Arsenal’s Carling Cup clash with Manchester City on Tuesday night is the toughest quarter-final to call, according to Paddy Power.
Whilst Manchester United are expected to make easy progress and Chelsea are tipped to see off a Liverpool side in a match whose manager Kenny Dalglish has already told fans not to bother with, City’s trip to Arsenal is the tough one to call.
Paddy Power make City 4/6 to reach the semi-final whilst Arsenal, likely to field their usual junior side for the cup match, are 11/10.
An upset is also tipped in the remaining quarter final with Championship outfit Cardiff 4/6 to knock out Premier League strugglers Blackburn, who are 11/10 to progress.
Manchester United, faced with the easiest quarter final match from amongst the big boys with the visit of Crystal Palace, are 2/1 to lift the trophy although the two victors from the Arsenal v Manchester City and Chelsea v Liverpool tussles will see their odds plummet whomever emerges victorious from those big clashes.
Paddy Power rates the four most likely semi-finalists as being Cardiff, Chelsea, Manchester City and Manchester United – an 11/4 shot.
The bookmaker is also betting on how many of the four quarter-finals will go to the dreaded penalty shootout and whilst it’s just 2/5 that all four games are decided in open play its 2/1 we see one shootout this week and 12/1 for two.
Paddy Power Carling Cup Betting:
Winner: 2/1 Man Utd; 3/1 Man City; 4/1 Chelsea; 7/1 Arsenal, Liverpool; 14/1 Blackburn; 33/1 Cardiff; 80/1 Crystal Palace
Carling Cup Semi-Finalists
11/4 Cardiff – Chelsea – Man City – Man Utd
4/1 Blackburn – Chelsea – Man City – Man Utd
4/1 Cardiff – Chelsea – Arsenal – Man Utd
5/1 Blackburn – Chelsea – Arsenal – Man Utd
10/1 Cardiff – Liverpool – Arsenal – Man Utd
12/1 Blackburn – Liverpool – Arsenal – Man Utd
14/1 Cardiff – Liverpool – Man City – Man Utd
10/1 Blackburn – Liverpool – Man City – Man Utd
Number of Quarter Finals to go to a penalty shootout
2/5 None
2/1 One
12/1 Two
50/1 Three or Four
Match odds:
Cardiff 7/5, Draw 12/5, Blackburn 15/8
Arsenal 15/8, Draw 12/5, Manchester City 7/5
Chelsea 3/4, Draw 11/4, Liverpool 7/2
Manchester United 2/9, Draw 5/1, Crystal Palace 12/1
To reach Semi-finals
Cardiff 4/6 Blackburn 11/10
Arsenal 11/10, Manchester City 4/6
Chelsea 1/3, Liverpool 2/1
Manchester United 1/18, Crystal Palace 7/1
To Qualify by Penalty Shootout
Cardiff 10/1, Blackburn 10/1
Arsenal 11/1, Manchester City 11/1
Chelsea 11/1, Liverpool 11/1
Manchester United 20/1, Crystal Palace 25/1
