Manchester United 1-3 Manchester City: 3 Reasons Why Red Devils were hammered at home in the derby | Carabao Cup 2019-20

1. City's first-half blitzkrieg handed them the initiative

Manchester City effectively sealed the game in a rampant first-half performance

The last meeting between the two sides produced one of the headline results of the Premier League season, as Manchester United registered a stunning 2-0 victory at the Etihad Stadium in December. A damaging defeat against their cross-town rivals came as a massive blow, as the result seemingly handed Liverpool the initiative in the title race and Guardiola's side visited Old Trafford to set things right against their arch-rivals.

Despite playing away from home, the Cityzens gained ascendency from the opening exchanges and started the game with the swagger that one would associate with a Pep Guardiola side. A whirlwind 22-minute spell in the first half not only handed them a three-goal cushion but also put the visitors in pole position to reach yet another League Cup final. Marcus Rashford's second-half strike gives the Red Devils a glimmer of hope for the second leg but City look well equipped to secure qualification, after a stunning performance away from home.

Manchester United had no answers to the away side's brilliance, as they were carved open with relative ease by a team that kept growing in stature in the first half. Solskjaer's side were left with a mountain to climb after the interval and City's dominance in the first 45 minutes effectively won the game for them.