Carling Cup is small beer for Arsenal and Liverpool

Carling Cup / Nik Wardle / 05 November 2007 / 1

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"Knowledgeable" Nik Wardle gets us up to date on the Carling Cup as it reaches the business end of proceedings

This season's Carling Cup has now moved into its second phase. We've had shocks - Coventry winning at Old Trafford and Leicester winning at Villa Park, and classic games - Leicester's brave 4-3 defeat at Chelsea and Liverpool's 4-2 win at Reading. But now, we're left with the competition's best ever quarter-final line-up. Only Manchester United could've significantly improved the draw.

Betfair customers have installed the holders Chelsea as current favourites at 4.2. I'm sure Avram Grant will desire instant success to win over the Chelsea faithful, so I'd imagine he'd select a strong side at home to Liverpool, who are likely to field a mix-and-match side. The reds are at 5.7 but I think only a fervent Liverpool fan would back them. Potentially, they could reproduce their Champions League semi-final form against Chelsea but I don't think Benitez cares that much for this cup.

Arsenal are second favourites at 4.6 but with a tricky tie at Blackburn to come. I admire Arsene Wenger for sticking with the youngsters throughout every stage of the competition - even the final last year - and blooding them is paying dividends in the league this season.

Their UEFA Cup defeat apart, Blackburn have been strong under Mark Hughes this season. He'll be hoping his team are a bit too physical and tactically cagey for Arsenal's youngsters. This'll be a fascinating tie and my initial hunch is for Blackburn to win this game, especially if Brad Friedal keeps up his current form. They're at 11.5 to lift the trophy outright.

Two outsiders, West Ham and Everton, meet at Upton Park in another tricky-to-predict tie. They're at 13 and 13.5 respectively. It's been a few years since a side outside of the big four won anything in England but, like Betfair customers; I don't see it being either of these two.

The final tie sees Sven's Man City (8.6) take on Spurs (9.6). Both sides will fancy their chances in this game and both will be eager to progress to take some of the spotlight away from their more successful neighbours. Much will depend on whether Juande Ramos can cure Spurs' defensive woes - Ledley King is likely to have returned by this tie. Even so, I can see City sneaking this one. However, an injury to Elano would see me reverse this prediction: I think he's that important to Man City.

Chelsea are my tip for the Carling Cup. They have a home tie in the quarters and should be too strong for any of the other six teams over a two-legged semi-final. Anything can happen in a final but it would take a bad day for Chelsea and a great day for their opponents to stop the Blues from being triumphant.

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Mike Norman | 06 November 2007

Yes Nick, at last we have a Carling Cup line-up worth watching, with no League 1 or 2 team getting to the last 8 lol.

I have to agree, from pure elimination, Chelsea have to be the selection. I'd be tempted to back Arsenal if there was an inkling that Wenger would be playing a stronger team - but he is so loyal to the players that progress through the rounds that I can't see him changing teams.

Ridiculous Rafa's rotation policy continues to make betting on Liverpool a massive headache. No doubt he will probably rest Gerrard and Torres for an important Premiership or European game, and play them in the Carling Cup, like he did earlier in the season. But unless I knew what Barmy Benitez was upto, I couldn't have Liverpool.

Of the others, Blackburn and Everton might do some damage, but for me it's Chelsea all the way.