Chelsea battle Liverpool in Capital One Cup second leg

It is all to play for in the second leg of the Capital One Cup, with hosts Chelsea odds-on with Coral at 8/13 to progress against Liverpool in 90 minutes.

Although the score stands at 1-1, if Chelsea don’t concede or net for 120 minutes, they will go through on away goals. In the Capital One Cup, away goals only count if both teams are level after 30 minutes of extra time has been played, and the only scenario in which this match can go to penalties is if the aggregate score is 2-2 after 120 minutes.

Eden Hazard put Chelsea ahead in the first leg, courtesy of a penalty, and the Belgian is 5/1 to break the deadlock again, though Raheem Sterling grabbed an equaliser midway through the second half, and is 11/4 in the anytime market.

The Blues lost 4-2 last time out in the FA Cup at home to Bradford City, as boss Jose Mourinho rotated his squad, however Liverpool also struggled as Bolton held them to a 0-0 draw.

It is expected that Diego Costa will be drafted back into the squad, having been left out against the Bantams, and odds of 10/3 to net first represent good value. Nemanja Matic and Branislav Ivanovic were also among the names who didn’t feature, with the Serbian pair expected to be drafted back into the starting lineup against Brendan Rodgers’ side.

Others in scoring contention for Chelsea include Oscar, who has one goal to his name in the competition and is 5/1 to break the deadlock, while Didier Drogba, who is also on one is 9/2 in the same market.

For the visitors, Daniel Sturridge could finally make his return from a long injury lay-off and be selected on the bench for the clash, and is 11/4 to dispatch anytime. If the Reds are to progress, though, it could be captain Steven Gerrard who makes the difference, in his last season for the club, and he is 4/1 in the anytime market.