Aston Villa will try to stop Manchester City winning their fourth League Cup in the last five years at Wembley on Sunday and try and do what the might of Real Madrid could not do in the Bernabeu midweek when Pep Guardiola’s side were back to their brilliant best.
Aston Villa could begin the game in the drop zone in the Premier League if the results this weekend have gone against Dean Smith’s side and maintaining their elite status is surely their primary objective this season. The last three games between these sides have all been won by City with an aggregate score of 17-1 including a 6-1 win at Villa Park earlier in the season.
City beat Watford 6-0 in the FA Cup Final at Wembley back in May and, if they score early, they could easily blow Aston Villa apart. Villa will be hoping that their inspirational skipper Jack Grealish gets enough of the ball in the final third to hurt City, but it is hard to see past another major trophy going to the Etihad.
Villa are 19/1 to lift the Trophy in 90 minutes at BetVictor with City 1/10 and the draw at 15/2. Raheem Sterling scored four against the Hornets and he looks sure to start this afternoon having made such an impact from the bench in the Spanish capital midweek.
It will be hard for Villa to contain City in the wide-open spaces of Wembley especially in the second half having played much of the game without the ball. City -2 at 11/10 is the recommendation.
Everton entertain Manchester United at Goodison in a 2pm kick-off in what promises to be a cracking game. United have ridden their luck in recent games and Harry Maguire could easily have been sent off against both Chelsea at Stamford Bridge and Club Brugge at Old Trafford on Thursday. United welcomed back Scott McTominay midweek and suddenly Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has an embarrassment of midfield riches – and that is without the forgotten man of world football Paul Pogba who will surely move on during the summer.
Carlo Ancelotti must decide whether to start with his influential midfielder Andre Gomes who returned to the Blues midfield for the last half-hour at the Emirates on Sunday and completely bossed the game.
United have won at Stamford Bridge and the Etihad already this season but I don’t think they will win at Goodison. United are 15/8 to take the points down the M62 with Everton 31/20 and the draw 9/4 with bet365. I would be surprised if we didn’t see chances at both ends.
United are a decent side on the break, but Everton have the burgeoning partnership of Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Richarlison. I can’t split the side – a 1-1 draw is 5/1 at BetVictor and that is the recommendation.
The other PL game sees Spurs entertain Wolves. The hosts have lost their last two and were outplayed against both RB Leipzig and Chelsea at the Bridge last weekend when the 2-1 scoreline flattered Jose Mourinho’s side who were clearly second best.
Spurs are 29/20 with Wolves 21/10 and the draw 85/40 at William Hill. Wolves will leapfrog Spurs in the table with a win and I think they are a better, more balanced side. Wolves – draw no bet – at 23/20 with BetVictor is the recommendation in another game that promises much.
