EFL Cup Predictions > Jan 12th - 20th

[StevieDay1983]

Here are the odds for the two EFL Cup matches being played this week. First, there is the second leg of the clash between Tottenham and Chelsea. Then we have the first leg of the re-arranged match of Liverpool versus Arsenal. I'll look to get a preview up for each of these games and keen to hear what bets you are all looking at placing! 

[StevieDay1983]

Tottenham vs Chelsea

The second leg of one of the EFL Cup Semi-Finals is set to take place on Wednesday night when rivals Tottenham and Chelsea in a 7:45pm GMT kick-off at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium having contested the first leg at Stamford Bridge last week that saw the reigning Champions League winners seal a 2-0 lead. Can the hosts turn the tie around or do the visitors just have to turn up and go through the motions to progress to the Final?

Tottenham have had to deal with the fallout of Tanguy Ndombele's reaction to being subbed off in their last game. Head coach Antonio Conte has defended the French midfielder but it certainly feels like his time with the club is drawing to a close. There are also rumours that Dele Alli is on the brink of a move away from the London club. In amongst all this, Spurs are having to prepare for this tough tie. Attacker Son Heung-min is ruled out for this game in an additional blow. It's just 1 defeat from their last 10 domestic matches for Tottenham but, unfortunately, that solitary defeat did come in their game with Chelsea.

Chelsea will certainly believe they have one foot in the Final even if Thomas Tuchel is playing their superior position down. The Blues appear to have come through the storm of Romelu Lukaku's Sky Italy interview with the players taking their frustrations out on non-league Chesterfield in a 5-1 home win. There is hope that the experienced duo of N'Golo Kante and Thiago Silva are both fit to be involved after suffering from covid-19. It seems that the club have to just ensure a business-like performance with the team having only once suffered a 2-goal or more defeat under Tuchel's reign and that was a 5-2 loss at home against a relegated West Brom in the league last season.

I was surprised that Tottenham lost in the manner they did against Chelsea in the first leg with Conte now as their manager. It wasn't the type of wilted display you would expect from a team put out and prepared by the Italian. Conte himself has been quite defeatist ahead of this game and he knows his team face a tall order. They might well win narrowly or hold Chelsea to a draw but I can't see them eradicating the deficit.

Tottenham Draw No Bet @ 2.40 with Betfair

Total Goals Scored Under 2.5 @ 1.94 with SBK

[DarrenTse]

Liverpool vs Arsenal

Jan 13 2022, 15:45

Liverpool
The Reds swept Shrewsbury Town 4-1 at home in last weeks FA Cup. This success represent Liverpools only victory in their last five games. The team havent lost at home once since April. Liverpool are now on an eight-match winning streak at Anfield headquarters, only not scoring at least two goals in one of those successes.

Arsenal
Arteta’s side are currently on a two-game losing streak. The most recent defeat came in the FA Cup with a 1-0 away loss to Nottingham Forest. They have lost four of their last six away games. The Gunners advanced to the semi-finals - scoring 16 goals in four victories against West Bromwich Albion, Wimbledon, Leeds United and Sunderland - and have a chance to win the title since 1993.

Prediction
Liverpool have an absolute advantage in the past records with the Gunners. The most recent encounter ended with a 4-0 victory for Liverpool. Arsenals complete lack of midfield presence will be exposed this week by a revamped Liverpool squad.


1X2 Pick: 1
Total: Over 2.5/3 Goals

[StevieDay1983]

Liverpool vs Arsenal

The second tie in the EFL Cup Semi-Finals will see its first leg played in a 7:45pm GMT kick-off on Thursday night when Liverpool play Arsenal at Anfield in game that was supposed to take place last week but was postponed due to an outbreak of covid cases in the Liverpool camp. The club are set to be investigated after it was revealed a large number of those cases were false positives... which is interesting... and convenient! 

