This week sees the Fourth Round of the Football League Cup (EFL Cup), or Carabao Cup as it is known for sponsorship reasons. A whole host of the top Premier League teams remain involved in the tournament and ready to battle it out for a place in the quarterfinals, which take place in December.
Manchester City have won this tournament in four out of the past five years and they are the favourites to do so once again, although they face a pretty tricky task away to West Ham, who not only beat Spurs at the weekend, but also knocked Manchester United out of this competition in the previous round.
However, with the likes of Chelsea, Liverpool, Tottenham, Leicester, West Ham and Arsenal still left in the competition, it is a very high-quality field of top Premier League teams still in with a chance of lifting the trophy.
Although perhaps not the biggest betting event in the United States, BetRivers Sportsbook will still likely offer good odds on the games, as they do for almost all the top soccer events in the UK every week.
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The action in the EFL Cup takes place across Tuesday and Wednesday night, with the draw for the next round taking place on Wednesday night too. Let’s now take a closer look at these games.
EFL Cup Fourth Round Ties
Tuesday 26th October
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Arsenal v Leeds United
In previous rounds, both Arsenal and Leeds have played under-strength teams in the competition, although Leeds have punctuated that team selection with regular first teamers. That said, Arsenal’s squad depth is such that their back up team is of very high quality with players that would not look out of place in the first team. With home advantage as well, plus solid form of five wins in their last seven games, I think Arsenal will just edge this, while Leeds will probably just fall short. However, I don’t expect this to be a game that the home side win comfortably.
Top Tip – Arsenal to win and both teams to score – 9/4
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Chelsea v Southampton
After a thumping win at the weekend over Norwich, where they scored seven goals without a reply, Chelsea will be hugely confident heading into this game. Thomas Tuchel will rest players for this tie I am sure, but even so they will still have a very strong team. Southampton may also rest some key players here, but Ralf Hasenhuttl will know that even against a second-string Chelsea this is a huge ask. As such, I can’t quite see the Saints having enough to land the win here and I would expect Chelsea to earn a relatively comfortable victory to progress into the quarterfinals.
Top Tip – Half Time/Full Time – Draw/Chelsea – 11/4
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QPR v Sunderland
Championship QPR take on League One Sunderland in the only clash without a Premier League
team in it at this stage of the tournament. Both sides have enjoyed relatively positive starts to the season so far with Sunderland fourth in League One and QPR seventh in the Championship. Rangers have lost just the once at home this season and beat Everton on penalties to get this far. Sunderland’s form is a little up and down of late and the fact that they are a lower division team does make me feel that QPR are the big favourites to land the win here and as such, they are the team I would back to progress from this tie.
Top Tip – Queens Park Rangers to win and both teams to score – 12/5
Wednesday 27th October
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Burnley v Tottenham Hotspur
Moving onto Wednesday night’s games we have an all-Premier League clash to kick things off as Burnley host Tottenham. The Clarets only success this season has come in this competition as they have yet to win in the Premier League, while Spurs lie in sixth place in the table. Spurs will rest players for this game, but in truth, they have such depth in their squad that it won’t make too much of a difference plus they will have first teamers on the bench to bring on. Burnley’s stuggles are well-documented this season and this is another big ask for them against a Spurs side now back in form after a poor run of defeats. This may go to penalties, but I still fancy Spurs to make it through.
Top Tip – Draw at 90 minutes – 12/5 – Tottenham to win on penalties – 5/1
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Leicester City v Brighton
Leicester City have hit great form going into this game with superb wins over Manchester United, Spartak Moscow and Brentford this past week, two of those on the road. Brighton were hammered 4-1 by Manchester City at the weekend and the Seagulls are going to find this trip North extremely difficult, even if Leicester boss Brendan Rodgers decides to rest a couple of key players for this game. If Brighton want to win this, then they need to play a full-strength side here but I am not sure they will and as such, I am backing the home side to come away with a comfortable win to earn a place in the quarterfinals.
Top Tip – Half Time/Full Time – Leicester/Leicester – 11/5
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Preston North End v Liverpool
After a stunning victory over Manchester United at Old Trafford at the weekend, Liverpool will
come into this game in incredible form against a Championship side Preston who sit in the middle of the table and who, on paper at least, should be no match for the rampant Reds. Liverpool will play a team comprising of fringe players and a couple of youngsters but their squad has so much depth now and they will have internationals throughout the team, it is hard to see Preston having anywhere near enough to match up with them. This should be another comfortable win for the Reds.
Top Tip – Divock Origi to score anytime – 7/5
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Stoke City v Brentford
Stoke have had a decent start to this year’s campaign in the Championship and they are showing signs of improvement under former Northern Ireland boss Michael O’Neill. However, Brentford have been a shining light in the Premier League with Thomas Frank’s team playing some superb football and starting the season very well. A loss to Leicester at the weekend was a disappointment but I think they have enough quality to get the job done here, even if they elect to rest a few first teamers. Stoke will make a game of this and I can see penalties perhaps being needed to get the job done for the Premier League side.
Top Tip – Brentford to win on penalties – 5/1
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West Ham United v Manchester City
West Ham have certainly not had an easy route through this competition after beating Man Utd in the last round at Old Trafford, they now face Man City at home. City will rest players for this game and I feel West Ham may also do so. That though could play into City’s hands, especially considering that their back up squad is so strong, as is evidenced by their success in this trophy over recent years. West Ham have been excellent in 2021 so far but I think that this may well be where there interest in this competitions ends.
Top Tip – Manchester City to win and both teams to score – 21/10
*All odds shown were correct with bet365 Sport as of 9.45am on Monday 25th October 2021.
