This season’s League Cup has already thrown up some shocks with Aston Villa, QPR and, in a match that will be long remembered, Manchester United all having booted out of the competition by lower league opposition. The tie of the fourth round is definitely Shrewsbury against Chelsea and we have some great BTTS tips to get you up for the cup.
Tuesday 28th October 2014
- MK Dons v Sheffield United (4/6 with Bet365) – Stadium MK hosts an all League One encounter with both teams very familiar to one another. The tie offers a real chance of advancing to the fifth round and both teams will be doing all they can to ensure success. With neither defence exactly watertight we fancy a glut of goals.
- Shrewsbury Town v Chelsea (5/6 with Bet365) – This tie has all the hallmarks of a potential banana skin and Jose Mourinho will be pleased if his side can come through unscathed. Shrewsbury will be cheered on by a record crowd at Greenhous Meadow and they could make life very difficult for their opposition. Chelsea may well win, but they’ll be pushed all the way by Shrewsbury and BTTS looks a solid bet.
- Bournemouth v West Bromwich Albion (4/6 with Bet365) – The League Cup offers teams like West Brom a real chance of success, however they will have to come through a trip to the south coast first. In Saido Berahino they have a very talented goalscorer, but Bournemouth’s Dan Gosling has four goals in three League Cup outings and we fancy both teams will have enough firepower to score in this one.
- Liverpool v Swansea (4/6 with Bet365) – Liverpool haven’t really got going this season after coming so close to winning the title last year. Domestic trophies look like the only way Rodgers’ men will get their hands on some silverware this season. The Reds look defensively suspect, but Swansea will have to be on top form if they are to keep the likes of Raheem Sterling quiet all game, and both teams finding the net looks very much on the cards.
Wednesday 29th October 2014
- Manchester City v Newcastle (10/11 with Bet365) – Newcastle’s troubles have been well documented this season, with Alan Pardew’s team embroiled in an early season relegation battle. Both managers may have their eyes elsewhere and a mix of youth and fringe players will make for an exciting match at the Etihad with plenty of goals.
- Tottenham Hotspur v Brighton and Hove Albion (5/6 with Bet365) – Brighton have won two ties on the road to progress this far, more than they’ve won away from home in the past 19 years combined, and they will be looking to shock Spurs in their own back yard. Pochettino’s men are in Europe and the Argentine will probably rest key players giving Brighton a chance to get some goals.
- Stoke City v Southampton (5/6 with Bet365) – Another all-Premier League clash sees Ronald Koeman’s free-scoring Southampton take on Mark Hughes’ Stoke City. The Saints have been in fine scoring form and have coped very well this season despite the pre season exodus which many feared would derail them. Graziano Pelle looks like a great find up front and Dusan Tadic has also hit the ground running. However, the Britannia Stadium is a tough place to go and Stoke will certainly be no pushovers. But BTTS is the call here.