ALEX CROOK PREVIEW: EFL Cup Semi-Finals

Star Sports ambassador ALEX CROOK previews the EFL Cup semi-finals…

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⚫️ NEWCASTLE v MANCHESTER CITY 🔵
Tuesday, 8pm

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Newcastle ended their 70-year wait for domestic silverware by winning this competition last season.

Their trophy defence faces its toughest examination yet as they take on eight-times winners Manchester City.

With Tuesday’s first leg being at St James’s Park it is imperative Eddie Howe’s side continue their strong home form to give themselves a lead to take back to the Etihad.

The Magpies are now 13 games unbeaten in front of the Toon Army, a run that includes 11 victories one of which was against Manchester City in the Premier League.

Howe’s free-scoring team have also smashed in 12 goals in their last four games, including in Saturday’s 3-3 FA Cup third draw with Bournemouth when they eventually triumphed on penalties.

Newcastle have accounted for top-flight opposition in each of the previous two rounds beating. Tottenham in the last 16 and Fulham in the quarter finals so if they do get back to Wembley for their third final in four years, they will have done it the hard way.

While City’s main priorities undoubtedly lie elsewhere as they try and chase down Arsenal at the top of the Premier League and add another European Cup success to their honours board, this is a competition. Pep Guardiola always takes seriously.

In fact it was basically City’s cup as they won it four years on the bounce between 2018 and 2021.

Guardiola also named a ridiculously strong side as they thrashed Exeter 10-1 in the FA cup at the weekend with January signing Antoine Semenyo, who can play in this one despite already turning out in the competition for Bournemouth in a rule change that has not gone down well with Howe.

Newcastle are aiming to avoid becoming only the third team in EFL cup history to win the trophy and then lose in the semi-finals the following season and also have the chance to beat City twice in the same season for the first time since 1984.

Given City have drawn their last three Premier League games, I am siding with the Magpies, roared on by a noisy home crown, to get that first leg win in what could be a goal-laden affair.

You can back Newcastle to win and both teams to score at 10/3 with starsports.bet.

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🔵 CHELSEA v ARSENAL 🔴
Wednesday, 8pm

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Liam Rosenior got his Chelsea tenure off to a winning start as they thrashed Championship Charlton 5-1 in the FA Cup on Saturday.

The new Blues boss faces Premier League opposition for the first time since replacing Enzo Maresca when they host Arsenal in the first leg of their all-London semi-final on Wednesday night.

It feels like yesterday that Maresca’s side recovered from the sending off of Moises Caicedo to earn a Hard-fought 1-1 draw against the runaway Premier League leaders.

After that game Chelsea were being talked about as Arsenal’s most likely title rivals, but life comes at you fast in football.

Ironically Maresca’s last win before his departure was the quarter-final triumph at League One Cardiff, by which time the cracks in his relationship with the hierarchy were already beginning to show.

There are no such concerns for visiting boss Mikel Arteta, whose side are still in the hunt for a possible quadruple after coming from behind to beat Portsmouth 4-1 in their FA Cup third round tie.

Arteta made ten changes for the trip to Fratton Park and was able to leave the likes of Bukayo Saka and Viktor Gyokeres on the bench, so one would expect a pretty strong Gunners line-up for their trip across the capital.

Chelsea, who have scored and conceded in each of their last seven games in all competitions, are missing Caicedo due to suspension and that could be an issue if Arsenal name their first-choice midfield trio of Declan Rice and Martins Odegaard and Zubimendi.

While this feels like a more important game for Chelsea given they have not won a domestic trophy since 2018, it is not often this season you can back Arsenal at odds against so the away win at 6/5 with starsports.bet really catches my eye.

I know privately Arteta would love to win this cup and put a trophy in the cabinet to ease some of the pressure when it comes to their Premier League title pursuit and I think the Gunners will come through over the two legs against a far less experienced Chelsea side.

I also think we will see plenty of tackles flying in at Stamford Bridge, especially if last month’s league meeting is anything to go by.

Marc Cucurella picked up an early yellow card in that game and has been booked in half of his eight appearances against Arsenal.

Cucurella is 15/8 with starsports.bet to be shown a card.

My build—a-bet also comes from this game and is the draw/Arsenal, Leandro Trossard and Enzo Fernandes both to score and over 7.5 corners which returns a very tasty 26/1 with starsports.bet.

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🎲 LONG SHOT: Newcastle to win and both teams to score 0.5pts at 10/3 (⭐ ? CLICK TO BET NOW)
📊 BUILD-A-BET: Draw/Arsenal, Leandro Trossard and Enzo Fernandes both to score and over 7.5 corners 0.5pts at 26/1 with starsports.bet
🚀 ALEX ACCA: Newcastle, Bolton, Stockport, Huddersfield 0.5pts at 15/2 (⭐ ? CLICK TO BET NOW)

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