Hello, and welcome to Sports Mole's live coverage of the EFL Cup encounter between Manchester United and Manchester City.

It's not often that we get treated to two Manchester derbies in just 46 days but that's the case here. Does that take the shine off the occasion? Not one bit! Every clash between the two North-West giants is important - normally for points in the Premier League - but tonight, both teams are wounded animals after a poor run of form.

United have only failed to win one match in a row but it's arguably more damaging than City not emerging victorious in five attempts. We will only find out if there is any lasting effect over the course of the 90 minutes but make no mistake about it - United need a win this evening much more than City.

Anyone, enough of that for now. Let's take a look at the team news which is emerging from Old Trafford.

MANCHESTER UNITED XI: De Gea, Valencia, Rojo, Blind, Shaw, Carrick, Herrera, Mata, Pogba, Rashford, Ibrahimovic

MANCHESTER UNITED SUBSTITUTES: Romero, Darmian, Fellaini, Schneiderlin, Lingard, Depay, Young

MANCHESTER CITY XI: Caballero, Maffeo, Otamendi, Kompany, Clichy, Fernando, Aleix Garcia, Nolito, Jesus Navas, Sane, Iheanacho

MANCHESTER CITY SUBSTITUTES: Gunn, Gundogan, Sterling, Aguero, Adarabioyo, Fernandinho, Kolarov

So then, what do we make of that? Somewhat surprisingly, United have only made the four alterations and they have not rested Ibrahimovic, which many assumed would happen. Marcos Rojo, Luke Shaw, Michael Carrick and Juan Mata are the players to come into the team with Eric Bailly, Chris Smalling, Marouane Fellaini and Jesse Lingard dropping out. Wayne Rooney remains on the sidelines through injury.

As for City, only Vincent Kompany and Leroy Sane keep their places from the weekend but it's still a pretty decent lineup named by Pep Guardiola. It appears that City will revert to four at the back with Pablo Maffeo operating on the right while Aleix Garcia is given an opportunity in midfield. The likes of Ilkay Gundogan, Raheem Sterling and Sergio Aguero all featured on the bench.

Luckily for you, we have more than just the one game on offer this evening. Down at the London Stadium, West Ham United and Chelsea will do battle in what is anticipated to be quite a feisty occasion. You'll got tabs on whatever device you are using - make the most of them by keeping track of that fixture too by clicking here.

You may have noticed that Henrikh Mkhitaryan is not included in the 18-man squad this evening and there's a lot of people unsure why. Ahead of last week's Europa League fixture with Fenerbahce, Jose Mourinho hinted that the Armenian would feature at some stage but for the third game in succession, he is nowhere to be seen. It's hugely disappointing for the club's supporters because there was huge excitement when he made the move from Borussia Dortmund in the summer but he is seemingly far down the pecking order at United and it appears that something significant is going to have to change for him to return to the starting lineup.

HEAD TO HEAD! Tonight's fixture represents the 173rd Manchester derby with United winning 71 of the previous meetings and City emerging victorious on 50 occasions. It's been a while since they last locked horns in the League Cup, however, with their last encounters coming at the semi-final stage in 2009-10 where United prevailed 4-3 on aggregate.

We have already alluded to the fact that these two teams met just six-and-a-half weeks ago in the Premier League and it was City who came out on top through goals from Kevin de Bruyne and Kelechi Iheanacho. Zlatan Ibrahimovic halved the deficit for the home side but the visitors were able to hold on to three precious points.

Back on September 10, Iheanacho was only in the side due to Aguero's suspension but he is picked ahead of the Argentine tonight. With Aguero having failed to score in five games, you could argue it's on merit with the Nigerian forward continuing to impress at every given opportunity. Many of his appearances have come off the bench but he has four goals to his name this season, including the equaliser in the 1-1 draw with Southampton in midweek. His overall record at the Etihad Stadium reads 18 goals in 16 starts and 29 substitute appearances and for a player who only turned 20 earlier this month, that's a sensational return.

There's a certain other youngster in the United side who goes by the name of Marcus Rashford but he hasn't scored in his last four games for the first team. He has been operating on the left flank but while there was plenty of clamour for him to be given more starts, he's arguably had a bigger impact off the substitutes' bench this season. That may be something for Mourinho to think about should he not score tonight.

We are underway in the game in East London. Remember, you have the option of keeping up-to-date with that match by clicking here.

We have just seen a picture of the crowd - or lack of one - at St Mary's for the game between Southampton and Sunderland. No such worries here. It will be a full house inside Old Trafford.

PREDICTION! With both teams lacking in confidence and ruthlessness, we can only see a draw and this game going to extra time. It may take the introduction of a Sterling or an Aguero to decide things in the latter stages. City to win 2-1.

Here comes the two teams to what appears a lively atmosphere for "just" an EFL Cup tie. This could be a reserves cup tie and it would still mean the same to the supporters. Well, maybe not, but you get what I mean...

We are underway at Old Trafford.

CHANCE! United fell behind after 30 seconds on Sunday and they nearly conceded a goal after 68 seconds here. A superb cross from Navas finds Iheanacho no more than a few yards out but he mis-times his diving header and it goes over the crossbar. Should be 1-0.

I'm still trying to work out whether City are playing three at the back or four. It's difficult to tell because they are attempting to squeeze the play every time the ball comes near Ibrahimovic. Kompany is all over the back of him.

Aside from that early Iheanacho chance, we are yet to see any efforts on goal. In fact, I'm not too sure either goalkeeper has touched the ball in open play. City are dominating the possession so far but it's not being kept at the back.

