England League Cup Semifinals 2nd Leg

[spkutano]

 

[spkutano]

Chelsea vs Middlesbrough Preview:

Possible starting lineups:

Chelsea:
Petrovic; Gusto, Disasi, Thiago Silva, Colwill; Caicedo, Fernandez; Madueke, Gallagher, Sterling; Palmer

Middlesbrough:
Glover; Ayling, Fry, Clarke, Engel; Barlaser, Howson; Hackney, Rogers, Azaz; Forss

Chelsea host Championship side Middlesbrough at Stamford Bridge for the second leg of their EFL Cup semi-final. Boro won 1:0 in the first leg thanks to the goal scored by Hayden Hackney in the 37th minute. Much of the credit go to Isaiah Jones for his assist, but not only that. Jones was named player of the match. The Premier League Giants had 72% possession and 18 shots, but failed to score at Riverside. Most of their fans left the stadium largely disappointed and without fate in their players. Liverpool face Fulham in the other semi-final, with the final taking place at Wembley on Sunday, 25 February.

Chelsea are very inconsistent this season and they are far away from the first place as big 17 points separate them from the leaders Liverpool. Even a Top-4 finish look unrealistic at the moment. Manager Mauricio Pochettino is under big pressure due to poor results. Chelsea managed to win just 9 of the first 23 matches in the Premier League. The injury situation are probably the main reason for the poor results. What is worse, lot of players are still sidelined - Wesley Fofana, Reece James, Marc Cucurella, Romeo Lavia, Christopher Nkunku, Robert Sanchez and Lesley Ugochukwu are all injured, while Nicolas Jackson is on international duty representing Senegal at the Africa Cup of Nations. Ben Chilwell played some minutes against Fulham following his return from a long-term hamstring issue, but Pochettino has to be careful about his fitness.

Middlesbrough have one-goal advantage from the first leg and it is clear they won't surrender easily. The players confidence is very high after the Championship outfit managed to beat the former Champions League winners. The actual form isn't at desired level and they will enter this match off the back of a 1:1 draw with Rotheram. Boro are currently 11th on the table, but only three points off the playoff zone and they will try to secure a promotion. However, their focus is currently on Tuesday's match as securing the final will be a fascinating success. But Carrick has some worries ahead of this match. Darragh Lenihan, Tom Smith, Emmanuel Latte Lath and Alex Bangura are out injured, while three more players are on international duty - Seny Dieng is representing Senegal at the Africa Cup of Nations, and Sam Silvera and Riley McGree are both with Australia at the Asian Cup. The latest victim is the key player Isaiah Jones, who was forced off on Saturday with a hamstring injury. He is rated as doubtful and Boro medical team will have the final decision. Finally, Sam Greenwood is cup-tied.

Chelsea vs Middlesbrough Prediction:

Middlesbrough have previous experience in this competition. They lifted the trophy in 2004, beating Bolton Wanderers in the final. However, Chelsea are clear favorites in this semi-final. This could be their only chance for silverware this season. Pochettino is well aware about the importance of this match. A possible elimination could provoke his change. But there is another problem, both teams have missing some important players due to injuries and international duties. Only the Blues roster is much bigger. I expect Chelsea to win with two or more.

Chelsea vs Middlesbrough Pick: Chelsea -1.5 AH @ 1.75 with Pinnacle

 

[spkutano]

Fulham vs Liverpool Preview:

Possible starting lineups:

Fulham:
Leno; Castagne, Adarabioyo, Diop, Robinson; Palhinha, Reed; Decordova-Reid, Pereira, Willian; Jimenez

Liverpool:
Alisson; Bradley, Konate, Van Dijk, Gomez; Elliott, Mac Allister, Gravenberch; Gakpo, Jota, Nunez

Fulham and Liverpool will renew hostilities for the third time this season. The two sides will play the second leg of their EFL Cup semi-final at Craven Cottage. The Cottagers were close to make a big surprise in the first leg as they had advantage at halftime. Willian found the back of the net in the 19th minute when showed great control inside the area to slot in. Fulham were impressive in the first half, but failed to score another goal and Liverpool stepped it up after the break and fought back with two goals in just three minutes. First, Curtis Jones equalized when his 68th-minute strike from distance took a big deflection off Tosin Adarabioyo to wrong-foot Bernd Leno in the Fulham goal. Darwin Nunez netted the second to send the home crowd wild.

