Four teams remain in the Carabao Cup and the first leg of the two semi final ties will be played this week, the first match on Wednesday evening and the second on Thursday.
In that first game, title-chasing Chelsea will host Tottenham in what is sure to be a hotly contested London derby game between two teams that have been in solid form of late, although both will feel that they have drawn more games than they would have liked.
The second game takes place 24 hours later at the Emirates Stadium as hosts Arsenal welcome Liverpool as both teams seek to put themselves in a solid position ahead of next week’s second leg at Anfield.
If you would like to have a bet on either, or both, of the semi-final 1st leg ties this week in the Carabao Cup then check out the odds available across many different markets at bet365 Sport, including extensive In Play betting.
A different option if you are based in the United States is BetRivers Sportsbook. Available across multiple states that allow sports betting, the site offers a wide range of soccer bets with especially good coverage of competitions in England and the UK.
We will now preview both the semi final 1st leg ties taking place this week, starting with the first of these to be played on Wednesday evening. Both games kick off at 7.45pm.
Carabao Cup Semi Finals 1st Leg
Wednesday 5th January
Chelsea v Tottenham Hotspur
Chelsea have won six of the last eight between these two teams including a 3-0 win over Spurs at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium back in September. However, Tottenham’s two most recent victories over Chelsea have come in the League Cup, including a win on penalties in September 2020 and a 1-0 win in January 2019.
Chelsea
- Manager – Thomas Tuchel
- Carabao Cup Wins – 5 – 1965, 2006, 2009, 2010, 2017
Chelsea’s Road To The Semis
- Second Round – Bye
- Third Round – V Aston Villa (H) – D 1-1 (Werner 54), Won 4-3 on penalties
- Fourth Round – V Southampton (H) – D 1-1 (Havertz 44), Won 4-3 on penalties
- Quarter Final – V Brentford (A) W 2-0 (Janssen OG 80, Jorginho 85 (pen)).
Chelsea Team News
Most of Chelsea’s major team news is whether Romelu Lukaku will feature in this game. I can’t see it to be honest after him being snubbed for the game with Liverpool at the weekend, so I think Kai Havertz will retain his place up front as a false nine.
With Edouard Mendy now at the AFCON, Kepa will get a chance to continue in goal for the Londoners, but I think that may well be just one of a small number of changes from the team that battled back to draw 2-2 with Liverpool on Sunday.
One change I can see is Hudson-Odoi coming in and playing either is a right wing back or advanced midfielder alongside Mount, depending on where Tuchel elects to use Christian Pulisic in the team.
Chelsea Possible XI: – (3-4-2-1) – Kepa, Chalobah, Azpilicueta, Rudiger, Kovacic, Jorginho, Alonso, Pulisic, Mount, Hudson-Odoi, Havertz
Tottenham Hotspur
- Manager – Antonio Conte
- Carabao Cup Wins – 4 – 1971, 1973, 1999, 2008
Tottenham’s Road To The Semis
- Second Round – Bye
- Third Round – V Wolves (A) – D 2-2 (Ndombele 14, Kane 23), Won 3-2 on penalties
- Fourth Round – V Burnley (A) W 1-0 (Moura 68)
- Quarter Final – V West Ham (H) – W 2-1 (Bergwijn 29, Moura 34)
Tottenham Team News
It is going to be interesting to see what team Antonio Conte picks for this game. He is already without three players (Sessegnon, Bergwijn and Romero) through injury and rumours are that Spurs have two players that have tested positive for Covid and could well be out of the game.
Who they are remains a mystery but I think Conte will know he will need to pick a strong team for this game, however I think he will rest some players and I can see the likes of Rodon, Davies and Alli being given a chance to start.
I do feel he will go with his first choice front three, Son, Kane and Moura as he will know that these three offer his team the best chance of getting a positive result to take back for the second leg in a week’s time.
Tottenham Hotspur Possible XI: – (3-4-3) – Lloris, Rodon, Sanchez, Davies, Royal, Reguilon, Hojbjerg, Alli, Lucas Moura, Son, Kane
Chelsea v Tottenham Prediction
I do think this game will be a very hard-fought contest and one that will likely be very very close as we head into the second leg. I can see both teams scoring here and I think a draw at 5/2 is the most likely result. You can also back the draw and both teams to score yes at 15/4 with bet365 Sport.
Thursday 6th January
Arsenal v Liverpool
Liverpool have won the last two games between these teams, scoring seven without reply, but both those games were in the Premier League and in the last six games, including penalty wins, Arsenal have won three of those encounters. Both these teams could rest key men and with others now at the African Cup of Nations, it is going to be interesting to see who is picked for the game.
Arsenal
- Manager – Mikel Arteta
- Carabao Cup Wins – 2 – 1987, 1993
Arsenal’s Road To The Semis
- Second Round – V WBA (A) – W 6-0 (Aubameyang 17,45,62, Pepe 45, Saka 50, Lacazette 69)
- Third Round – V AFC Wimbledon (H) – W 3-0 (Lacazette 11 (pen), Smith Rowe 77, Nketiah 80)
- Fourth Round – V Leeds United (H) – W 2-0 (Chambers 55, Nketiah 69)
- Quarter Final – V Sunderland (H) – W 5-1 (Nketiah 17,49,58, Pepe 27, Patino 90)
Arsenal Team News
Mikel Arteta has generally played weaker teams in this competition so far, but I think he will mix things up with a few more first teamers selected for this game. I think Leno will start in goal and Nketiah’s good form in this competition may get him a start too, but other than that I think the Gunners will be at or close to full strength.
I can see Smith-Rowe coming in to the team in midfield in place of Partey, while it looks like being a toss up between Pepe and Lacazette to play and I feel the latter may just get the nod ahead of the out of sorts winger.
Arsenal Possible XI: – (4-2-3-1) – Leno, Cedric, Tierney, White, Holding, Xhaka, Smith-Rowe, Saka, Odegaard, Lacazette, Nketiah
Liverpool
- Manager – Jurgen Klopp
- Carabao Cup Wins – 8 – 1981, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1995, 2001, 2003, 2012
Liverpool’s Road To The Semis
- Second Round – Bye
- Third Round – V Norwich City (A) W 3-0 (Minamino 4,80, Origi 50)
- Fourth Round – V Preston (A) W 2-0 (Minamino 62, Origi 84)
- Quarter Final – V Leicester C (H) – D 3-3 (Oxlade Chamberlain 19, Jota 68, Minamino 90) Won 5-4 on penalties
Liverpool Team News
Jurgen Klopp will be without six stars for definite in this game. Allison, Firmino and Matip all tested positive for Covid before the Chelsea game while Keita, Salah and Mane have left for the African Cup of Nations.
Klopp himself tested positive for Covid so won’t be on the bench for this game and I do think Liverpool will rest key men for this game, bringing in some fringe players for a chance, with Origi and Minamino given a chance to fill in for the absent African duo up front.
Liverpool Possible XI: – (4-3-3) – Kelleher, Williams, Robertson, Konate, Gomez, Milner, Jones, Henderson, Origi, Minamino, Jota.
Arsenal v Liverpool Prediction
The Gunners don’t have the best of records against Liverpool of late, but I think that they can take advantage of a weaker Liverpool side here and claim a narrow first leg advantage. I think it will be close with one goal in it, so back Arsenal to win at 23/20 with a 1-0 scoreline a 17/2 chance.
Tags: bet365 Sport Carabao Cup
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