The Carabao Cup semi-finals get under way on Tuesday night as Tottenham welcome Chelsea. Tom Carnduff has two best bets.
Recommended bets
1pt Juan Foyth to be shown a card at 9/1
1pt Harry Kane to be shown a card at 15/2
For details of advised bookmakers and each-way terms, visit our transparent tipping record
Tottenham v Chelsea (Wembley Stadium, 2000 GMT, Sky Sports Main Event)
Both sides come into this one on the back of victories in the FA Cup, although Tottenham's was the more eye-catching result of the two as they hammered League Two outfit Tranmere 7-0.
This is undoubtedly the better of the two games on offer at the semi-final stage with Manchester City's tie against Burton surely a foregone conclusion.
For Sours, the Carabao Cup presents a real opportunity to win a trophy. This tournament was their last major success, winning the League Cup back in 2008, and they are overdue.
It would also be a maiden trophy for Mauricio Pochettino, and he'll know the importance of a strong start at home to give themselves an advantage ahead of their trip to Stamford Bridge.
As for Chelsea, they managed to beat Spurs in their FA Cup semi-final meeting back in 2017 and will be eager to prevent their London rivals from moving within touching distance of silverware.
Maurizio Sarri is also hunting for that first trophy as Chelsea manager, with City denying them the Community Shield in August. They're aiming for their first League Cup since 2015 - when they beat Spurs 2-0 in the final.
This game does have all the potential to be a high count in the usual RequestABet areas of goals, corners and cards - and we're particularly interested in the latter with Michael Oliver's appointment here.
Betting guide
Score prediction: Tottenham 3-1 Chelsea (Sky Bet odds: 16/1)
Tottenham's home results have been largely positive this season, which should put them in a good position here. Defeat to Wolves ended a seven-game winning run in all competitions at Wembley, whereas Chelsea have managed three wins in their last six on the road. The balance of power has tilted towards Spurs in recent years, with Pochettino's side winning their last two meetings by a scoreline of 3-1 each time.
Best bet: Harry Kane to be shown a card at 15/2
He'd be expected to score in this one, but there is value in the 15/2 on offer for Harry Kane to be carded. The England captain has five yellows on his tally in all competitions this season and this is the type of competitive fixture where he could catch the referee's attention. Kane also leads the way for fouls committed in this Tottenham team with 22, the fact that he is Spurs' most fouled player alongside that highlights the fact that he is constantly involved in the action. With a referee such as Oliver in charge, there is little chance that Kane will get away with much.
Best bet: Juan Foyth to be shown a card at 9/1
This is a big price as it does come with the risk that the player does not start. Juan Foyth has, however, been exposed to more first-team minutes as the season has progressed and if he is in the side looks an ideal candidate. The centre-back has picked up one yellow card in the six games he has started, but the ten fouls committed in those games suggests that he is perhaps lucky not to have been in more trouble.
RequestABet: Tottenham to win, over 2.5 goals, Kane to be carded and 40+ booking points at 33/1
Opta facts
- This is the ninth League Cup match between these sides, and the first since the 2015 final – of the previous eight meetings, Spurs have won two, Chelsea have won four with two draws.
- Spurs and Chelsea are set to meet in a League Cup semi-final for the third time, having also done so in 1971-72 and 2001-02 – the only fixture to be played more often at this stage is Arsenal against Spurs (four occasions).
- Tottenham have won their last two matches against Chelsea, both in the Premier League – they haven’t won three in a row against their London rivals in all competitions since a run of five between March 1961 and September 1963.
- Chelsea have qualified for the League Cup final on four of the previous five occasions they’ve played the first leg away from home, despite winning just one of those games (D2 L2).
- Spurs are competing in their 15th League Cup semi-final – only Liverpool (17) have appeared at this stage more often in the competition’s history.
- Chelsea – who’ve already lost to Spurs at Wembley in the Premier League this season – could become just the second team to lose twice against the same opponent at Wembley in a single season, after Sheffield Wednesday against Arsenal in 1992-93, who lost the League Cup final and an FA Cup final replay to the Gunners.
- Dele Alli has scored more goals against Chelsea (6) than he has against any other opponent in all competitions during his career, as well as netting four goals in his last five League Cup appearances for Spurs.
- Eden Hazard has scored in his last three League Cup appearances – the last player to score in four consecutive appearances in the competition was Dwight Gayle in September 2015 for Crystal Palace.
Odds correct at 1625 GMT (07/01/19)