Can Liverpool maintain their unbeaten streak by beating Leeds in the EFL Cup, at 7.45pm on Sky Sports 1?

Free of the pressures of European football, and fully enveloped in Jurgen Klopp’s way of thinking, Liverpool are have had a cracking season so far. With just an early blip against Burnley staining their form sheet the Reds sit 1 point behind Chelsea in the league, and look set to reach the EFL Cup semi-finals after a rather fortuitous draw against Leeds.



It will be interesting to see what kind of team Klopp puts out. Though Liverpool are absent from Europe, a merciless schedule over Christmas (one that the club unsuccessfully appealed against) may mean Klopp gives some of his less used players a run out on Tuesday. Chief among these will likely be Daniel Sturridge; out of favour with his German manager, enough so that January transfer rumours have begun to spring up, the EFL Cup fixture, alongside Philippe Coutinho’s injury, means the Englishman may have a chance to impress. He heads into Tuesday at a Super Mega PGM of 62-72, with Sadio Mane at 39-45 and Divock Origi at 54-62.

Though pushing for promotion in the Championship, Leeds have had to scrap their way through the Cup. Forced to penalties by Fleetwood Town in the 1st round, the Whites then went on to beat both Luton and Blackburn 1-0 (the latter of which taking until the 85th minute) before barely beating Norwich, once again on penalties, in the 4th round.

Given how good they have looked at times this season it is hard to fathom the home side slipping up against lower league opponents, with Spreadex offering a robust Liverpool/Leeds Goal Supremacy spread of 1.6-1.8 alongside a Total Goals spread of 3.1-3.3.

Tuesday’s other EFL Cup quarter final sees a resurgent Newcastle travel to a potentially relegation-bound Hull City. The Toon got off to a shuddering start this season, losing their first 2 games back in the Championship; since then, however, they have climbed to the top of the table, and have a 2 point lead over Brighton despite losing against Blackburn at the weekend.



Their EFL Cup form has been even better, with Newcastle scoring 10 goals in 3 games without conceding a single one. Summer-signing Dwight Gayle, who sits at a Super Mega PGM of 35-41, has been unstoppable, and is the Championship’s top scorer with 13 goals. He has been nicely complimented by Ayoze Perez, on 6 goals all competitions and at 19-23, and the hot-headed Aleksander Mitrovic, at 27-32.

Hull have had the opposite kind of season league-wise. After winning their first 2 matches the Tigers went on to pick just 1 point in 8 games between the end of August and end of October. November has seen a slight improvement in form, with a win over Southampton joined by a draw against West Brom and a loss against Swansea. Nevertheless they are still stuck in the relegation zone, though admittedly on the same 11 points as 17th place Crystal Palace. The Cup has been something of a consolation for Mike Phelan and co., with 3 away wins on the trot taking them to the quarters.

Despite coming from the league below the Toon have been far better than the Tigers, with Spreadex offering a Newcastle/Hull Goal Supremacy spread of 0.2-0.4 alongside a Total Goals spread of 2.45-2.65.