We’re into the 3rd round of the Carabao Cup, which means the Premier League sides playing European football get involved for the first time. On Wednesday evening Liverpool host newly relegated Leicester City. We’ve previewed the tie and given you our best bets.
Two of the form teams in English football face off on Wednesday night, with Liverpool (4/9) sat 2nd in the Premier League and on the back of a 17-game unbeaten run, dating back to the back end of last season.
Jurgen Klopp’s side have started the season in sensational form, with five wins and a draw, in stark contrast to their stunted beginning last campaign.
Meanwhile, Leicester City (11/2) have responded tremendously to their summer relegation and are sat proudly at the top of the Championship, after seven wins from eight.
This Carabao Cup clash provides a break from the league campaigns and a chance to give fringe players a run out but both managers will be keen to progress to the next round and keep up that much needed momentum.
Team news:
Thiago remains out of contention for this match but Trent Alexander-Arnold could feature after this recovery from a troubling thigh injury.
Enzo Maresca has no injury issues and has a full squad at his disposal.
Liverpool to win and Both Teams To Score – 13/8
The Reds are on a wave of confidence right now and haven’t lost a competitive game of football since April, when the Champions Manchester City rolled them over.
Klopp is benefitting from a virtual full deck of cards in his hand and he is rotating his five main strikers perfectly, with substitutes all contributing when called upon.
No matter which selection of players he decides on here, they should have too much firepower for a City side that were shown to have a vulnerable side at this level, last season.
That said, the Foxes are also bang full of team spirit right now and have been fluent in front of goal, netting 14 times in eight games.
Liverpool have had to come from behind on more than one occasion this season and have only kept a solitary clean sheet. I think City can breach their defence again on Wednesday night.
Kasey McAteer to score – 16/5
The young Leicester academy graduate is having a superb first full season with the Foxes, after a couple of loan spells to Forest Green and AFC Wimbledon.
Back in the Championship and firmly ensconced in City’s starting line-up, the 21-year-old attacking midfielder has netted four times in five starts for the club and has drawn admiring looks from clubs in the higher division.
He could make his price tag a lot higher by scoring again on one of the biggest of all football stages, Anfield.
