper’s side will take confidence from their penalty shootout win over Wolves in the previous round but they are missing key personnel - not least goalkeeper Dean Henderson who cannot play against his parent club.

Manchester United meanwhile will see this as a competition they can win and Erik ten Hag will not doubt pick a fairly strong starting line-up to ensure his team win this first leg.

Nottingham Forest 1-2 Manchester United.

Nottingham Forest vs Manchester United predicted line-ups

18:25 , Michael Jones

Nottingham Forest XI: Hennessey; Aurier, Worrall, Boly, Lodi; Yates, Freuler, Danilo; Johnson, Gibbs-White, Lingard

Manchester United XI: De Gea; Wan-Bissaka, Maguire, Martinez, Malacia; Casemiro, Fred, Fernandes; Antony, Weghorst, Rashford

What is the early team news?

18:20 , Michael Jones

Forest will be without Dean Henderson, who is out with a thigh injury but could not have played against his parent club anyway.

Chris Wood is cup-tied after already appearing for Newcastle in the competition this season. Taiwo Awoniyi and Moussa Niakhate are among the injury absences.

Casemiro is available again for Manchester United after missing the defeat to Arsenal due to suspension, but Diogo Dalot, Jadon Sancho and Anthony Martial remain out.

How to watch Nottingham Forest vs Man Utd

18:15 , Michael Jones

The match will kick off at 8pm GMT on Wednesday 25 January.

It will be shown live on Sky Sports Main Event and Sky Sports Football, with coverage starting from 7pm.

Nottingham Forest vs Manchester United

16:39 , Michael Jones

Hello and welcome to The Independent’s coverage of tonight’s Carabao Cup semi-final as Nottingham Forest host Manchester United in the first leg.

Forest are hoping to spring a shock on the Red Devils after reaching the last four via a 4-3 penalty shootout win against Wolves. They are unbeaten in three matches across all competitions and will take confidence from being four points clear of the Premier League relegation zone.

In comparison Manchester United will see this as a very winnable competition now that the big guns of Manchester City, Liverpool and Arsenal have all been eliminated. Of the four teams left in the league cup United are the favourites to lift the trophy and Erik ten Hag will be targeting some silverware to cap of his first year at the club and end the Red Devils’ trophyless six year wait.

Marcus Rashford is in fine form and should feature tonight but Forest’s Dean Henderson will miss out as he is not allowed to face his parent club.

We’ll have all the team news, build-up and updates from The City Ground so stick with us throughout the evening.