Coral preview the Capital One Cup third round, with the Premier League big guns entering the competition, won last season by Chelsea who beat Tottenham 2-0 at Wembley.
We run through three matches, featuring four top-flight teams that are all in action and who will have their eyes winning this competition.
Liverpool v Carlisle United Brendan Rodgers’ side are heavily odds-on at 2/9 to beat their League Two opponents in 90 minutes, and should progress through to the next round with relatively few problems. Danny Ings dispatched last time out, as the Reds recorded a 1-1 draw at Anfield against Norwich, and is 7/2 to break the deadlock.
The two teams haven’t met since the 1988/89 campaign, when the Reds won 3-0 in an FA Cup tie and customers can get handsome odds of 6/1 on the same scoreline. It is likely that Rodgers may field some of his youngsters who impressed in the Europa League tie in Bordeaux, while Belgian striker Divock Origi may also be in line for a start, and is 5/1 to net two or more.
For the visitors, they are unbeaten in three league matches, though they threw away a 2-0 lead against York City last time out. Tom Miller has struck three in his last five outings, and is a very decent anytime bet at 12/1 to score in 90 minutes.
Newcastle United v Sheffield Wednesday The Magpies need a win, though the Owls could prove to be a tricky encounter, with the Steel City side in a respectable position in the Championship, following their 3-2 win over Fulham last time out.
While Fernando Forestieri scored on his Wednesday debut, he was replaced at half time and is unlikely to feature on Tyneside, though Tom Lees and Michael Turner who added two more, are 12/1 and 16/1 respectively in the anytime market. Attacker Atdhe Nuhiu, meanwhile, is Owls joint-top scorer and, having netted the winner in the last round, is 9/4 to strike again anytime.
Steve McClaren’s side are odds-on at 20/23 to get a favourable result from this match, and the last time these two teams met was in the Championship in the 2009/10 season. Newcastle secured a narrow a 1-0 win at home then, and could do with a repeat result here.
After four defeats on the spin, the Magpies need to get back to winning ways and last time out against Watford was the first time they had scored in five attempts in the league with right back Daryl Janmaat netting.
He is 6/1 to do so anytime, having also dispatched in the last round as Newcastle ran out 4-1 winners over Northampton Town. Siem de Jong and Florian Thauvin who also found the net in that fixture are both 5/1 to break the deadlock.
Norwich City v West Bromwich Albion An all-Premier League tie pits the Canaries against the Baggies, both of who have had fairly positive starts to the new season. Both on eight points so far, it is the home side who are above their visitors on goal difference in mid-table, making this an intriguing prospect.
At 6/5, the East Anglia outfit are the favourites and are unbeaten in two matches following a well-earned draw at Anfield last time out. Russell Martin leads the club’s scoring charts on three and, having equalised against Liverpool, he is 8/1 to strike again anytime in 90 minutes.
It was Jonny Howson who opened the scoring in the 2-1 win over Rotherham United in the last round, though, and the Canaries midfielder is 10/1 to do so in the same market this time around.
Tony Pulis’ side claimed bragging rights over West Midlands rivals Aston Villa last time out, as Saido Berahino struck the only goal. The striker is 6/1 to open the scoring in Norfolk. When the two teams last met at Carrow Road in 2014, it was Albion who came away with a 1-0 win, though this tie could go to penalties.
