The Carabao Cup quarter-final first legs arrive at a point in the Yuletide fixture logjam that presents even the most silverware-fixated managers with stick-or-twist selection dilemmas.
Two in-form goalscorers are expected to get the minutes they need to make their mark, while Crystal Palace can profit from any tinkerman tactics Mikel Arteta may be weighing up.
Best bets of the Carabao Cup quarter-finals
Arsenal vs Crystal Palace – Both teams to score @ 1/1
Alexander Isak (Newcastle) to score first vs Brentford @ 16/5
Cody Gakpo (Liverpool) to score vs Southampton @ 13/10
Bet on the latest English football odds at Betzone
Stabilising Palace can notch with Gunners’ main focus elsewhere
‘Both teams to score – Yes’ is an even money underdog when Arsenal host Crystal Palace, which is unsurprising given Arsenal have kept clean sheets in six of their last eight home games across all competitions, including each of their last four.
However, expected squad rotation, league prioritisation and resurgent visitors could well combine to make that look like a fine price on Wednesday evening. Mikel Arteta has given starts to squad players and prospects in both the Gunners’ EFL Cup ties this term.
The temptation to rest his biggest names will again be hard to resist ahead of their league trip to Selhurst Park at the weekend with Liverpool six points ahead in the table with a game in hand.
After a poor start to the campaign Palace are in the form to suggest they can take advantage of any squad rotation from their hosts. Oliver Glasner’s side have lost just one of their last nine on all fronts, scoring twice or more in four of their five away games in that sequence.
Tip: Arsenal vs Crystal Palace – Both teams to score @ 1/1
In-form Swede to start the scoring in recent Gtech ding-dong re-run
Newcastle are 8/15 favourites to follow up their 4-0 St James’ Park hammering of hapless Leicester City against a Brentford side that have lost six of their last seven on the road.
However, the Bees are far more competitive away from home than their recent record might suggest, as they showed when coming within a whisker of claiming a point against title-challengers Chelsea at Stamford Bridge at the weekend.
A better value way of siding with the hosts to get the job done is backing in-form Alexander Isak to find the net, just as he did against Thomas Frank’s side in west London at the start of the month. Isak is 17/20 to score anytime, having done so in seven of his last nine games.
The silky Swede is taken to net first at 16/5 and the bigger odds look worth chancing given he opened the scoring against Arsenal and Chelsea on Tyneside during that run of goals.
Tip: Alexander Isak (Newcastle) to score first vs Brentford @ 16/5
Liverpool’s in-form Carabao Cup king bound to bag against sorry Saints
Southampton have conceded 13 goals in their last three games at St Mary’s, including three to the Liverpool side they host in the Carabao Cup quarter-final tie they’ll contest under caretaker management following the sacking of Russell Martin.
Arne Slot’s league leaders are just 4/11 for victory and more appealing odds can be found in the goalscorer markets, where Cody Gakpo looks great value at 13/10.
The Dutchman has netted seven times in his last 10 in all competitions and appears to be a go-to guy in this competition for his manager. Gakpo has started both his club’s games in this season’s competition and rewarded Slot’s faith by bagging braces in both ties.
