Friday 23rd February 2024

In Across the Leagues today:

• EFL Cup Final - Chelsea v Liverpool…
• Bet Builder stats…
• Win & Both Teams to Score selections… 

Weekend Picks at 27/1 and 63/1…

Thank you for the get-well-soon messages this week. They really cheered me up…

I don’t think I’ve had so many emails in one go since our last Bet Builder won!

Better Living Through Chemistry?

Many years ago, after my Granny passed away, we found out that she hadn’t been to the doctor’s for 30 years. I wasn’t getting near that mark. But until this week, I certainly hadn’t been for quite some time…

So much so, that when I got handed a prescription note on Thursday afternoon, I genuinely had to ask a nurse what to do with it (!).

All being well I’ll be on the mend now. Although maybe a change of pace is a good thing. As the song goes, you’re not 19 forever…

Anyway, I’m back at my computer today, in time to tackle the weekend football. That’s what Fridays are all about here at Across the Leagues…

More write-ups, stats, and analysis will surely follow in subsequent emails. But for this afternoon, with that Friday feeling chasing us down. Here are our weekend picks…

Chelsea v Liverpool

EFL Cup Final, Sunday 3pm - Sky Sports

Until Liverpool tonked Chelsea 4-1 in the Premier League last month, these two clubs had played out seven successive draws in all competitions. Including a pair of 0-0 After Extra Time cup finals, that both saw Liverpool eventually take the silverware via a penalty shootout.

After Chelsea drew 1-1 at Manchester City last weekend, and with Liverpool carrying a stack of injury concerns right now. I wouldn’t rule out another very close score-line at Wembley this Sunday afternoon.

General odds in the region of 5/2 (3.5) for a DRAW always add a juicy bone into the broth when we’re stirring in the stats for a Bet Builder…

To go in the mix along with that Match Result selection, two Player Cards picks from midfield - one from each team:

• MOSES CAICEDO - booked in 3 of his last 5 games in all comps, including last time out against Liverpool. The Ecuadorian is Chelsea’s 2nd-most-carded player in the league this season…
• WATARU ENDO - booked in 4 of his last 6 games in all comps, including in 2 out of 3 appearances since returning from representing Japan in the Asian Games. Endo is Liverpool’s 2nd-most-carded player in the Premier League in 2023/24, despite starting just 11 games. Injuries look to have given him his chance at the moment…

Incidentally, the two most-carded men from our respective Premier League Team Stats for these clubs on our website, are Nicholas Jackson for Chelsea and Darwin Nunez (potential injury doubt this weekend) for Liverpool. Those two are both strikers…

Along with Jackson and Nunez, file Cole Palmer for Chelsea as another attacker who could tick the box to score OR be carded (or both)... a market that is offered by Paddy Power & Betfair Sportsbook, for example.

Keeping it simple with my three-pronged Bet Builder here though, my selection is the Draw - Caicedo card - Endo card combo. Paying 27/1 with Skybet, Paddy & Betfair Sports.

Here’s how that looks on the Skybet ‘BuildABet’ coupon:

• Bet Builder coupons are also available with the likes of Bet365, William Hill, Betway, Boylesports, BetVictor, Unibet (markets may vary)

While Caicedo is the favourite for a Card. I like the 3/1 odds for Endo as a standalone single. We’ve done well with picks in that price category of late.

Win & Both Teams to Score selections…

Last but not least, it wouldn’t be a Friday if we didn’t have a Football League feel-around in the lucrative Win & Both Teams to Score stats…

Three picks for Saturday afternoon (3pm):

IPSWICH v Birmingham
Championship

Blackpool v BOLTON
League One

Charlton v PORTSMOUTH
League One

The advice: a treble on Both Teams to Score in all three games. And split a stake four ways across the Win & Both Teams to Score Trixie on Ipswich, Bolton & Portsmouth (three doubles and a treble).

TODAY’S PICKS

See above for full details

Chelsea v Liverpool

• BET BUILDER: 3 legs as listed above @ 27.5/1 Paddy Power, Betfair Sportsbook, 27/1 Skybet
• Player to be Carded: Wataru Endo @ 3/1 (4.0) Betfred, Bet365, Unibet, BetUK, BetMGM, LiveScoreBet

Ipswich v Birmingham
Blackpool v Bolton
Charlton v Portsmouth

• TREBLE. Both Teams to Score in all 3 games @ 4/1 (5.0) Bet365, 19/5 (4.8) William Hill, Betfred, Betway, Unibet, BetUK, BetMGM 
• TRIXIE. Win & Both Teams to Score: Ipswich, Bolton, Portsmouth - best odds William Hill (63/1 the treble), Bet365 (60/1)

Time-saver: where possible, the bookie links above go directly to the matches/ markets in question.

P.S
Log-in to view all our bet-specific stats for 17 leagues at:

www.acrosstheleagues.co.uk

• Want to get in touch? Email me at: oliver.upstone@oxonpress.co.uk

Enjoy the football…

Best wishes,

Oliver Upstone

Across the Leagues