Update: Teams are out for the game. Here's how they line-up;
Sunderland: Mannone, Bardsley, O'Shea, Brown, Alonso, Larsson, Cattermole, Ki, Borini, Fletcher, Giaccherini. Subs: Gardner, Johnson, Celustka, Colback, Altidore, Ji, Dixon. Man Utd: De Gea, Rafael Da Silva, Vidic, Evans, Evra, Carrick, Cleverley, Valencia, Giggs, Januzaj, Welbeck. Subs: Smalling, Lindegaard, Hernandez, Fletcher, Kagawa, Buttner, Zaha.
Date: Tuesday 7th January Competition: Capital One Cup Venue: Stadium of Light Kick-Off: 19:45 Sunderland will be looking to put their poor league form behind them yet again to concentrate on their impressive cup form, this time with a potential trip to Wembley at stake as they face Manchester United in the first leg of the Capital One Cup semi-final. Sunderland have won all of their cup games this season (including after extra time) and all five so far in both the Capital One Cup and FA Cup have come at the Stadium of Light. David Moyes has his own problems at the minute, and this could be his only realistic chance of a trophy this season after his side were dumped out of the FA Cup on Sunday by Swansea City. Sunderland will more than likely need a good result at home ahead of the second leg at Old Trafford in a fortnight's time. Former Red Devil Wes Brown spoke ahead of the clash:
"We're at home and we know what we can do. We have to play well, and if we do that then definitely anything can happen in a cup game. We're looking forward to it. "We need to be up for it and I'm sure we will be," he added. "We know what a good side Manchester United can be, but we have to do what we know we can. "We've played a lot of big clubs at home and done well and have to take that into the game." (SAFC.com)
Team News Sunderland are short in defence, with centre halves John O'Shea, Carlos Cuellar, Modibo Diakite and Valentin Roberge all injured. Poyet partnered Wes Brown with Ki Sung Yeung in the 3-1 FA Cup win over Carlisle United and won't have much option but to field the same again on Tuesday. Rio Ferdinand limped off against Swansea City on Sunday and is a doubt, while Phil Jones, Wayne Rooney and Robin Van Persie also remain doubtful. Fabio is suspended following his red card at the weekend. Cup RecordSunderland: One final appearance (Runners Up) Man United: Eight final appearances (Four time winners) Stats Sunderland have gone 20 games without a win against Manchester United in all competitions. United's last defeat on Wearside was a 2-1 League Cup defeat after extra-time at the Stadium of Light in November 2000. David Moyes' United side won 2-1 at Sunderland in October's Premier League encounter. Sunderland have only reached the final of the League Cup on one occasion, losing 1-0 to Norwich City at Wembley in 1985. The last time the Black Cats made it to the semi-finals was in the 1998-99 season, where they lost to Leicester City over two-legs. Gus Poyet's side have won all five of their home ties in both League Cup and FA Cup this season, with four of those inside 90 minutes. The Wearsiders have had nine different goalscorers for their 10 LC goals - only Connor Wickham (on loan at Sheffield Wednesday) has managed more than one goal. Manchester United are yet to concede a goal in their three League Cup ties so far. All of the Red Devils' cup scalps have come against Premier League opposition - Liverpool, Norwich and Stoke. Three of Javier Hernandez's five goals this season have come in the League Cup. (BBC Sport)Likely Line-UpsSunderland: Mannone, Celustka, Brown, Ki, Dossena, Giaccherini, Colback, Larsson, Johnson, Borini, Fletcher Manchester United: De Gea, Smalling, Evans, Rafael, Buttner, Nani, Fletcher, Cleverley, Januzaj, Zaha, Hernandez Prediction Sunderland 1-3 Manchester United
Joseph is a sports journalist, who has previously worked for Sky Sports News, Soccer Saturday, UEFA's coverage of the Champions League and Europa League and The London 2012 Olympic Games, as well as football clubs such as FC Halifax Town, Corby Town and Crystal Palace FC.
