Liverpool favourites to win the EFL Cup but do they represent value?

We’re now just three rounds away from finding out who’ll be crowned EFL Cup champions. And while it’s a tough one to call as things stands, we can be sure of one thing: it’ll be a different name on the cup this year, following Manchester City’s exit from the competition away at bitter rivals Manchester United last night.

But despite their impressive win against the current holders, Mourinho’s men are still 7/2 to go all the way in this competition for the fifth time in their history.

That makes them third-favourites, behind Liverpool (9/4) and Arsenal (3/1), although the latter have famously never won this trophy under Arsene Wenger.

Perhaps it’s Liverpool’s incredible record in this competition that makes them favourites, having reached a staggering 12 finals in the past, winning eight.

All three sides have been presented with home ties in the quarter-final, with last year’s runners-up Liverpool hosting Leeds United, while United and Arsenal welcome West Ham and Southampton to Old Trafford and the Emirates respectively.

We mustn’t write off those two sides though, with both the Hammers and the Saints proving they’re capable of a shock or two in recent years.

In fact, the south coast outfit defeated Arsene Wenger’s side just two years ago in the fourth round at the Emirates, while their record of late against the north London club is something which several top sides would struggle to match (losing just two of their last seven meetings).

And Red Devils’ fans will remember all too well that 3-2 defeat to the Hammers at the tail end of last season which all-but ended Louis van Gaal’s hopes of qualifying for the Champions League.

That all means that there could certainly be some value in the 10/1 on offer for Southampton to go all the way this year and win their first ever League Cup, while 14/1 says Slaven Bilic’s men do exactly that.

Jurgen Klopp’s side are considered to have the easiest fixture of the round as they face 25/1 outsiders for the title, Leeds.

Meanwhile, Newcastle United will face Premier League opposition for the first time since their relegation from the division last May, when the Magpies head to Hull City. And at 12/1, the Championship outfit are considered to have more of a chance of winning the whole competition than their opponents (14/1).

It remains to be seen whether the big-boys will continue to field weaker sides as we head into the latter stages of the EFL Cup, but if they do, you can rest assured that the underdogs will be ready to pounce.

All Odds and Makrets are correct as of the date of publishing