Hello everyone! My attention is on the cup competitions in Europe this week, but there’s also a Premier League game that I’m interested in. Read my tips below and get the odds for these games here.
Aston Villa 1 v 2 Leicester – Tuesday 28 January – EFL Cup – Both Teams to Score (1.55)
This semi-final tie is finely poised after a 1-1 draw in the first leg three weeks ago. Villa have had a week to rest as they weren’t involved in the FA Cup over the weekend. Both Teams to Score has been a winning bet in four of their last five EFL Cup games. Leicester haven’t been in fantastic form lately but they have won two in a row. As with Villa, both teams have scored in four of their last five games in the cup. Although five of their last seven EFL Cup matches have ended in a draw, I’m backing Leicester.
West Ham 0 v 3 Liverpool – Wednesday 29 January – Premier League – Liverpool Win with 1:0 Handicap (1.95)
West Ham are the only side that Liverpool haven’t beaten in the Premier League this season – that’s because they haven’t faced them yet! The Irons are 17th and will drop into the relegation zone if they lost by three or more goals. They’ve lost three of their last five games and have been beaten on the handicap in four of their last five games against Liverpool. The Reds scored four goals in all four of those wins and, given their current form, I see another big result.
Manchester City 3 v 0 Manchester United – Wednesday 29 January – EFL Cup – Manchester City Win with 0:1 Handicap (1.80)
City won 3-1 at Old Trafford in the first leg and United will have to cause a huge upset to turn it around. They won 2-1 at the Etihad last month but they travel there this time without Marcus Rashford, who’s missing through injury. City have lifted the cup in the last two seasons and have won their last four games in the competition by at least two goals. In fact, they have won on the handicap in seven of their last ten EFL Cup games at the Etihad. United have lost four of their eight away games in the EFL Cup since Sir Alex Ferguson retired and I expect another defeat.
Inter Milan 3 v 1 Fiorentina – Wednesday 29 January – Coppa Italia – Both Teams to Score (1.90)
This will be Inter Milan’s fourth home game in the Coppa Italia this season. While their form in the league is slipping after yet another draw on Sunday, they have been dominant in the cup. That said, they have conceded in all three of their cup games so far in 2020. Similarly, Fiorentina have seen both teams score in four of their last five cup games. They have only failed to score in two of their ten away games this season, and I think they can find the net here.
Nice 1 v 2 Lyon – Thursday 30 January – Coupe de France – Over 2.5 Goals (1.80)
Nice are unbeaten in their last seven games and have looked particularly good at home, drawing with high-flying Rennes there on Friday night. Lyon, for their part, have won five of their last six games and have been scoring plenty, too; all of those five games featured Over 2.5 Goals. They have won eight of their last ten games in the Coupe de France and beat Nice 2-1 in November in Ligue 1, despite playing nearly an hour with ten men. I expect an entertaining game with Lyon to emerge as winners.