Liverpool vs Chelsea: Carabao Cup betting tips and best odds

• Over 2.5 goals - 1/2 (Bet365)
• Lewis Koumas to score anytime - 21/10 (Coral/Ladbrokes)

Two teams coming into their own under new managers go head-to-head in the Carabao Cup at Anfield on Wednesday night. Expect both bosses to ring the changes as Liverpool take on Chelsea.

Both Andoni Iraola and Xabi Alonso’s sides took a while to get going, but now the Reds and the Blues are sitting fourth and fifth in the Premier League table respectively.

Liverpool’s only defeat in all competitions this season came at Anfield against league leaders Manchester City but the home side was understrength and down to 10 men.

While the Carabao Cup tie looks mouth-watering on paper with the added narrative of Alono’s return to Anfield, the fixture will see several changes for both sides.

Chelsea host Manchester United on Saturday in the Premier League and Liverpool have a massive clash against Arsenal at Anfield, so both bosses will want their teams as fresh as possible.

Liverpool vs Chelsea prediction 1: Over 2.5 goals

The away side continue to be unpredictable with their latest result a reversal at home at the hands of London rivals Spurs.

Two sloppy goals were given away and Belgian goalkeeper Mike Penders will be looking to put a bad mistake behind him as he keeps his place ahead of No1 Emiliano Martinez, who is out with a broken jaw.

Chelsea’s last outing in the Carabao Cup was a nine-goal thriller as they beat Leeds 6-3. Cole Palmer will be a miss for the Blues via suspension, as will Joao Pedro through injury, while Danny Welbeck and Marco Palestra should start.

Liverpool have scored 14 goals in their last four games in all competitions and six in their last two at Anfield. The home side beat Roberto De Zerbi’s Tottenham side 3-1 in the Carabao Cup third round.

We should see goals at both ends, so I like the look of the overs markets on UK betting sites.

Liverpool vs Chelsea Tip: Over 2.5 goals - 1/2 (Bet365)

Liverpool vs Chelsea prediction 2: Lewis Koumas anytime scorer

Lewis Koumas looks a likely starter, spearheading the Reds attack as Iraola looks to rotate his squad.

Florian Wirtz joins Dominik Szoboszlai on the sidelines, allowing space in midfield for the likes of Trey Nyoni and Rio Ngumoha to come in as well.

Welshman Koumas has proved a handful in the minutes he has played this season with one goal and one assist to his name in all competitions.

Koumas was named man of the match in Liverpool’s 3-1 Carabao Cup victory over Spurs in the last round.

His all-out pressing style should put the Chelsea defence under pressure and open up some big chances in the expected goals department.

Liverpool vs Chelsea Tip: Lewis Koumas anytime scorer - 21/10 (Ladbrokes/Coral)

EFL Cup winner odds

Bettors can find and compare Carabao Cup outright odds from some of the top football betting sites ahead of this Anfield encounter.

Liverpool vs Chelsea predicted lineups

Predicted Liverpool XI: Mamardashvili; Araujo, Jaquet, Van Dijk, Tsimikas; Mac Allister, McConnell, Nyoni; Ngumoha, Barcola; Koumas

Predicted Chelsea XI: Penders; Acheampong, Fofana, Colwill; Gusto, Lavia, Barco, Palestra; Estevao, Rogers; Welbeck

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