With 8/1 and 16/1 winners in the past few days, Tom Carnduff takes a look at Tuesday's Carabao Cup action.
Recommended bets
1pt Phil Foden to have 2+ shots on target in Leicester v Manchester City at 6/1
1pt Phil Foden to have 3+ shots in Leicester v Manchester City at 11/4
1pt Marcus Tavernier to score anytime in Middlesbrough v Burton at 11/4
For details of advised bookmakers and each-way terms, visit our transparent tipping record
Leicester City v Manchester City
King Power Stadium, 1945 GMT, Sky Sports Main Event
These two sides met in the quarter-finals last season, and Pep Guardiola will be hoping for the same outcome as they beat the Foxes on route to their Wembley final win.
City were comfortable in victory over Fulham in the last round and are likely to rotate their squad once again at the King Power Stadium. That should see Phil Foden come in having played the full 90 minutes in their previous two encounters.
The youngster extended his contract with the club until 2024 last week, with growing rumours that the Stockport-born midfielder could depart the club in search of more regular minutes beforehand.
Foden starred in their win at Oxford, scoring one and assisting another as they beat the League One outfit 3-0 in round three.
There's no doubting that he is a player with incredible talent, and if it wasn't for City's already excellent attacking midfield, he'd be a more regular part of the first-team set-up.
For the moment, the Carabao Cup is the competition where is playing the majority of his football as he looks to continue to fight for a starting spot.
The stats betting could provide the value here, given the fact he has has six shots on goal in their two Cup games up to this point. A price of 6/1 is worth taking on Foden to have two or more shots on target in this encounter.
Given the average of three shots per game, the 11/4 is also worth considering on him to match that in Tuesday night's encounter.
Prediction: Leicester 1-3 Manchester City (Sky Bet odds: 10/1)
Best bet: Phil Foden to have 2+ shots on target at 6/1
Best bet: Phil Foden to have 3+ shots at 11/4
Opta facts
- Leicester City have been eliminated from all four of their previous League Cup meetings with Manchester City, including a penalty shootout defeat in this round last season.
- Manchester City have gone on two win the League Cup the last two times they’ve faced Leicester in the League Cup – knocking them out at the quarter-final stage in both 2013-14 and 2017-18.
- This is only the second time Leicester have faced the holders of the League Cup, with the Foxes losing 3-4 against Chelsea in the 2007-08 campaign.
- Leicester are looking to reach the League Cup semi-finals for the first time since 1999-00, when they went on to win the competition.
- Manchester City haven’t been eliminated at the quarter-final stage of the League Cup since 2007-08, when they lost to eventual winners Spurs. They’ve progressed the last five times they’ve reached this stage.
- Leicester are yet to concede a goal in this season’s League Cup.
- Leicester’s last two League Cup games have been decided on penalties – only Liverpool and Stoke in 2015-16 and Cardiff in 2011-12 have had three games go to penalties in a single edition of the competition.
- Leicester’s Kelechi Iheanacho has been involved in seven goals in his nine League Cup matches with Leicester and Man City combined (4 goals, 3 assists).
Middlesbrough v Burton Albion
Riverside Stadium, 1945 GMT
We will have a side from the Sky Bet EFL in the semi-finals of the Carabao Cup as Championship outfit Middlesbrough were drawn against League One Burton.
Albion have enjoyed a terrific Cup run so far, beating Aston Villa, Nottingham Forest and Burnley - all three teams in leagues above them.
Nigel Clough has loved being the underdog in recent seasons. He guided then-League One side Sheffield United to the FA Cup semi-final in 2014, resulting in him winning the FA Cup Manager of the Season award.
He is on the verge of a repeat with Burton in this competition, and they can hold a bit of confidence given Middlesbrough's recent poor form.
Tony Pulis' side are winless in four, resulting in them dropping down to sixth in the standings and eight points adrift of the automatic promotion spots.
They are far down the line in the Cup, but focus will have to be on sorting out their league form and that will signal a number of changes in the starting personnel.
Injury doubts for Liam Boyce, Scott Fraser and David Templeton will make a big impact on Burton's chances of success though, which only increases the possibility of Middlesbrough securing a semi-final place.
We had doubts about Burton's opportunities in their previous four games against better opposition, and they came out on top if each situation. That's why backing a draw in 90 minutes in tempting here.
Marcus Tavernier will likely come into the starting XI for the hosts, with the majority of the winger's starts coming in the Carabao Cup.
The 19-year-old has four goals and two assists on his tally, including a goal in their victory over Preston in round three. Given that track record, the value is certainly there in taking the 11/4 available on Tavernier striking anytime.
Prediction: Middlesbrough 1-1 Burton (Sky Bet odds: 15/2)
Opta facts
- Middlesbrough won their only previous League Cup meeting with Burton, coming from behind to win 2-1 in extra-time in August 2015 thanks to a Cristhian Stuani brace.
- Burton’s only previous away game against Middlesbrough ended in a 0-2 defeat, in a Championship match in August 2017.
- Middlesbrough are looking to reach the League Cup semi-finals for the first time since 2003-04, when they went on to win the trophy under Steve McClaren.
- This is the furthest Burton Albion have got in the League Cup – they’re looking to become the first team from the third tier or lower to reach the semi-finals of the competition since Sheffield United in 2014-15.
- Middlesbrough have progressed from seven of their last eight League Cup matches against sides from a lower division, losing only against Fulham as a Premier League side in August 2016.
- Burton have beaten higher ranked opposition in three of their four League Cup ties this season, beating the Championship’s Aston Villa and Nottingham Forest in rounds two and four respectively, and Premier League Burnley in round three.
- No player has scored more League Cup goals this season than Middlesbrough’s Ashley Fletcher (3).
- Liam Boyce has had a hand in three goals in this three League Cup starts for Burton (2 goals, 1 assist).
Odds correct at 1615 GMT (17/12/18)
