Burton face an incredibly tough task as they go to the Etihad to face Manchester City - Tom Carnduff has three best bets.
Recommended bets
1pt Oleksandr Zinchenko to score anytime at 9/1
1pt Jamie Allen to be shown a card at 7/1
1pt Scott Fraser to be shown a card at 9/2
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Manchester City v Burton (Etihad Stadium, 2000 GMT, Sky Sports Main Event)
It's the tie that Manchester City would have wanted and they should give themselves a big enough advantage to book their spot in the final after the first leg.
Pep Guardiola's men hammered Sky Bet Championship side Rotherham 7-0 at the Etihad when the two sides met in the FA Cup last weekend, and Burton will be fearing a similar result with a strong City side expected.
After a quiet Sunday without football, Albion admin logs on to Twitter this morning to check yesterday's @ManCity score.#BAFC pic.twitter.com/pB2JlHdOv2
— Burton Albion FC (@burtonalbionfc) January 7, 2019
The Brewers can take some confidence from the fact they have knocked out Aston Villa, Burnley, Nottingham Forest and Middlesbrough on their route to the final four.
City do provide a completely different test, though, and Burton should expect to see the ball in the back of their own net a few times in this one.
It is a free-hit in many ways for Nigel Clough's side despite it being a semi-final, reflected in their odds of 75/1 with Betfair to secure a win at the Etihad, and 40/1 in a place to make it through to the final.
You feel that City will field a similar side to the one that beat Rotherham so convincingly on Sunday, handing more game time to the likes of Phil Foden, Oleksandr Zinchenko and Kevin De Bruyne, who continues to return to full fitness following injury.
That should signal more goals here, in what will be an easy victory for the hosts.
Betting guide
Score prediction: Manchester City 4-0 Burton (Sky Bet odds: 13/2)
This one requires little explanation. City will be comfortable from minute one although Nigel Clough does now how to manage in these big games. They'll try to be resilient, but the quality that the hosts possess should be too much.
Best bet: Jamie Allen to be shown a card at 7/1
The midfielder may have seen few cards this season, but his position on the pitch will put him right in the heart of the battle. The likes of De Bruyne, Foden, Riyad Mahrez and Leroy Sane will be difficult to contain and Burton will see a high fouls count. Good news for fans of Box Office entertainment included in your Sky Sports subscription, Mike Dean is the referee which will undoubtedly mean cards.
Best bet: Scott Fraser to be shown a card at 9/2
A player who has been picking up the cards is one of Allen's midfield partners in Scott Fraser. He has five yellows on his tally, which includes one in their victory over Shrewsbury in the first round. He's been heavily involved in the goals too, one goal and three assists in five Carabao Cup games, although he is more likely to see a booking in this one.
Goalscorer bet: Oleksandr Zinchenko to score anytime at 9/1
The full-back is still waiting for his first Premier League goal this season, but he is averaging a shot per Premier League game. Zinchenko enjoyed plenty of attacking chances in the aforementioned win over Rotherham last time out, and the 9/1 looks generous given the opposition and attacking football they'll look to play.
RequestABet: Zinchenko to score, over 3.5 goals, 11+ corners and 30+ Burton booking points at 50/1
Opta facts
- This is the first ever competitive meeting between Manchester City and Burton Albion.
- Man City are participating in their 11th League Cup semi-final, qualifying for the final on six occasions (1969-70, 1973-74, 1975-76, 2013-14, 2015-16 and 2017-18); this is Burton’s first League Cup semi-final.
- Manchester City have progressed from their last 10 League Cup ties against sides from a lower division, including a 3-0 win at League One side Oxford United in this season’s third round.
- Burton are the first League One side to reach this stage of the League Cup since Sheffield United in 2014-15 – the Blades were then managed by current Brewers boss Nigel Clough.
- Man City midfielder Kevin De Bruyne has scored eight goals and assisted four in 12 League Cup appearances for the Citizens.
- Burton have eliminated a team from a higher division in four previous rounds of this season’s League Cup, with only three teams ever eliminating five in one campaign – Swindon Town in 1968-69, Chester City in 1974-75 and Bradford City in 2012-13.
- Man City’s last home League Cup match against a League One side was in September 2004, a 7-1 hammering of Barnsley.
- This will be third time Nigel Clough has managed in a League Cup semi-final, taking charge of Derby’s second leg – a 2-4 defeat – against Man Utd in 2008-09 and leading Sheffield United to that stage in the 2014-15 campaign, losing to Spurs.
Odds correct at 1715 GMT (08/01/19)
