Carling Cup Betting Odds and Preview

Leeds v Man Utd top the bill for midweek betting

Carling Cup Pokal 2011
Carling Cup Pokal 2011 © GEPA pictures

Back to some big Carling Cup action this week to fill the football betting void between weekends. The Premier League threw up some big results on the weekend, and most of the sides won’t be getting any rest as they are thrust into domestic cup action. This is where having a big squad will pay off for teams gunning for silverware on all fronts, while for some of the lower league teams left in, there is a chance for a bit of glory. There are just four all Premier League clashes this round, but it does mean we are going to lose some more top teams. We lost four Premier League teams from the previous round, and so we are whittling down some more right now. The top clash is the London derby between Chelsea and Fulham at Stamford Bridge. Can the Blues pick themselves up after their 3-1 defeat at Old Trafford in the Premier League on Sunday? Will Fernando Torres get another run out to help him get over his open goal miss? He looked almost back to his sharpest and influential best against Manchester United, but all his good work will have been undone by that horror show miss. But Chelsea do have strength in depth this season, so manager Andre Villas Boas will need to shuffle things up again in order to keep focus on the Premier League and the Champions League as well. They have a big home advantage against neighbours Fulham, who have yet to win a league match this season. Fulham earned their third draw of the season, coming back from 2-0 down against Manchester City at Craven Cottage on the weekend. That was a huge boost to them, and manager Martin Jol will be targeting a big scalp here. Fulham have not got a great record against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge, so the Blues go as favourites. You would have to bank on Chelsea’s depth, especially up front to fire their way through this one. Chelsea are 2/5 favourites at Coral, with Fulham out at 9/1 with Bwin to take the victory. A draw will fetch 4/1 at SkyBet.

Stoke City v Tottenham Hotspur looks like it should be a very interesting match up. Both were involved in 4-0 score lines on the weekend, with Tottenham thumping Liverpool by that score at White Hart Lane, while Stoke crashed and burned badly against Sunderland, who had been struggling for goals up until that point. Stoke have proven to be a tough side to beat at the Britannia though, and they are sitting fifth in the Premier League after a fine start by Tony Pulis’s men. Spurs really woke up their season with a convincing victory over Liverpool, who were reduced to nine men. But boss Harry Redknapp will probably throw out the youngsters again, just as he did in the Europa League. He knows where the priorities are, and that is the league and pushing for a Champions League spot. Stoke are 8/5 at VC Bet to win, with Spurs at 9/5, so it is expected to be a close one. The draw is 12/5 at SkyBet.

Everton v West Brom is the third of the Premier League clashes in the Carling Cup. The Toffees, despite their financial problems, have pulled themselves up into seventh spot in the Premier League, one above their neighbours Liverpool, and face West Brom on the back of a 3-1 win against Wigan. As for their opponents West Brom, well it has not been a convincing start from them, as they sit rock bottom of the League and will be licking their wounds badly after a 3-0 defeat against Swansea on the weekend, which saw the Baggies become the first side to concede against the newly promoted Swans this season. Tough times for Roy Hodgson there at the moment, they need a morale boosting win, but it won’t come easy at Goodison. Everton are 8/11 favourites at Boylesports, while West Brom are heavy underdogs at 4/1 with Bwin. The draw is priced at 14/5 at Bet365.

The final all Premier League clash on the cards this week is Aston Villa v Bolton. New Villas boss Alex McLeish is silencing his critics with  Villa sitting in 6th place in the Premier League at the moment, after picking up a 1-1 draw against Newcastle on the weekend. There are troubles though for Owen Coyle’s Bolton, as they are second from bottom, losing out in a 2-1 defeat against Norwich on the weekend. With Villa having home advantage, they are the strong side to back at 5/6 with SkyBet, and Bolton are priced out at 7/2 with Victor Chandler, and the draw 13/5 at Bet365.

There are a few big Premier League v Championship matches to look forward to in Carling Cup betting this week. The notable one is Leeds United v Manchester United. The two old rivals clash again, and no doubt Sir Alex Ferguson will be sending out some of his back up players to try and conquer Elland Road. These two sides have produced some thrilling cup ties over the past few years, with Leeds glowing with their upsets. Leeds are mid table in the Championship at the moment though, looking for a bit more momentum to their season, while Man Utd look like a runaway steam train. Leeds are 11/2 at Bwin to take the victory, with United favourites at 4/7 with Coral. The draw is best priced at 17/5 with VC Bet.

Liverpool face a tricky Championship test as well, as they head to the south coast to take on Brighton. The Seagulls are sitting pretty in third spot in the Championship, and with Liverpool taking a heavy beating on the weekend, and having seen two red cards, boss Kenny Dalglish may well shake up his side. This then could be a great chance for the Championship side to strike, and are priced at 9/2 with Stan James to win, with Liverpool in at 4/6 on. The draw is best priced at 3/1 with Victor Chandler.

Manchester City also face Championship opponents, as they host Birmingham City at Eastlands. Such is the strength of depth in City’s squad at the moment, they remain one of the favourites to win the Carling Cup. Birmingham are sitting in 14th in the Championship right now, and the bookies aren’t giving them much of a chance. City are 2/9 at Blue Square to win, while Birmingham are way out at 14/1 with BetFred. A draw is trading at 11/2 with Bwin.

Newcastle, who are unbeaten in all competitions so far this season, take on Championship side Nottingham Forest. Forest are struggling to get out of the starting blocks this season though, sitting down in 22nd in the Championship, a far cry from the challenge they were putting up for the play offs last season. Still, a tricky tie for the Magpies, but they are expected to come out on top with their good form. Forest are 11/5 at Bwin for the win, while Newcastle are in at 11/8 with VC Bet. A draw is 12/5 at SkyBet.

Perhaps one of the most interesting ties will be watching Arsenal entertain Shrewsbury. With just one win in the Premier League this season, the pressure is growing on Arsene Wenger. Following a 4-3 defeat against Blackburn on the weekend, the Gunners need something positive. They should win this, with Shrewsbury down in League Two, currently occupying third spot there. Wenger may throw some of his fringe players into action, to try and get something going at the club. Another defeat here would be unthinkable for the Frenchman, and Arsenal are 2/9 at Victor Chandler to see this out, while Shrewsbury are out at 12/1. A draw is 11/2 at BetFred.

Arsenal’s conquerors on the weekend, Blackburn, host Leyton Orient, who are rock bottom of League One, so it should be a good opportunity for under fire boss Steve Kean to settle the restless fans again. Rovers are 4/1 at Bet365 to win, with Orient out at 17/2 with Victor Chandler to cause the upset. A draw is 4/1 at Victor Chandler.

Carling Cup Outright winner odds
Manchester City: 5/1 at Stan James
Chelsea: 6/4 at Victor Chandler
Manchester United: 7/1 at Coral
Liverpool: 7/1 at Stan James
Arsenal: 9/1 at Stan James
Spurs: 14/1 at Victor Chandler