The English Football League Cup has thrown up some memorable ties over the years, but it’s been a long time since we’ve seen a draw quite like this. We’ve got a London derby, a Manchester derby and a number of other mouth-watering fixtures to get stuck into.
On Tuesday, Arsene Wenger’s Arsenal entertain Championship side Reading, Leeds United face Norwich City, and Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool and Mauricio Pochettino’s Tottenham Hotspur meet at Anfield. That latter clash is hugely interesting given both sides favour a high press, both have outside title aspirations and both will feel they can land a top four finish in the league.
Meanwhile, on Wednesday, there’s the small matter of the West Ham United v Chelsea encounter at the London Stadium, as well as the Manchester derby at Old Trafford. East v west in London, red v blue in Manchester, sides united by the dislike of each other! There’s also another all-Premier League tie, as David Moyes takes his Sunderland side to St Mary’s to face an in-form Southampton. Defeat for the Black Cats would edge Moyes closer to the sack but how seriously will he take this game given he has already said his troops are in a relegation battle?
- Arsenal v Reading – Arsenal to Win and Both Teams to Score (33/20 at Coral)
- Liverpool v Tottenham Hotspur – Liverpool to Win (5/6 at Betfred)
- Southampton v Sunderland – Southampton to Win -1 (13/10 at Coral)
- West Ham United v Chelsea – West Ham United to Win (16/5 at Bet365)
- Manchester United v Manchester City – Manchester City to Win to Nil (15/4 at Ladbrokes)
EFL Cup
We’ve already seen some cracking matches in this year’s EFL Cup, and the Round of 16 ties promise to throw up even more thrills and spills. At present, Arsenal and Liverpool are the joint favourites to lift this famous old trophy in February, but that will all change by 10pm on Wednesday night. Stand by for a potential rollercoaster couple of nights of League Cup action as the first silverware to be awarded of the season builds towards its winter climax.
Arsenal v Reading – 25th October
We kick things off at the Emirates Stadium where Arsene Wenger’s Arsenal entertain former Man United defender Jaap Stam’s Reading on Tuesday night. These two have had some memorable cup meetings over the years, and we’re hoping for more of the same in this one.
The Royals head to north London as the 11/1 underdogs, but they will be looking to give Arsenal a good game on Tuesday. These two last met in the semi final of the 2015 FA Cup, with the Gunners running out narrow 2-1 winners after extra-time. You also may remember a 5-7 League Cup thriller at the Madesjski Stadium back in October 2012, when Theo Walcott hit a hat-trick.
This one may not be as straightforward as some Arsenal fans are anticipating and it is probably also fair to say we won’t see 12 goals! Reading are a very strong Championship outfit these days, and the Gunners will have to be at their best if they want to progress. We can see Arsenal sneaking this, and we like the look of Coral’s decent odds of 33/20 for a home win and both teams to score, with 2-1 or 3-1 worth thinking about if you like a correct score punt.
Arsenal to Win and Both Teams to Score – 33/20 at Ladbrokes
Liverpool v Tottenham Hotspur – 25th October
The biggest game of Tuesday night is no doubt the cracker at Anfield between Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool and Mauricio Pochettino’s Tottenham Hotspur. The Reds may be the slight favourites with the bookies, but this one really could go either way.
These two have already met in Premier League action this season, with the pair playing out an entertaining 1-1 draw at White Hart Lane in August. In fact, the last three meetings between the two have ended in draws. All of that shows just how equal in many regards these teams are. Liverpool, who reached the League Cup final last year only to lose on penalties to Manchester City, will certainly be looking to go far in this competition once again this time around.
Although we’re predicting a tight game to unfold at Anfield, we also feel that home advantage could be the key factor in this tasty looking fixture. Besides, Spurs have not beaten the Reds in any competition since November 2012. Betfred are offering the very tempting odds of 5/6 for Liverpool to come out on top, and we be believe that’s a price well worth having a few quid on.
Liverpool to Win – 5/6 at Betfred
Southampton v Sunderland – 26th October
On Wednesday, Claude Puel’s in-form Southampton welcome David Moyes’ luckless Sunderland to St Mary’s. The Black Cats are having a tough time in the Premier League at present, but can they get some respite this week with a win in the EFL Cup?
Unfortunately for Sunderland, they face a Saints side who have won five and drawn two of their last seven matches in all competitions. However, Moyes’ men did manage to earn a 1-1 draw in a league fixture at St Mary’s back in August.
Puel is really starting to stamp his authority on the south coast, and we can’t see anything other than a comfortable Saints victory on Wednesday. The standout bet in this one is the home side to win -1, which is handsomely priced at 13/10 with Coral. The Mackems aren’t especially potent in front of goal, whilst Saints have been brilliant at the back in recent weeks and so a home win to nil is also another interesting bet at decent odds.
Southampton to Win -1 – 13/10 at Coral
West Ham United v Chelsea – 26th October
Another mouth-watering fixture the EFL Cup draw pulled out is Wednesday’s clash between London rivals West Ham United and Chelsea, which takes place at the London Stadium. In spite of the Hammers’ shocking start to the season, they would love to get the better of their old rivals in this one. We predict a lively atmosphere in the stands to say the least!
These two met on the opening weekend of the season, with Chelsea running out 2-1 winners at Stamford Bridge. However, last term, Slaven Bilic’s West Ham took four points off the Blues. In the last League Cup fixture between the pair, Chelsea beat the Hammers 1-0 at Stamford Bridge way back in October 2004, with Mateja Kezman scoring the only goal of the game.
Of course, league form seems to go out of the window in cup matches, and Chelsea have bigger fish to fry than the EFL Cup this season. Therefore, we’re backing a home win in this one. The best price you can get on a West Ham victory is 16/5 with Bet365 and that’s simply amazing value in a game of this nature.
West Ham United to Win – 16/5 at Bet365
Manchester United v Manchester City – 26th October
The biggest EFL Cup clash of the round comes from Old Trafford, where rivals Manchester United and Manchester City go head-to-head for a place in the quarter finals. Will it be City or United who claim the Manchester bragging rights from this one?
Whenever these two fierce rivals meet, it’s always a blood and thunder type of match. Pep Guardiola’s Man City have already beaten the Red Devils on their own patch this season, as goals from Kevin De Bruyne and Kelechi Iheanacho earned a 2-1 Premier League victory for City back in mid-September. The scoreline was probably flattering to United too, although City seemed to have slipped a little since then.
Jose Mourinho’s United will certainly be out for revenge in Wednesday’s showdown at the Theatre of Dreams, but unfortunately for the Red Devils, we can see City stealing the win. Despite a little slump in form from the Citizens in recent weeks, we still think they will get the better of their rivals for a second time in six weeks. Pep’s troops are 15/4 with Ladbrokes to win to nil, and we believe that’s a price worth having a punt on given United’s attack seems to have stuttered in recent weeks.
Manchester City to Win to Nil – 15/4 at Ladbrokes