Fulham are in mixed form. They suffered a narrow 1:0 loss to Chelsea at Stamford Bridge in the last match. However, the home form is excellent, Fulham have five victories on the last six matches across all competitions. Some of the opponents were strong, like Arsenal. Beating other title pretenders isn't impossible. But Silva has some issues ahead of this game. Adama Traore is close to return from his hamstring strain and he is rated as doubtful. Three players - Alex Iwobi, Calvin Bassey and Fode Ballo Toure - are on Africa Cup of Nations and they are still unavailable for selection. Harrison Reed wasn't ready to play at Stamford Bridge due to illness, but the Englishman is now ready to rejoin Joao Palhinha in the midfield. Willian could become only the third player to score in both legs of League Cup semi-final against Liverpool, after Paul Merson and John Robertson.

Liverpool play an excellent season. The Reds are first in the Premier League with five-point advantage. Of course, it is too early to make any conclusion, particularly because Manchester City, Arsenal and Aston Villa are waiting for their chance. Klopp's men were fantastic during the weekend as they destroyed Bournemouth. Darwin Nunez and Diogo Jota have each scored brace in a 4:0 win. But the German manager has enormous problems at the moment. Mohamed Salah has temporarily returned to Merseyside to undergo medical treatment on the muscular injury he sustained playing for Egypt at Africa Cup of Nations. Wataru Endo is on international duty with Japan, while eight players are struggling with injury. Thiago, Stefan Bajcetic, Joel Matip, Ben Doak, Kostas Tsimikas, Trent Alexander-Arnold and Andrew Robertson are definitely sidelined, while Dominik Szoboszlai is rated as doubtful.

Fulham vs Liverpool Prediction:

Liverpool won 2:1 at Anfield, but Fulham will not surrender. It was the second time in just over a month that Liverpool had beat Fulham. Marco Silva's side had led 3:2 in the final 10 minutes of their Premier League clash on 3 December but lost 4:3. As You could see Fulham managed to score 4 goals on two matches at Anfield. I believe this game won't be an exception. Fulham are definitely able to upset the Reds again. Klopp's men have scored four at Bournemouth, even without Salah. I expect both teams to score in London.

Fulham vs Liverpool Pick: Both teams to score - Yes @ 1.62 with Pinnacle

 

[slimmark1975]

Think Fulham will get a goal here but can't see anything other than a reds win.

 

[spkutano]

Think Fulham will get a goal here but can't see anything other than a reds win.

If Fulham score first, then anything is possible. However, glad we agree both teams to score.

 

[spkutano]

Chelsea vs Middlesbrough Pick: Chelsea -1.5 AH @ 1.75 with Pinnacle

5-1

 

[slimmark1975]

If Fulham score first, then anything is possible. However, glad we agree both teams to score.

Yeah, I like to think anything is possible too. But something ominous about this Liverpool team - they can be 2-1 down going into the last minute and you'd still back them. As happened against Fulham at home in the league (in fact that was 4-3 in the end i think). But let's see ...

 

[Betting Forum]

Yeah, I like to think anything is possible too. But something ominous about this Liverpool team - they can be 2-1 down going into the last minute and you'd still back them. As happened against Fulham at home in the league (in fact that was 4-3 in the end i think). But let's see ...

Howthings change over the years, right?
Before it wad the opposite.

 

[spkutano]

Exactly, it was opposite.

 

[slimmark1975]

Now they are more like a Ferguson Utd team. They might even take the prem because its hard to see where they will drop points - arsenal away maybe? Spurs and City at home? Long way to go as they say ...

 

[spkutano]

Liverpool will be without Salah one month, I am sure they will drop points against Top-6 teams. So far they didn't beat any, losing to Tottenham, while shared the points with City, Arsenal, Chelsea and United.

 

[slimmark1975]

Yes, fair point. It's going to be tight whatever.

 

[slimmark1975]

I'd go 1-3 Liverpool tonight btw. Think it will be comfortable.

 

[spkutano]

Fulham vs Liverpool Pick: Both teams to score - Yes @ 1.62 with Pinnacle

1-1

 

[slimmark1975]

What do I know eh?!