bet365 Football Betting Show: Liverpool clinch EFL Cup, Manchester derby and relegation battle

Sam Matterface and Steve Freeth analyse Liverpool’s victory over Chelsea in the EFL Cup and look ahead to the latest round of Premier League fixtures including the Manchester derby at the Etihad.

Liverpool clinch EFL Cup

Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool got their hands on the first piece of silverware on offer in English football this season after a depleted Reds side prevailed 1-0 over Chelsea after extra time in the EFL Cup final at Wembley.

Liverpool were without a plethora of key first team players at Wembley including Alisson, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Curtis Jones, Dominik Szoboszlai, Mo Salah, Darwin Nunez and Diogo Jota.

The Reds’ injury issues saw a number of youngsters involved in the final, with 20-year-old Conor Bradley starting at right-back and Jarell Quansah, Bobby Clark, James McConnell and Jayden Danns coming off the bench.

Although Mauricio Pochettino’s Chelsea also fielded a youthful team, the Blues still had plenty first team experience in their ranks and will surely view the cup final defeat as a big opportunity missed.

Liverpool were priced at 1500/1 at the start of the season to win the quadruple of the Premier League, FA Cup, EFL Cup and Europa League, with these odds having now been slashed to 16/1 following their first trophy win.

Under pressure Ten Hag faces Manchester derby test

The second Manchester derby of the season is nigh with Pep Guardiola’s Man City seeking to keep the pressure on Liverpool at the top of the Premier League table when rivals Man Utd visit the Etihad.

City are unbeaten in 11 Premier League games and will fancy their chances of completing a double over United this weekend after triumphing 3-0 against the Red Devils at Old Trafford back in October.

United will have been left reeling from a 2-1 home defeat against Fulham in their last Premier League outing, with a trip across the city to face the reigning champions a daunting assignment for Erik ten Hag’s side.

The ex-Ajax boss appears under pressure to start picking up points quickly at Old Trafford, with INEOS chairman Sir Jim Ratcliffe now in control of the club’s football operations.

Sixth-placed United are currently priced at 9/1 to finish in the top four and 5/2 to finish the top five in the Premier League.

Everton reprieve in relegation battle

Sean Dyche’s Everton have received a boost in their battle to avoid relegation from the Premier League this term following the news the club’s 10-point deduction for violating profit and sustainability rules has been deducted to six after an appeal.

This ruling has seen the Toffees escape the relegation zone and move up to 15th in the table, five points above 18th-placed Luton Town.

The Hatters’ relegation concerns have therefore become heightened, with Brentford and Nottingham Forest also plunged further into trouble in 16th and 17th place respectively.

Everton have moved out to 7/1 to be relegated, with Brentford priced at 10/1, Nottingham Forest 7/4 and Luton 4/7.