Two ties that have few similarities in situation, but one key similarity in repercussions: progression to the League Cup final.
Manchester City travel to League One side Burton Albion on Wednesday, boasting a 9-0 aggregate score; insurmountable would be an understated term to define the task that Nigel Clough’s side face.
By stark contrast, there is everything to play for in Thursday’s fixture when Chelsea welcome (or don’t) Tottenham to Stamford Bridge. They make the trip with a narrow 1-0 aggregate lead. Our football expert previews all of the best odds ahead of both matches…
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Manchester City v Burton Albion | Wednesday, 19:45
It’s a strange way to set up for a second-leg semi-final tie for both clubs, as Burton will look to shut up shop and go for damage limitation, whilst City will likely field a brand new starting XI from the team that started against Huddersfield Town on Saturday.
The biggest win in the League Cup came in 1983 when West Ham United beat Bury 10-0 in a second-round second-leg. The biggest aggregate win in a semi-final came against West Ham, inflicted by none other than Manchester City, who prevailed 9-0 across both ties.
Should City score two or more goals unanswered than they will break both of those records on Wednesday, and it’s more than likely that the score line will not feature just two goals…
You can get City to win by three or more goals here at 1/2 with GrosvenorSport.com.
Chelsea v Tottenham | Thursday, 19:45
In an age where classic rivalries can be overhyped and new rivalries overlooked through the eyes of history, Chelsea vs Tottenham is one of the derbies where you can still feel the tension.
We’ve had some cult classics in recent times: when Chelsea held Tottenham to a 2-2 draw to end their hopes of winning the Premier League in 2016 (a tie that saw nine Spurs players booked), or last year when Tottenham beat Chelsea 3-1 at Stamford Bridge to end a 28-year wait for an away victory against the Blues in the league.
One of the last times that the two sides met in the League Cup was in the 2015 final, another Chelsea victory and another trophy missed for Tottenham. Was it a missed opportunity for Spurs when stepping off the gas and walking away with a slender 1-0 lead in the first-leg earlier this month? Will the absences of Heung-Min Son, Harry Kane and Dele Alli prove too much against an experienced Chelsea side?
There’s one big positive for Tottenham. Maurizio Sarri’s scathing assessment of his Chelsea players will not have gone down well in the dressing room and it would not be a surprise to see a player revolt in the form of a poor showing when they host Spurs on Thursday.
Nevertheless, our football expert expects Chelsea to progress to the final in one way or another. You can get Chelsea to progress by any means (full time, extra time and penalties) at 5/6 with GrosvenorSport.com
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