Liverpool v Stoke Capital One Cup Odds Betting Lines
Posted: January 25, 2016
Updated: June 5, 2017
The last couple of games before the final are here, so let’s check out the Liverpool v Stoke Capital One Cup odds!
An All-Merseyside Capital One Cup final is in the making with both Liverpool and Everton starting the reverse leg of their respective semi-finals from advantage. The problem for Everton is that they will face Manchester City away from home on Wednesday, while the Reds have to eliminate Stoke City at home. Let’s focus on the Anfield Road clash for now and have a look at the best internet betting Liverpool v Stoke Capital One Cup odds!
The Reds are happy, but they have problems
The hosts are coming off from an unbelievable 5–4 victory at Carrow Road against Norwich City. So, the spirit at Melwood is sky high at the moment. However, their weekend league game emphasized once again how big troubles they have when defending set pieces. The presence of both Kolo Toure and Mamadou Sakho in the heart of defence plus Simon Mignolet in goal is far from anything that can be described as ‘impenetrable’.
However, Christian Benteke is expected to lead the forward-line this time, and the huge Belgian striker could be a great help at set pieces. It’s not that the Potters would be the same football killers as they were under Tony Pulis, but still, the underdog often can make a difference with the help of corners and free kicks. So, Stoke City might want to exploit that, as well as the slowness of the Liverpool centre backs through their quick forwards.
Liverpool v Stoke Capital One Cup odds suggest an easy one for the Reds
Though they were able to net five goals on Saturday, scoring could be a problem for the hosts once again. With Benteke in the team and Roberto Firmino out, the style of the attacking game alters. It is far less fluid and tends to be predictable. However, since they can play from advantage, they can put more emphasis on closing the holes in their defence. All this predict few goals for this matchup – at least fewer than nine…
We saw the exhausted Stoke remaining goalless against Liverpool at home three weeks ago. However, this time Mark Hughes is expected to field a somewhat fresher side with both Bojan Krkic and Marko Arnautovic missing the 3–0 defeat at league leaders Leicester City on Saturday. This might boost the visitors’ chances who failed to win any of their last six trips to Anfield Road.
Liverpool are 1.75 (3/4) favourites according to Bet365 Sportsbook, one of the best internet betting sites in the UK, while Stoke City are 5.25 (17/4) underdogs. After analysing the current situation of the teams and considering the fact that Bet365 Sportsbook has the best Liverpool v Stoke Capital One Cup odds for a draw amongst online sportsbooks, I’d go for a stalemate in this one.
Liverpool v Stoke Capital One Cup odds prediction: draw for 3.80 (14/5) at Bet365 Sportsbook
Player to watch: Marko Arnautovic
The Austrian is arguably Stoke’s most dangerous player with seven goals and four assists in the current Premier League campaign. He was harmless in the first leg, but now he will haunt Liverpool’s right back on fresh legs. Nathaniel Clyne has a knock, so Jon Flanagan might be featured at right back for the first time after 20 months of absence in the Reds’ line-up. However, Jürgen Klopp might deploy his best man for the position to have an eye on the 26-year-old left winger. Anyways, when cutting inside, Arnautovic will meet with Kolo Toure and the Potters could benefit from this matchup.
Player odds: Arnautovic to score for 4.50 (7/2) at Bet365 Sportsbook
For more Liverpool v Stoke Capital One Cup odds, have a look at the selection of Bet365 Sportsbook, one of the best sites offering online gambling in the EU! Also read the Bet365 Sportsbook review in our online betting guide to find out more on this award winning football betting operator!