Carabao Cup

It's Carabao Cup semi-final time — Newcastle and Manchester United are the favourites to progress but can their opponents spring a surprise?

[Casemiro](https://theathletic.com/football/player/casemiro-wQ6Q8xViV8kqizDc/) was forced out of the defeat by [Arsenal](https://theathletic.com/football/team/arsenal/) with a one-match Premier League ban so he will be available for selection again on Wednesday evening. [Dean Henderson](https://theathletic.com/football/player/dean-henderson-ykbiJB1KvfXx9KDL/) who was the hero of the quarter-final having saved two penalties from [Ruben Neves](https://theathletic.com/football/player/ruben-neves-EPq8p3htT12DEefc/) and Joe Hodge. Whereas, by keeping the semi-finals at the stadiums of the involved teams, it represents a financial gain rather than a loss. January and February are typically busy months in the English football calendar. Using Wembley for Carabao Cup semi-finals would make the two competitions far too similar. [Sam Surridge](https://theathletic.com/football/player/sam-surridge-uWCVjxahGtG1gBzZ/), who scored an equaliser for Forest at Bournemouth, could start. For the first six years of the competition’s lifetime, the final was two-legged. After beating lower-league opposition in the last two rounds, the semi-final poses a different challenge for Erik ten Hag and his players. A cup run might sometimes be seen as a distraction but it has helped continue to build momentum for Eddie Howe’s side. No one gave Nathan Jones’ side a chance in the quarter-final, yet they managed to beat Manchester City 2-0 and didn’t concede a shot on target. They go into Tuesday’s first leg bottom of the Premier League and in danger of relegation after 11 years at the top level. On Tuesday, St Mary’s hosts the first of the semi-finals.

The lowdown on Southampton v Newcastle and Nottingham Forest v Manchester United.

The winger, who has not featured since a 1-1 draw with Chelsea in October, is still some way short of fitness and was not included in United’s matchday squad at Arsenal at the weekend, so this game may be too soon for him. However, one of those defeats was [a 3-0 loss to Manchester United](https://www.theguardian.com/football/2022/dec/27/manchester-united-nottingham-forest-premier-league-match-report), their opponents in this semi-final. [Forest beat Wolves in a penalty shootout](https://www.theguardian.com/football/2023/jan/11/nottingham-forest-wolves-carabao-cup-quarter-final-match-report) in the quarter-finals. United are in the middle of a hectic run of fixtures, so Ten Hag may bring in a few squad players. Aaron Wan-Bissaka should also keep his spot at right-back in the absence of Diogo Dalot, while Harry Maguire may be handed a rare start at the heart of the defence alongside Lisandro Martínez. [a 1-1 draw at Bournemouth](https://www.theguardian.com/football/2023/jan/21/bournemouth-nottingham-forest-premier-league-match-repor) on Saturday, which gives them a record of just two defeats in their last 11 games. [Southampton’s three-game winning streak to an end](https://www.theguardian.com/football/2023/jan/21/southampton-aston-villa-premier-league-match-report). Newcastle have not won a major domestic trophy since 1955 – and they have never won the League Cup – so this semi-final is huge for Howe and his team. Claude Puel led the club to the [League Cup final in 2017](https://www.theguardian.com/football/2017/feb/26/manchester-united-southampton-efl-cup-final-match-report), when they were beaten 3-2 by Manchester United. [Southampton beat Manchester City in the quarter-finals](https://www.theguardian.com/football/2023/jan/11/southampton-manchester-city-carabao-cup-quarter-final-match-report) in some style and Jones will be looking for a similar performance when Newcastle visit St Mary’s in the first leg of this semi-final. James Ward-Prowse has impressed in a more advanced role for Southampton recently and should continue to play behind Che Adams, the joint-top scorer in the competition this season with four goals. The Brazilian will need to be at his very best to keep the Newcastle left flank at bay.

Follow Sportsmail's live blog for the Carabao Cup semi-final first-leg clash between Southampton and Newcastle.

Mary's - with a poor result at home tonight hardly likely to help with that. Trippier now over the ball... Mislav Orsic is an interesting signing. Nothing in that one at all. Reminder, that's only half-time in the cup clash, with St. Still a brilliant tempo to this one, and plenty of battling for possession in the middle of the park. He sets it off to Willock on the edge of the box on the left, but he skies his effort. He's up on his knees but the medics have been called on as a healthy precaution, and he's quickly up on his feet and ready to continue. Joelinton has it in the back of the net and he is convinced that he's scored, but it's not given - there's a hint of a handball in the process. VAR rules it out! It's a really good ball and Adams gets on the end of it, but it's a fantastic stop from Pope down to his left to keep it out! He had done brilliantly to get up after going down on the edge of the box and race into space in the penalty area and get on the end of the cross back in, but it looks to have bounced off his hand on the way to the goal.