Source: TheGuardian
Manchester City v Burton Albion: Carabao Cup semi-final – live!
Latest updates from the first leg at the Etihad StadiumGuardiola denies leaving grass long to foil LiverpoolGary Crosby: ‘Sir Alex called and told me what a mistake I’d made’And why not email Jacob or tweet @JacobSteinberg 6.52pm GMT Manchester City: Muric; Walker, Otamendi, Garcia, Zinchenko; Gundogan; Mahrez, Silva De Bruyne, Sane; Jesus. Subs: Ederson, Danilo, Stones, Sterling, Delph, Bernardo, Foden.Burton Albion: Collins; Brayford, Buxton, Turner, Hutchinson; Wallace, Allen, Fraser, Harness; Boyce, Akins. Subs: Bywater, McFadzean, Sbarra, Templeton, Fox, McCrory, Miller. 5.28pm GMT Hello. Not to sound too pessimistic about Burton Albion’s chances here, but it’s difficult to look past Manchester City warming up for this League Cup semi-final by walloping Rotherham 7-0. Seems there’s no such thing as a day off in Pep Guardiola’s world. City’s manager could, of course, have shown that he is bigger fish to fry than the quaint old FA Cup by starting himself and Mikel Arteta in midfield against Rotherham. Instead he picked a side full of stars, three days after City’s draining win over Liverpool in the Premier League, and watched as they showed absolutely no mercy against their Championship opponents. “I’m pleased the final whistle came,” said Paul Warne, Rotherham’s shellshocked manager – and Nigel Clough can only hope he isn’t feeling the same way in few hours. Poor Burton. You wait your entire existence to reach the last four of a major cup competition and then you get drawn against this lot. Burton are ninth in League One and, being brutally honest, they probably don’t stand much of a chance of making it to Wembley for next month’s final. Whereas Clough’s side are ninth in League One, City’s current second string involves Kevin de Bruyne, Ilkay Gundogan, Gabriel Jesus and Riyad Mahrez. Conclusion: the odds are ever so slightly stacked against the underdogs. Continue reading......read full article
