Bookies wrong to bag Albions Cup chance

Six ties make up Wednesday`s English Capital One Cup program and there is little doubt that West Bromwich is the best bet as it welcomes Liverpool to The Hawthorns once again.

The Baggies and the Reds met in the midlands on the opening day of the English Premier League season, with the game ending in a comprehensive 3-0 victory for the home team.

While West Bromwich was helped by the 58th-minute dismissal of Liverpool central defender Daniel Agger, Steve Clarke`s side was one goal to the good at the time and even missed the penalty kick awarded for Agger`s red-card offence.

The Reds dominated possession, even after going down to 10 men, but they failed to create many scoring opportunities, which has been their Achilles heel for much longer than Brendan Rodgers has been their under-pressure manager.

The Baggies handled everything that Liverpool threw at them and were excellent value for the first of their three home wins in the English Premier League so far this campaign.

The Reds and their new boss are desperate for some success and they are the English Capital One Cup holders following their nail-biting penalty shootout defeat of second-tier Cardiff in last season`s final. Anthony Gerrard, cousin of Liverpool captain, missed the last kick of the competition.

That desire is evident in the match betting market because there is no other way to explain why bookmakers have put up the Reds as the favourites at around 13-8, with their hosts at around 15-8 and the draw available at around 5-2.

Make the value play and back West Bromwich, whose boss knows most of Liverpool`s players better than his opposite number because the Anfield club`s first team coach for 18 months.

Apart from the Baggies, it is hard to get excited about any of the English Capital One Cup betting options in the other five Wednesday clashes. There are several short-priced favourites about whom it is difficult to get enthused.

Arsenal is the hottest English Capital One Cup favourite of the night and, no matter which players Arsene Wenger picks, the Gunners should get the job done versus poor Coventry.

The Sky Blues are in danger of going from the top tier to the fourth tier in little more than 10 years, with former Manchester United striker Mark Robins - the man whose City Ground goal is credited with saving Sir Alex Ferguson from the sack in 1990 - charged with arresting their slide.

It is not going to be easy. Coventry has lost it last four games against the might of Carlisle, Shrewsbury, Stevenage and Tranmere, plus it is yet to break its English League One duck having accrued only three draws from eight rounds.

Arsene Wenger will ring the changes and hand rare starts to a number of Arsenal squad members but the Gunners disposed of Bolton and Shrewsbury in similar circumstances last season so, if one is looking for a hotpot to add to accumulators, the Wenger Boys are the best option.

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26/09/2012     © Frixo 2024