The Scout: EFL Cup Final & EPL Week 25 Previews

Posted on February 22, 2023March 10, 2023 | Posted by The Scout

League Cup Final – Manchester United v Newcastle United

Manchester United, who beat Newcastle in the 1999 FA Cup Final, are favourites to claim the League Cup on Sunday, although Eddie Howe’s side aren’t facing a team with quite the same aura as that of two decades ago.

The problem for Newcastle, who haven’t featured in a final since then, is that Manchester United are a far better proposition than they were early in the season.

Heading into Thursday’s Europa League second-leg play-off fixture against Barcelona, Manchester United had lost only one of 19 matches in all competitions. On their way to the final, they beat Premier League opponents Aston Villa and Nottingham Forest, Championship side Burnley and League One Charlton Athletic.

Manager Erik ten Hag is benefiting from an in-form Marcus Rashford, the influence of Brazilian Casemiro and a level of consistency that didn’t seem possible when United conceded six goals in defeats to Brighton and Brentford in their first two games of the season.

Likewise, Newcastle have become a far more consistent proposition under Howe. With a solid defence that includes England international Kieran Trippier, and a midfield marshalled by Brazilian Bruno Guimaraes, Newcastle are capable of controlling games, even against strong opposition.

But a lack of goals is the main reason they will go into the League Cup Final as underdogs. They have drawn 11 of their 23 Premier League matches, including a goalless draw against Manchester United in October, and they have scored just nine goals in their past 11 games in all competitions.

Adding to Newcastle’s concerns is that goalkeeper Nick Pope, whose form has been a major factor in his side having the best defensive record in the Premier League, is suspended for the final.

Newcastle beat four Premier League clubs (Crystal Palace, Bournemouth, Leicester City and Southampton) on their way to the final, but Manchester United might prove to be too good in this one.

Suggested bet: Manchester United to win + Under 2.5 goals (Same Game Multi) @ $4.80*

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Premier League – Leicester v Arsenal

Arsenal can confirm that last weekend’s late victory over Aston Villa is an indication of their return to Premier League form after a mini-slump of three games without victory. Anything less than three points will be seen as evidence of a loosening of the wheels under Mikel Arteta’s Gunners bus.

But they can expect Leicester City to come out firing at the King Power Stadium after the Foxes’ own resurgence was halted by Manchester United last weekend.

Leicester might not have deserved victory against United but the 3-0 scoreline wasn’t a fair reflection of the part they had played in the contest.

This is not the Leicester City of earlier in the season when they failed to win any of their first seven games, which included losing 4-2 to Arsenal, 5-2 to Brighton and 6-2 to Tottenham Hotspur.

Prior to their defeat to Manchester United, they had beaten Villa 4-2 and Spurs 4-1, with goals coming from six different scorers. James Maddison, Leicester’s top scorer with nine for the season, and Kelechi Iheanacho scored in both games.

Despite that, with 24 points from 23 games, Leicester are 14th and only four points clear of third from bottom West Ham United.

Arsenal go into this weekend’s fixtures with a two point lead at the top of the table and game in hand over second-placed Manchester City, who are away to Bournemouth.

The Gunners have not been lower than second place all season and have been beaten just three times, by Manchester clubs United and City, as well struggling Everton.

They have kept nine clean sheets and score at a rate of more than two goals a game, thanks largely to the goals of Bukayo Saka (nine this season), Gabriel Martinelli (eight) and Martin Odegaard (eight).

Suggested Bet: Arsenal to win + Both teams to score (Same Game Multi) @ $3.50*

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Premier League – Tottenham v Chelsea

It isn’t quite the Premier League headline act of years gone by, but this London derby could be particularly important for Chelsea manager Graham Potter.

If he hasn’t already been sacked by Chelsea’s new owner Todd Boehly before Sunday’s trip to Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, defeat could usher in a new era for the Blues.

Potter’s side have been nowhere near the high standards of recent years and have won just two of their last 14 matches in all competitions.

Last weekend’s defeat to bottom team Southampton looked like being the last straw but at the time of writing (12pm, February 22) Potter was still in charge.

Chelsea have had injuries but they also have talent, and the new owner splashed the cash on several new signings in the January transfer window.

The arrival of the likes of Ukraine’s Mykhailo Mudryk and record signing Enzo Fernandez haven’t yet had the desired effect.

Chelsea are 10th on the table, 11 points behind fourth-placed Tottenham, who have not exactly been a model of consistency this season. Recent history is also against Spurs whose last Premier League victory over Chelsea came back in November 2018. Since then, the Blues have won six and drawn twice, including a 2-2 game against Spurs in the second game of the season.

For all their inconsistency, Spurs have won three of their last four games, which included a win over Manchester City thanks to Harry Kane’s record 267th goal for the club.

Surprisingly, since then, the England international hasn’t scored in three games, including a Champions League defeat to Milan. It can only mean one thing; a goal is due from the prolific front man.

Suggested Bet: Spurs to win + Harry Kane to score (Same Game Multi) @ $4.20*

*Odds correct as at 1pm, 22nd February 2023.

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