Liverpool seek revenge on their only conquerors so far this season
In a weird twist, it is the smaller of the two clubs who are talking about dropping the big guns and giving the reserves a run-out whereas there are rumours that Fernando Torres will return for Liverpool as they look to avenge their league defeat at White Hart Lane eleven days ago by knocking out the Carling Cup holders. Here’s our verdict on tonight’s games:
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Chelsea v Burnley
Burnley were 3-0 victors in the two sides’ last encounter but a lot has changed since then - for starters they were both battling relegation from the second-tier at the time. Burnley have won just one of their last five away games while Chelsea haven’t been eliminated at this stage in 32 years. The Blues trailed Leicester with three minutes to go at this stage last year before scrapping through 4-3.
Betting: Chelsea offer no value at 1/5 so a small bet on them having to come from behind to win at 6/1 with Boylesports may be worth the risk
Sunderland v Blackburn
It wasn’t until Boxing Day last year that Sunderland registered three home league defeats but it’s taken them just six games this season. This is former Manchester United players Roy Keane and Paul Ince’s first clash as managers and whereas Sunderland have never won a cup matches in ninety minutes under Keane, Ince took Macclesfield into the FA Cup third round then won the Football League Trophy with MK Dons last year. While Sunderland required penalties to beat Northampton in the last round, Blackburn beat last year’s semi-finalists Everton and Rovers have won on their last four meetings with the Mackems.
Betting: The away win at 21/10 with Paddy Power
Tottenham v Liverpool
Four of the last five Carling Cup holders have failed to reach the quarter-finals the following year, with Liverpool themselves suffering fourth round elimination at the hands of Bolton having won the cup in 2002-03, while Middlesbrough were beaten by Liverpool at this stage while defending the trophy they had lifted in 2003-04. Harry Redknapp has also been cursed in this competition ever since Mannygate prevented his West Ham side from reaching the semi-finals in 1999-00. Since then Redknapp has got past this stage just once (2004-05) and on that occasion he had left Portsmouth by the time the quarter-final arrived.
Betting: Nothing is predictable with Spurs at the moment but the 17/10 on Liverpool from Ladbrokes and Bet365 is generous considering the curse of the holders
Tags: Bet365, Blackburn, Boylesports, Burnley, Carling Cup, Chelsea, Fernando Torres, Harry Redknapp, Ladbrokes, Liverpool, Macclesfield, Mannygate, MK Dons, Paddy Power, Paul Ince, Roy Keane, Sunderland, Tottenham, West Ham, White Hart Lane
Posted: November 12th, 2008 by Michael Lintorn | Add Comment 
