The point when the Premier League’s biggest sides finally begin to take the EFL Cup seriously is upon us – the first leg of the oft-derided tournament’s two-act semi-final stage.
Tuesday evening sees Arsenal host Newcastle, while the action remains north-London based 24 hours later when Liverpool visit Tottenham. The ties may have location in common, but they’re expected to land at opposite ends of the total goals scale.
Best bets of the EFL Cup semi-final first legs
Arsenal vs Newcastle – Under 2.5 goals @ 23/20
Liverpool to beat Tottenham & over 3.5 goals @ 13/8
Bet on the latest English football odds at Betzone
Head-to-head and circumstance highlight Emirates unders value
Under 2.5 goals has to come under consideration whenever Newcastle play Arsenal given nine of their 10 meetings over the past five seasons have seen two goals or fewer find the net.
It’s a bet that’s attractively priced for this particular renewal at 23/20 despite Newcastle having conceded just twice over their last six games and Arsenal shutting out five of the last six visitors to the Emirates in all competitions.
Newcastle also has additional motivation for taking a more pragmatic approach in north London. Firstly they’ll be without creative engine Bruno Guimaraes due to suspension, secondly they’ve beaten the Gunners to nil in three of their last four visits to St James’ Park.
Granted a favourable first-leg foundation Eddie Howe’s side will feel they have every chance of reaching the final and potentially winning a first ‘major’ trophy since the 1955 FA Cup.
Tip: Arsenal vs Newcastle – Under 2.5 goals @ 23/20
Spurs’ defensive injury woes a red rag to bullish Liverpool
Liverpool return to the Tottenham Stadium just 17 days after their slug-fest 6-3 EPL victory over the hosts and they look decent value at 13/8 to win another game of four goals or more.
Over 3.5 goals has copped in six of the Anfield club’s last seven away games against Premier League opposition and Arne Slot’s side have scored three times or more in five of those outings, while keeping a solitary clean sheet against an enormously wasteful West Ham.
Spurs are in midst of a harrowing injury crisis most severe in the defensive ranks and could well land the bet through concessions alone. Ordinarily-peripheral fullback Djed Spence ended up at centre-half in their 2-1 weekend loss to Newcastle. Liverpool won’t let them off so lightly.
