TV pundit Michael Owen has warned Manchester City that they will need to be careful when they come up against Manchester United in the Carabao Cup semi-final this evening.

The Citizens lost 2-1 against their rivals at home in the league fixture earlier this season and Owen thinks manager Pep Guardiola may play it safe tonight with the team 3-1 up from the first leg:

“City were picked off on the break by United in the league game, but it would not surprise me if they played a more conservative game given they don’t have to make the running – although that is alien to Pep Guardiola’s footballing philosophy.”

The former Liverpool and Manchester United forward still thinks, though, City will come out on top on the night and progress to the final:

“It promises to be another wonderful occasion between these two footballing giants – but I feel it will be City who win the tie”

Owen is right that United managed to pick off City in the first half of their league encounter last month, but with Marcus Rashford missing with a back injury, their opponents will be without their most potent attacking weapon.

With that being the case, you would expect the home side to progress at the Etihad this evening, although it may not be as straightforward as some pundits have been predicting.