Liverpool come into this game missing a large number of key players including Africa Cup of Nations trio Mohamed Salah, Sadio Mane, and Naby Keita plus the likes of Nathanial Phillips, Thiago, Harvey Elliott, and Divock Origi still unavailable. The trio of Alisson, Andrew Robertson, and Trent Alexander-Arnold have all returned to training but it remains to be seen what involvement they'll have in this game. It's no win in 3 league matches for Liverpool now with the Reds dropping down to 3rd in the Premier League table. The 4-1 win at home to Shrewsbury in the FA Cup 3rd Round was comfortable in the end but not without its scare when the underdogs took the lead. 9 of the 14 matches played at Anfield so far this season have seen over 2.5 goals scored.

Arsenal are showing signs of progress under Mikel Arteta but then every time it looks like they are getting back to the golden days they do something silly like get eliminated from the FA Cup 3rd Round by Championship side Nottingham Forest. Oh, Arsenal! The Gunners are still 4th in the top flight of English football and just 180 minutes away from another Wembley appearance under Arteta. The club will be sweating on the fitness of Granit Xhaka, Emile Smith Rowe, and Takehiro Tomiyasu. The loss to Forest followed a gut-wrenching and self-destructive New Year's Day defeat to league leaders Manchester City which means Arsenal are yet to taste victory in 2022. Over 2.5 goals have been scored in 4 of the last 5 matches that Arsenal have been involved in.

This fixture is always delivering goals. There are enough examples of classic matches down the years between these two sides that offer proof of that. Over 2.5 goals have been scored in 7 of the last 9 encounters between these two clubs so I think backing that outcome makes sense. Given Liverpool's potential absentees is this now Arsenal's chance to end Liverpool's unbeaten home record this season? It could be worth a punt.

Arsenal Double Chance @ 2.04 with SBK

Total Goals Scored Over 2.5 @ 1.70 with Sporting Index

[StevieDay1983]

Arsenal vs Liverpool

The second leg of the second EFL Cup Semi-Final is coming up on Thursday night at 7:45pm GMT from the Emirates Stadium as Arsenal and Liverpool go head-to-head for a place in the Final against Chelsea. It's a finely balanced tie with the first leg ending in a tightly fought 0-0 draw at Anfield last week. Who will do enough to progress to the Wembley showpiece later this season?

Arsenal will feel they got away with one in the first leg after playing a portion of the game with just 10 men after Granit Xhaka was stupidly sent off yet again. Not sure how many more chances Mikel Arteta is going to give the calamitous clown. The Gunners are hoping to welcome midfielder Thomas Partey back into the fold with him returning from international duty at the Africa Cup of Nations after Ghana's unceremonious early exit from the tournament. Unfortunately, the trio of Emile Smith Rowe, Martin Odegaard, and cult hero Takehiro Tomiyasu are all doubtful. The North London Derby was controversially postponed after a covid outbreak in the Arsenal camp but they appear to have their players back available now.

Liverpool face a tough challenge after failing to break Arsenal down in the first leg at home. The Reds took their anger out on Brentford in the Premier League on the weekend with a 3-0 win but with a number of players still unavailable it remains to be seen how much that league game has taken out of Jurgen Klopp's men. Liverpool are still without their trio of Africa Cup of Nations participants in Mohamed Salah, Sadio Mane, and Naby Keita. Divock Origi, Thiago, and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain are all also ruled out. Their preparations for this game won't be aided by the fact that they haven't won any of their last three away games across all competitions.

This is going to be a tough game for Liverpool to win. Arsenal have won 10 of their last 12 home games in all competitions and showed their resilience in the first leg. Can they turn that stability at the back into penetrative play at the front though? I do think Liverpool are a much weaker team without Salah and Mane in particular but they'll still give Arsenal a game here. I just think this Arsenal team at home is worth backing.

Arsenal Draw No Bet @ 2.35 with Sport Nation

BTTS @ 1.67 with SBK