Friday 14th March 2025

In Across the Leagues today:

• The UEFA Mega Acca rides on…
• EFL Cup Final stats: Liverpool v Newcastle…
• Win & BTTS selections… 

Weekend Picks: European dreams - and a 61/1 Bet Builder…

We had a good result in the Europa League last night…

Athletic Club Bilbao overturned a 1st leg deficit to beat Roma, winning 3-1 on the night and going through 4-3 on aggregate.

As I messaged to my colleague Shaun after the final whistle: the Mega Acca rides on…

Back in September we played the three UEFA club cup competitions in this Trixie…

• Champions League - Bayern Munich
• Europa League - Athletic Club Bilbao
• Conference League - Chelsea

That combo was a top-price 392/1 for the treble at the time, and 300/1+ in general.

With all three teams through to the respective quarter finals next month, that acca is now 44/1 at best (Unibet), and around 37/1 - 40/1 in general.

That’s an exciting ticket to be on, with the knockout rounds shaping up nicely. We’ll carry on our big European quest in April.

EFL Cup Final - Bet Builder stats…

There’s some domestic silverware up for grabs this weekend. It’s Liverpool v Newcastle in the EFL Cup (Carabao Cup) final at Wembley. Live on ITV at 4.30pm on Sunday…

Here are some standout stats for you:

• The last 4 EFL Cup Finals have all gone Under 2.5 Goals (including 2 wars of attrition between Liverpool and Chelsea). As have 7 of the last 10
• In the recent-history head-to-head between Liverpool and Newcastle, it’s 50-50 for Under/ Over 2.5 Goals (5 one way, 5 the other). With the most recent contest resulting in a 2-0 home win for Liverpool in the Premier League last month

Then again, you never know when these two clubs are going to produce a wild one… be it a 4-3 all-timer, or a high-goals bonanza like the 3-3 draw they played out at St James’ Park in December. These two men were in on the goals in the latter…

• In Mo Salah (Liverpool) and Alexander Isak (Newcastle), 2 of the top 3 scorers in the Premier League are in the ranks here. Both take penalties, too

If you want a head-to-head stat that’s hard to argue with, then how about this 9-out-of-10 record:

• Liverpool have won the Most Corners in 9 of their last 10 encounters with the Magpies

In the Cards markets, lookout for two South Americans in midfield. It’s Argentina vs. Brazil with these two…

• Alexis Mac Allister landed us a Player Card bet for Liverpool v PSG in the Champions League in midweek. He was booked in last year’s EFL Cup Final…
• Joelinton is Newcastle’s most-carded player in the Premier League this season. He’s been booked in 3 of his last 5 games in all competitions, and has chalked up 6 yellows in 11 appearances since Christmas
• The Referee for Sunday’s big match is John Brooks. The last time he ref’d a Liverpool game, Brooks booked Mac Allister. And ditto for Newcastle and Joelinton

I’m happy to sidestep the Under/ Over 2.5 Goals conundrum. And instead lean towards entertainment at Wembley this weekend, in the form of the two star strikers - and those strong card candidates…

As a Bet Builder, this four-man lineup pays 61/1 with Betfair Sportsbook. With 45/1+ around elsewhere, too (see below).

BET BUILDER:
Anytime Scorer: Mo Salah
Anytime Scorer: Alexander Isak
Shown a Card: Alexis Mac Allister
Shown a Card: Joelinton

Bet Builder coupons are available with most mainstream bookies (markets may vary).

Win & BTTS picks…

In the English Football League, we’ve hit on two winning doubles from our last four attempts at a Win & Both Teams to Score combo - paying odds of 33/1 and 13/1.

Here are our three selections for a Trixie this Saturday afternoon (three doubles and the treble):

Northampton v Birmingham - League One, 3pm

• BIRMINGHAM to Win & Both Teams to Score @ 10/3 (4.33) 

Bradford v Tranmere - League Two, 3pm

• BRADFORD to Win & Both Teams to Score @ 3/1 (4.0) 

Grimsby v Salford - League Two, 3pm

• GRIMSBY to Win & Both Teams to Score @ 10/3 (4.33) 

A ‘normal’ win treble on those three teams pays just 4/1. In comparison, the Win & BTTS trio comes out at 60/1+ in general. This is why we play, the way we play…

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TODAY’S PICKS & BEST ODDS

See above for full details

Liverpool v Newcastle:

• Bet Builder: 4 legs as listed above @ 61/1 Betfair Sportsbook, 56/1 Paddy Power, 53/1 BetVictor, 45/1 Unibet

Three Football League games as listed above:

• Trixie. Win & Both Teams to Score: Birmingham, Bradford, Grimsby - best odds Bet365 (74/1 the treble), BetVictor (67/1), William Hill, 888 Sport, Betway (66/1)

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I’ll see you next week, when we’ll be on International duty…

P.S
Log-in to view all our bet-specific stats for 18 leagues, hundreds of teams & thousands of players at:

www.acrosstheleagues.co.uk

Enjoy the football…

Best wishes,

Oliver Upstone

Across the Leagues