Chelsea v Tottenham Betting Tip Under 2.5 goals – 24 January 2019

Nervy encounter expected at 'Bridge

FA Cup & League Cup Tips

EnglandChelsea v TottenhamEngland
Thursday 24th January 1945hrs 
Football – England – EFL Cup
Pick: Under 2.5 goals
Bookmaker: Unibet
Odds: 10/11 (odds taken 23.50 GMT, Wednesday 23rd January)

Spurs edged the first leg of this semi-final but they travel to Stamford Bridge on Thursday a much weaker unit because of absentees so it’s all to play for. Continue reading for a match preview of Chelsea against Tottenham with a selected best

League Cup Betting at Unibet

Chelsea Preview

Chelsea started the first leg of this tie with Eden Hazard in a ‘false’ nine position which was virtually Maurizo Sarri stating that he had lost patience with Alvaro Morata leading the Blues attack. Moves have been made since that match and with Morata now set to join Atletico Madrid but his replacement – Gonzalo Higuain –unlikely to be available for Thursday’s game, it’s set to be Hazard leading the line once again. It’s far from an ideal situation but unless the Italian coach brings Oliver Giroud in from the cold then he’s not left with much option. It’s definitely hampered Chelsea’s attacking play, not only because Hazard is not best suited to playing as a central forward, but because he’s also the main creator when playing in his usual, deeper position. Needing at least a goal, to take it to extra-time, it’s a conundrum that Sarri will have to solve and get his team firing.  However, his comments following the 2-0 defeat to Arsenal on Saturday suggests he’s losing patience with more than just the personnel, as he questioned the general attitude and desire of his squad – it all sounds very familiar concerns coming from a Chelsea boss.

Key-Facts – Chelsea v Tottenham

  • Spurs take a slender lead to Stamford Bridge for the second leg
  • The winner of this game will face holders Manchester City in the final at Wembley
  • Chelsea have struggled in front of goal of late with five of their last six games containing two or fewer goals

 

Tottenham Preview

Tottenham would have been feeling pretty good about themselves having taken the lead in this semi-final tie with their 1-0 win at Wembley earlier this month. It was another victory over a much loathed rival, the win itself put them within touching distance of playing in a long overdue cup final and it continued their excellent form of late which had them in with an outside chance of winning the title. A lot has changed in the following couple of weeks, however, and Spurs have since lost a crucial home game in the league which has all but put paid to any title chance they held, whilst injuries to both Harry Kane and Deli Ali have cost them two of their most valuable and important players for a couple of months. Add to that the absence of Son-Yeung Min to international duty and they are heading into this second leg tie in a much weaker position than they were for the home encounter. It was a struggle to see of relegated-threatened Fulham on Sunday in a game where they created much less than you would expect from a Spurs team. Ali scored the equaliser on that occasion and with him now missing it’s likely to be just as much of a struggle tomorrow.

Chelsea v Tottenham Betting Advice

Whilst Spurs took a valuable lead from the first leg, there was very little between the two teams and Chelsea would argue they were hard done by with the only goal of the game coming as the result of a penalty awarded by VAR. An evenly matched semi-final tie was anticipated when the draw was made and that’s certainly the way it played out. The injuries Spurs have suffered as well since that first game may even mean that the advantage lies with the Blues.

Away goals will only come in to affect should the game be level at the end of extra time such are the rules of the EFL Cup, and this has the look of a contest which could well go beyond 90 minutes. Spurs attack has been blunted to the point that they will have to find a different approach than they would ordinarily take and Chelsea are also struggling to hit form in the final third, creating very little of late and five of their last six have went under 2.5 goals. That suggests aanother low-scoring affair and with nerves bound to have an impact I am taking this to be similar to the first leg in that it will have two or fewer goals in it.