The third round of the Carabao Cup continues in midweek and we take a look at selected matches including Ipswich vs Arsenal and Liverpool vs Spurs on Tuesday and Coventry vs Aston Villa and Man United vs Brighton on Wednesday
There were no major shocks in the third round matches that have already taken place and this next batch of fixtures include teams who were in Champions League action last week. It’ worth pointing out again that second guessing team news in this competition is no easy task when it comes to nailing up early calls and I certainly found it tough going last week but let’s see what we can come up with this time around.
Ipswich vs Arsenal (Tuesday)
Ipswich joined this competition in Round 2 and they were 3-1 winners at home to League 1 crisis club Leicester with Marcelino Nunez grabbing 2 goals. Their start to the EPL season has been pretty encouraging. Although a 2-1 win over Sunderland was followed by defeats at Man United (5-2) and at home to Liverpool (3-2) they were back to winning ways at the weekend with a 3-2 win at Palace.
Champions League football means this is Arsenal’s first action in the EFL Cup and last season they went all the way to the final where they lost to Man City. They have been foot perfect this season, winning the Community Shield against City and their first 4 league matches, most recently coming away from Sunderland with a 2-0 win. Last week a UCL trip to Napoli saw the Gunners come away with a 1-0 win.
Verdict
When you look at the quality and depth of this Arsenal squad they could make 11 changes and still field a formidable team. With the pressure released to some degree in this competition I will go with the Gunners to score in both halves.
Bets: Arsenal to score in both halves? Yes at even money with Lucky Fish
Liverpool vs Spurs (Tuesday)
Liverpool are another team having their first EFL Cup action of the season. Their first 4 EPL matches of the season have delivered 3 draws and a 2-0 win at Ipswich. Saturday’s 0-0 stalemate with Fulham at Anfield will be particularly frustrating but they did beat Atletico Madrid 2-1 at Anfield in the UCL aa week ago.
Spurs were 5-1 winners at home to Charlton in Round 2 and given they are not in Europe they could have this competition on the radar. However right now they will be worried about their EPL form, defeats at Brentford and at home to Newcastle and a pair of 0-0 draws at Forest and at home to Everton leave them looking for their first league goal of the season.
Verdict
Liverpool will surely make wholesale changes but I’m not sure about Spurs. Bergvall. Who was linked with move, did sign a new deal with Spurs last week and he got 30 minutes or so off the bench against Everton. I imagine he will start here and will side with him to register a shot on target,
Bets: Shot on target Lucas Bergvall 1 or more at 6/4 with Sportingbet
Coventry vs Aston Villa (Wednesday)
Coventry joined this competition in Round 2 and they came away from Plymouth with a 4-2 win. That is all the fans have had to shout about this season as Coventry’s return to the EPL has seen them lose all 4 matches without coring a goal and last weekend they crashed to a 5-0 defeat at home to Brighton.
Villa are also struggling in the EPL with just 1 point to show from their first 4 matches and at the weekend they lost 2-1 at home to Forest. Their only victory this season came a week ago in the UCL where they won 3-2 away to Club Brugge
Verdict
Aa local derby for the fans but I’m not sure either coach will be relishing it given the current form of both sides. It’s hard to have too much confidence in either and I will go with a fence sitting draw.
Bets: Match result draw at 26/10 with Sportingbet
Man United vs Brighton (Wednesday)
United lost the derby 1-0 at home to 10 man City on Sunday and they have taken just 4 points from their first 4 league games. They thrashed Sabah Baku 4-0 here in the UCL and also put 5 past Ipswich in their first EPL home game.
Brighton have taken 7 points from their first 4 league matches with their only defeat coming away to Chelsea (4-3). They thrashed Coventry 5-0 away from home at the weekend and they will also be involved in the Uefa Conference League this season.
Verdict
I think United will ring the changes but they do have quality reinforements up front so home team to score in both halves is my play.
Bets: Home team to score in both halves? Yes at 1.35/1 with Hollywoodbets
Prices are subject to change
