EFL Cup Semi-finals Tips: Second Leg Preview
The EFL Cup semi-final second legs take place this week after a dramatic first pair of matches.
Newcastle beat Arsenal 2-0 at the Emirates in the first leg of their semi-final. The last team to overcome a first-leg deficit on the road to reach the final was the Gunners back in 1987 when beating rivals Tottenham, so they have a mountain to climb if they are to progress.
Meanwhile, Spurs secured a shock 1-0 victory over Liverpool at home in their first game, but travel to Anfield facing a tough task to maintain that lead.
The Reds have only lost one of their last 27 home games against Spurs and are unbeaten in the last 14 times that they have welcomed the Lilywhites to Merseyside.
Here we pick out the best bets for what is set to be an enthralling pair of midweek cup clashes.
Tip 1 - Arsenal to beat Newcastle in 90 mins @ 59/50
Newcastle secured a 2-0 win over Arsenal in the first leg of this EFL Cup semi-final thanks primarily to the sharpshooting of their clinical striker Alexander Isak.
The Swede has been linked with a move to Mikel Arteta’s side and certainly showed them what they are missing when finding the net with the first goal, as well as helping create Anthony Gordon’s second.
That was in contrast to the Gunners’ forwards, who were wasteful in the first game between these two.
Arsenal racked up an expected goals tally of 3.76 but failed to find the net. However, since that defeat and the FA Cup departure against Manchester United that followed, the Gunners have been back to near their best.
Arteta’s men have won five and drawn one of the subsequent six games in all competitions, including victories over rivals Spurs, Girona and a 5-1 hammering of Manchester City at the weekend.
Newcastle by contrast have stumbled somewhat in recent games, losing 4-1 to Bournemouth and 2-1 to Fulham in their last two home matches.
Eddie Howe’s side have been missing their usual intensity in those outings and cannot afford to drop off against an Arsenal side that are firmly back on the up.
The Magpies could also be without key midfielder Joelinton, who is a doubt for this clash with a knee issue.
The visitors have won nine of their 13 cup games this season and could pile the pressure on the hosts with another.
Tip 2 - Cody Gakpo to score at any time vs Tottenham @ 31/20
Tottenham shocked plenty of observers when beating Liverpool 1-0 in the first leg of their EFL Cup semi-final, but they still look up against it in the second leg.
The Reds have been in fine form this season, they are currently six points clear at the top of the Premier League with a game in hand, while they also won seven of their eight Champions League group games to top the table in Europe too.
While Spurs have picked up back-to-back wins over Elfsborg and Brentford, they were beaten by Leicester and Everton recently and are still reliant on a makeshift defence.
One player to take advantage of that backline may be Cody Gakpo, who has 15 goals in all competitions for Arne Slot’s men.
While Mo Salah has deservedly taken the majority of the praise for Liverpool’s attacking output, the Dutchman has cemented his place in the Reds’ front three with three goals in his last three outings.
We’re predicting that Gakpo extends that run with another goal in what looks set to be an enthralling second leg.
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Odds correct at time of publication but subject to change