Carabao Cup Semi-Finals First Leg Predictions

Four teams remain in the 2024/25 edition of the Carabao Cup, with the first semi-finals taking place this week.

A competition that many are initially indifferent to suddenly takes on new significance when a trip to Wembley is on the immediate horizon. There are plenty of narratives leading up to this season’s semi-finals.

Mikel Arteta’s work deserves a second piece of silverware, while Liverpool are proud holders who do not want the Gunners to claim any psychological advantage in the Premier League title race. Their rivals Newcastle United and Tottenham Hotspur are desperate to end their prolonged trophy drought having finished runners-up since 2021.

The upcoming battles may not decide March’s finalists under the Wembley Arch, but they will go a long way in shaping the momentum of the ties with the second legs scheduled for early February.

Here’s how 90 minutes believes that the first games will be done.

Newcastle have won five in a row Premier League and they were the beneficiaries of Thomas Frank resting Brentford’s key players for their quarter-final.

The Magpies have returned to a level recognizable from their 2022/23 campaign. He is a nightmare against them, and Arsenal should be prepared for a couple of slugfests with a place in the Carabao Cup final is at stake. Newcastle are particularly desperate to add to their dusty trophy case.

However, the Gunners will benefit from the suspensions of Fabian Schar and Bruno Guimaraes. Eddie Howe has settled on a preferred line-up in recent weeks and there is sure to be some change on Tuesday night after the Magpies were made to work incredibly hard for all three points at Tottenham on Saturday.

All of this is in Arsenal’s favour, but the hosts themselves are plagued by key injuries. Howe won’t have to worry about doubling or even tripling Bukayo Saka for any leg with the winger except for long distance. The Gunners are 13 games unbeaten in all competitions but their inability to turn draws into wins looks set to hinder their title shot.

They have already faltered at St James’ Park this season and you feel Arsenal will need to go into the second leg with the advantage of having the best possible chance of reaching the final.

Tottenham are on course to endure their worst Premier League season since 2008/09 but support remains relatively strong for manager Ange Postecoglou.

Spurs are defender-less and winless since beating Southampton before Christmas, with their recent barren run including a 6-3 hitting at the hands of their upcoming opponents.

Liverpool have shown weaknesses in the middle of their top-flight campaign, and Wednesday’s hosts may benefit from Arne Slot rotating his starting line-up heavily at N17. We certainly won’t see the same team that won brilliantly in north London on December 22nd.

Ange’s Lilywhites have leapfrogged both Manchester clubs to reach this stage, and while they are far better on paper, their positive second-half display against Newcastle means there should at least be sparks of confidence in the dressing room before since the visit of Liverpool. The manager is desperate for a result.

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