Carabao Cup final: Manchester United's road to Wembley

Manchester United will face Newcastle at Wembley in this season's Carabao Cup final on Sunday.

The Red Devils last won this competition back in 2017, when they beat Southampton 3-2 in a dramatic final. 

Jose Mourinho’s side also landed the Europa League that season, but the club have not seen any trophies brought back to Old Trafford since.

In total, they have contested nine League Cup finals, winning five and losing four, with only Liverpool (nine) and Manchester City (eight) having been victorious on more occasions. 

Ahead of United’s showdown with the Magpies, we take a look at their road to Wembley. 

Third round: Manchester United 4-2 Aston Villa

Just four days after losing 3-1 at Villa Park in the Premier League, Erik ten Hag’s team were given the chance of exacting revenge.

It was United’s final home game before the season went on pause for the World Cup and their fans witnessed a goalless first half, only for the match to explode into life after the break. 

Ollie Watkins gave Aston Villa the lead soon after the restart. Anthony Martial equalised within seconds, but an own goal from Diogo Dalot restored the visitors’ advantage. 

Marcus Rashford then scored his side's second equaliser of the night, before Bruno Fernandes put the hosts ahead for the first time in the match with just 12 minutes remaining. 

An injury-time goal from Scott McTominay settled the tie once and for all.

Fourth round: Manchester United 2-0 Burnley

In their first game back after the World Cup, United faced a Burnley side that were top of the Championship and had already had some match practice in the tank.

Christian Eriksen scored his second goal for the club to settle any nerves after 27 minutes, having opened his Red Devils account against Fulham in the final match before the season hiatus. 

Rashford was superb for England at the World Cup and he brought his form back to his club, with a stunning solo goal which saw him run with the ball from within his own half. 

In the end, United made light work of what could have been a real banana skin.

Quarter-final: Manchester United 3-0 Charlton

United’s run of home cup draws continued when they welcomed League One outfit Charlton to Old Trafford. 

When Antony gave the hosts the lead in the 21st minute, it looked likely that they would win comfortably but the plucky Londoners stood firm.

Rashford scored twice in stoppage time to inflate the scoreline in what was the sixth successive match in which the forward had found the net. 

Semi-final first leg: Nottingham Forest 0-3 Manchester United

Manchester United’s first away match in their cup run came in the first leg of their semi-final, when they travelled to the City Ground to take on Nottingham Forest. 

The Red Devils got off to a flying start, with Rashford once again proving to be their cup talisman. With just six minutes on the clock, the forward carried the ball for 50 yards before converting in ruthless fashion.

Then, on the brink of half-time, January signing Wout Weghorst scored his first goal for the club to double United’s lead. 

The visitors kept pushing for a third to effectively kill the tie and Fernandes managed to score in the 89th minute to put a return to Wembley within sight. 

Semi-final second leg: Manchester United 2-0 Nottingham Forest

It would have been a huge shock if Forest had been able to get themselves back into the tie and Manchester United made sure that there was no chance of that with a dominant second-leg performance.

Second-half goals from Martial and Fred gave United a resounding 5-0 aggregate victory. 

As a result, they booked an appearance at the national stadium against Newcastle, in which Ten Hag can potentially secure the first trophy of his brief reign and end the club's six-year wait for silverware.