Did Aleix Garcia have claims for a penalty here? He got in front of Carrick and out-muscled the veteran but despite his legs being clipped on the by-line, the referee only ruled for a goal kick.

BOOKING! This is so harsh on Iheanacho. While attempting to make a challenge, he has slipped and upended Blind. It's completely accidental but referee Mike Dean has decided to book him!

After Nolito wins the ball in midfield, City break in numbers but the Spaniard's attempted pass to Clichy lacks pace and Mata is able to track back to clear the ball.

I'm still trying to process that booking for Iheanacho...

We have barely seen anything of United in the final third. They are doing a lot of chasing and attempting to use the flanks to get Rashford and Mata involved but they are yet to get a shot on Caballero's goal.

United finally stick four or five offensive-minded passes together and it ends with Mata winning a free kick just under 30 yards out. Ibrahimovic is standing over it...

It's a terrible effort from the great Swede but it is deflected wide for a corner. The cross from Blind goes all the way to the back post and it evades everyone. That was a waste.

BOOKING! We've already seen the harshest booking of the season. Now we have seen the easiest booking. Valencia goes chasing a ball he is never going to get and he takes out Fernando who beat him to it.

W are through 30 minutes at Old Trafford and the most entertaining moments have revolved around the yellow cards. It's been that kind of game although both teams are giving it everything.

Despite the calibre of players on show, this has been a very low-quality game. Some may be too eager and some are plainly out of form. This game desperately needs a goal but I'm not sure where it is going to come from.

An outstanding through-ball from Ibrahimovic finds Rashford but the young forward is in two minds whether to shoot or to pass and he ends up doing neither as he's dispossessed by Otamendi. United eventually won a corner but it came to nothing.

Back up the other end and City have a similar chance through Iheanacho after being found by Nolito. However, like Rashford, he is indecisive and ends up seeing a shot blocked by Rojo. It's not been his night so far.

This game is finally opening up but the bigger surprise is that Mata has just won two headers in a row. You can see he is desperately looking to prove his worth to Mourinho.

There will be one minute of added-on time.

The half-time whistle goes at Old Trafford and a drab 45 minutes finally comes to an end. City have had the better chances when they have arrived but as the scoreline suggests, it's a very even game. It can only get better in the second half...

The two teams are heading back out. It appears that Aleksandar Kolarov will be replacing Kompany. Not sure if that is pre-planned or if there is an injury.

United get us back underway. Big half coming up.

CHANCE! United should be ahead and City have Caballero to thank for a wonder save. Ibrahimovic deceives Pogba around 30 yards out before playing in Pogba and it appears likely he will find the bottom corner. However, Caballero flings out a hand to tip the ball onto the post and it rebounds clear.

Before that, Iheanacho had wasted the chance to play Nolito in on goal. He waited too long and his end pass not only lacked pace, his teammate had strayed into an offside position.

United take the lead and Mata is the man who has got it. However, should City have been awarded a foul? Ibrahimovic's ball was intended for Herrera but he decided to shoulder-barge the defender to allow the pass to run through to Mata, who made no mistake from eight yards as he slotted the ball into the bottom corner.

This is the sixth game in a row where City have gone a goal behind. They are yet to overturn the deficit. Might be time to call on the cavalry...

City have definitely not got the rub of the green over the past few minutes. Navas should have been given a free kick after a foul by Shaw and the Spaniard was then unfortunate not to earn a corner.

A two-minute spell of possession for City ends with a 35-yard strike from Kolarov which goes a mile over the crossbar. What a waste of time. On comes Sterling for Sane.

City have only got one more change up their sleeve and it surely has to be Aguero. De Gea hasn't made a save all match. United look more likely to double their lead than City get back on level terms.

Sterling earns a very cheap free kick on the edge of the area but it's enough to give Kolarov a chance from 30 yards. Can he find a bit of magic in that left boot?

The only positive from that abysmal attempt is that he was marginally closer than his previous effort. Very poor from the Serbian. It's Aguero time as he replaces Nolito.

SUBSTITUTION! Mourinho finally makes his first move on the bench and replaces Mata with Morgan Schneiderlin, who we have barely seen this season.

United are doing a very good job in helping the clock run down. They are preventing City get anywhere near De Gea's goal and when they do get in possession, they are using it efficiently. The visitors still have 13 minutes to change that, however.

City threw men forward but they soon find themselves turned around as Ibrahimovic releases Rashford down the right. He tries to find the advancing Pogba but the defender gets back to concede a corner.

SUBSTITUTION! Rashford has put in another good shift but it's time for a rest as Lingard comes on. Nine minutes to go at Old Trafford.

The visitors are pushing and probing but still they await their first shot on target. Rojo and Blind get criticised at times but they have been solid tonight. They have done everything asked of them by Mourinho.

As we enter what could prove to be the closing stages, a quick word for City's two youngsters Maffeo and Garcia - they have arguably been two of the better players. Garcia hasn't looked out of place against Carrick, Herrera and Pogba.

There will be four minutes of added-on time.

BOOKINGS! Pogba goes into the book for a rash challenge on Maffeo and Ibrahimovic follows him for attempting to waste some time. Both needless.

The full-time whistle goes at Old Trafford and United comfortably hold on for a narrow 1-0 win over their City rivals, who ended the match without registering a shot on target. It's the first time that has happened since April 2012.

That will be all from Sports Mole this evening but please stick with us. We have the reports from the other two EFL Cup clashes on our homepage and the draw for the quarter-finals is coming right up! Goodbye for now.