Liverpool FC great Jamie Carragher gives verdict on John Stones revival at Man City

straight to your inboxHard work is the key to Manchester City's newest defensive partnership, John Stones says.Stones has struck up a surprising partnership with summer signing Ruben Dias, establishing himself as first choice in Pep Guardiola's defence ahead of Aymeric Laporte, Nathan Ake and Fernandinho. The pair were superb in City's Carabao Cup semi-final win at Manchester United on Wednesday, with Stones scoring the first goal in a 2-0 win and Dias earning the Man of the Match award.

direct to your inboxManchester City have secured their annual spot in the Carabao Cup final, after beating Manchester United 2-0 at Old Trafford.City, in search of their fourth consecutive trophy in the competition, earned bragging rights after second half goals from John Stones and Fernandinho. Meanwhile for United, and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer in particular, it represents a fourth semi-final defeat under the Norwegian, reigniting the pressure that had been quelled in recent weeks.

straight to your inboxKyle Walker, Gabriel Jesus and Sergio Aguero will all have to be assessed in training before Pep Guardiola will decide when he can turn to his players again. Manchester City progressed to the Carabao Cup final for a fourth year in a row by beating neighbours United at Old Trafford with goals from John Stones and Fernandinho in a 2-0 win.

straight to your inboxGary Neville and Gary Lineker were among those to heap praise upon John Stones after he opened the scoring for Manchester City in the Carabao Cup semi-final against Manchester United.City sealed a spot against Tottenham in April's final at Wembley as they aim for a fourth-consecutive campaign lifting the trophy, and took the lead through Stomnes early in the second half at Old Trafford.

straight to your inbox every day for freeJamie Carragher believes Manchester United are a serious threat to Liverpool's hopes of retaining the Premier League title this season.Liverpool ended 2020 on top of the table but with United only three points behind in second place, and with a game in hand. While the Reds ended a 30-year wait for a league title last season, United were last crowned champions of England in 2013.

straight to your inboxBarcelona presidential candidate Joan Laporta is confident Lionel Messi will remain at the club beyond next summer despite interest from Manchester City.Messi dropped a bombshell in the summer by revealing he was seriously unhappy at the club, submitting a transfer request in the hope the club would allow him to leave for nothing.Barcelona insisted the release clause that would see Messi depart on a free had expired and the Argentine opted against fighting his current

straight to your inbox every day for freeGary Neville and Jamie Carragher both predict Manchester United will finish the Premier League season inside the top four.Ole Gunnar Solskjaer 's side sit third in the table at Christmas with a game in hand following their 6-2 drubbing of Leeds United at the weekend.

straight to your inbox every day for freeGary Neville and Jamie Carragher both hailed the way Bruno Fernandes has transformed Manchester United.Fernandes joined United from Sporting Lisbon at the end of January - and quickly established himself as a key man in Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's side. The attacking midfielder has scored 17 goals and provided 12 assists in only 27 Premier League appearances.

straight to your inboxPep Guardiola suggests that John Stones is the perfect partner for new signing Ruben Dias.The Manchester City manager added Dias to his defensive ranks from Benfica in the summer for a club record fee, offset by Nicolas Otamendi moving the other way.