The EFL Cup is back with three tantalising matchups on Tuesday night, with coveted semi-final places up for grabs.
Marco Silva’s Fulham travel to Merseyside to take on Sean Dyche’s in-form Everton (19:45), League One Port Vale host Championship outfit Middlesbrough in a battle to be the last remaining EFL side in the competition (19:45), while the late kick-off (20:00) sees the injury-hampered Magpies travel down to London to face Chelsea.
- Everton to win to nil
- Port Vale and Middlesbrough - Both Teams to Score
- Chelsea to win by two goals
Toffees To Taste Sweet Victory
The resurgence of Everton under Dyche has been miraculous this season, given how close they were to relegation in May.
Victory over Bournemouth on the final day of last season ensured safety for the Toffees and top-flight football for the 69th consecutive year.
Everton have already eliminated two other Premier League sides in this competition, with both Aston Villa and most recently Burnley receiving their marching orders.
They have won each of their last four games to nil, and come up against a Fulham side who have won two of their last three games across all competitions by a scoreline of 5-0.
However, Silva’s side went down with little more than a whimper to Newcastle on the weekend, with Raul Jimenez picking up a red card in the 3-0 defeat and he will miss this meeting as a result.
Without that focal point up front, this Everton defence should be able to hold firm and progress to the final four.
EFL clash Too Close To Call
Following in the footsteps of League Two Bradford City, who famously made it to the final of this competition in 2013, third-tier Port Vale are looking to carve out their own slice of history.
Vale go into this encounter with just two wins in their last seven in all competitions, with those victories sandwiching a defeat via penalties to Stevenage in the FA Cup.
Boro put an end to their three game losing streak with a hard-fought 2-1 victory at Swansea on the weekend.
Michael Carrick’s side are comfortably mid-table and have scraped through previous rounds in this competition, edging out Huddersfield and Exeter.
Both sides could be in better form going into this and with two shaky defences, this could be down to who is more clinical on the day.
Chelsea To Inflict More Misery
Chelsea’s 2023 has not been the new dawn many had hoped after Todd Boehly took ownership of the club.
Record transfer spending has proved that money doesn’t always buy success, with poor performances and form contributing heavily to their current 10th position.
Progression in this competition has been hard work, but fortunes may be beginning to turn at Stamford Bridge, as the Blues are unbeaten in their last four home games.
This is a stark contrast to Newcastle’s away form, as the Magpies are winless in their last five trips on the road in all competitions.
Describing Newcastle as “injury-stricken” would be an understatement, as Eddie Howe is missing at least nine players due to injury and Sandro Tonali also absent due to long-term suspension.
This threadbare squad has had a lot to contend with in recent weeks with league, cup and European football to play, and another cup exit may be on the cards as fatigue begins to kick in.
