Home of football statistics and historyEngland’s famous League Cup could crown a new champion this season unless Liverpool can overhaul a slender first-leg deficit in their semi-final tie against Tottenham Hotspur.
Lucas Bergwall’s late winner propelled Spurs to a narrow 1-0 win in North London in early January, putting Arne Slot’s side under pressure ahead of the rematch at Anfield.
Speaking of upsets, Newcastle United toppled Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium 2-0 to set one foot in their second League Cup showpiece event in three years.
As such, the upcoming semi-finals promise to be a treat for online football betting enthusiasts, considering both favourites head into their second-league clashes on the back foot.
When do League Cup semi-finals take place?
Newcastle and Arsenal will renew hostilities on Wednesday, February 5, while Liverpool and Tottenham reconvene the following day on Merseyside.
Both matches kick off at 20.00 BST.
Newcastle United vs Arsenal
Goals from Alexander Isak and Anthony Gordon on either side of half-time inspired Newcastle to a sterling win in London, marking the Magpies’ third win in their last four matches against Arsenal.
Eddie Howe’s side have won both competitive clashes against the Gunners this season without conceding, setting themselves up perfectly for this fixture.
The hosts should take the field in high spirits, irrespective of the outcome of their upcoming Premier League meeting with Fulham at St James’ Park.
An underwhelming 4-1 defeat to high-flying Bournemouth in their last home outing proved just a one-off as Newcastle bounced back with a 3-1 comeback victory at Southampton last weekend.
Buoyed by a scintillating run of ten wins from their last 11 games, Howe’s charges should be confident of getting the job done here.
However, Arsenal will travel in high spirits after locking down automatic round-of-16 qualification in the Champions League, courtesy of a come-from-behind 2-1 triumph at Girona.
‘Surreal‘ pre-match atmosphere failed to shake up prodigious Ethan Nwaneri as the Gunners’ teenage sensation netted his maiden European goal to complete the turnaround.
Arsenal will need to pull off another comeback to set up their first League Cup final since 2017/18, yet their last two visits to Newcastle’s home ground yielded identical 1-0 defeats.
Liverpool vs Tottenham Hotspur
Unlike Arsenal, Liverpool slumped to a loss in the Champions League’s league stage finale, with PSV Eindhoven beating Slot’s second-string line-up 3-2 at the Philips Stadion.
Despite relinquishing a seven-game winning European streak in charge of the Reds, Slot saw some positives on Dutch soil, namely Federico Chiesa’s ‘big step forward.’
After becoming only the third manager in Champions League history to win their first seven games in charge of a club, the ex-Feyenoord boss was able to rest his hard hitters.
Mohamed Salah didn’t take the trip to Eindhoven but should regain his place in the starting XI when Spurs roll into town next Thursday.
Facing an attainable deficit, Slot will likely bring out heavy artillery in the return leg on home turf, with the ten-time League Cup winners seeking a
record-extending 11th triumph.
Liverpool won a landmark 10th crown in Jurgen Klopp’s farewell campaign last term, while their visitors’ most recent success in this competition came in 2007/08.
That incidentally remains Tottenham’s last piece of silverware.
Breaking that duck could be the only chance for under-pressure manager Ange Postecoglou to salvage his job amid Spurs’ dreadful Premier League campaign.
Stranded in the lower reaches, the Londoners are miles away from the European qualification spots, highlighting the importance of going the distance in cup competitions.
Prediction
Despite winning four out of five competitive games after the first-leg fiasco, Arsenal should bow down at St James’ Park.
Liverpool should challenge Newcastle’s cup credentials in the grand final at Wembley Stadium as their formidable form at Anfield makes a second-leg comeback a mere formality.
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