ALEX CROOK PREVIEW: EFL Cup Semi-Final Second Legs

Star Sports ambassador ALEX CROOK looks ahead to this week’s EFL Cup semi-final second legs, and puts up another ALEX ACCA.

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🔴 ARSENAL v CHELSEA 🔵
Tuesday, 8pm

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Arsenal’s quest for the quadruple continues as they host Chelsea with a narrow 3-2 lead from the first leg.

The Gunners bounced back to winning form following home defeat to Manchester United with a resounding 4-0 victory at Leeds on Saturday to move six points clear at the top of the Premier League.

They are also favourites for the Champions League and have a relatively straightforward fixture at home to League One Wigan in the FA Cup fourth round.

But the first chance of Mikel Arteta winning only the second trophy of his six-year tenure at the Emirates comes in this competition and I would expect another very strong line-up from the Spaniard as we saw at Stamford Bridge.

Chelsea come into the game on an excellent run of form under new boss Liam Rosenior after coming from 2-0 down to beat West Ham 3-2 on Saturday.

That followed a 3-2 win over Napoli in Naples to cement their place in the Champions League last 16, so the goals are certainly flowing under Rosenior, who has seen his recently-inherited team win their last five games in all competitions.

The young Blues also showed great character in the first leg after twice finding themselves two goals down and managing to keep the tie alive ahead of the return trip from west to north London.

The big thing counting against Chelsea turning things around to book a place at Wembley is Arsenal’s formidable home form.

United are the only team to win at the Emirates since May of last year and needed two unbelievable strikes from Patrick Dorgu and Matheus Cunha to seal the points.

The onus is on Chelsea to score so I am expecting a pretty open affair. Both teams to score at 4/6 with starsports.bet looks a solid proposition.

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🔵 MANCHESTER CITY v NEWCASTLE UNITED ⚫️
Wednesday, 8pm

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Newcastle’s 2-0 defeat at St James’ Park in last month’s first leg has left the holders with a monumental task if they are to defend their trophy.

The Magpies were made to pay for spurning a couple of glorious early chances as City put one foot at Wembley for a 23rd domestic final under the great Pep Guardiola.

You have to go back some 14 years and defeat to neighbours Manchester United for the last time City won the first leg of a League Cup semi-final and crashed out.

The odds are heavily stacked against Newcastle, especially with Bruno Guimarães, Lewis Miley and Joelinton all sidelined through injury.

However, Howe can take heart in City’s recent form, which has seen them win just two of their last five games.

At the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Sunday, Pep’s men were 2-0 up and cruising at half-time before taking their foot off the gas after the break and ending up grateful to come away with a 2-2 draw.

Even the January signing of England ace Marc Guéhi has not solved City’s defensive issues and they have got into a worrying trend of leaking goals in the second half.

I think that gives us a nice betting angle of City starting strongly and getting on the front foot.

Semenyo has netted four goals in five starts since joining City from Bournemouth, including the opener in the first leg. With Erling Haaland struggling for form, I think Semenyo at 6/1 with starsports.bet to score the first goal is good value.

You can combine City to win, Semenyo to score at any time and over 2.5 goals as a build-a-bet which returns 7/2 with starsports.bet.

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2️⃣ NEXT BEST: Manchester City to win the first half 1.5pts at 7/5 (⭐️ ? CLICK TO BET NOW)
🎲 LONG SHOT: Antoine Semenyo to score first 1pt at 6/1 (⭐️ ? CLICK TO BET NOW)
📊 BUILD-A-BET: Manchester City to win the first half, Antoine Semenyo to score and over 2.5 goals 1pt at 7/2 with starsports.bet
🚀 ALEX ACCA: Manchester City, Hull, Sheffield United, Barnsley 1pt at 10/1 (boosted from 17/2) (⭐️ ? CLICK TO BET NOW)

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