Carabao Cup semi-final first leg predictions

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

A competition to which many were initially indifferent suddenly takes on a newfound importance when a trip to Wembley appears on the horizon. Narratives abound ahead of this season’s semi-finals.

Mikel Arteta’s project deserves a second piece of silverware, while Liverpool are proud owners who won’t want the Gunners looking for any psychological advantage in the Premier League title race. Their opponents, Newcastle United and Tottenham Hotspur, are desperate to end their long trophy drought after finishing as runners-up since 2021.

The upcoming clashes may not decide March’s finalists under Wembley’s arch, but they will go a long way in shaping the dynamic of the ties with the second leg scheduled for early February.

Here’s how 90 min he thinks the first legs will be played.

Alexander Isak scored the only goal of the game when Arsenal met Newcastle in November / Stu Forster/GettyImages

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

The Magpies have returned to the level recognizable from the 2022/23 season. They are a nightmare to play against, and Arsenal must be ready for a few slugfests with a place in the Carabao Cup finally at stake. Newcastle in particular are desperate to add to their dusty trophy cabinet.

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

All this works in Arsenal’s hands, but the hosts themselves are hampered by key injuries. Howe won’t have to worry about doubling or even tripling Bukayo Saka for either leg with the winger out for the long haul. The Gunners are 13 games unbeaten in all competitions but their inability to turn draws into wins looks set to hamper their title charge.

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

Start Time (GMT)	Fixture	Prediction
20:00 hours	Arsenal v Newcastle	2-1

Tottenham recently attacked Liverpool at home / Catherine Ivill – AMA/GettyImages

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 without a defender and without a win since defeating Southampton before Christmas and their recent barren run includes 6-3 hitting the hands of their oncoming opponents.

Liverpool have shown frailties in the midst of their top-flight campaign and Wednesday’s hosts could benefit from Arne Slot rotating his starting XI heavily in the N17. We certainly won’t see the same side that won handsomely in North London on December 22nd.

Ange’s Lilywhites have bypassed both Manchester clubs to reach this stage, and while they are vastly outplayed on paper, their positive second half against Newcastle means there should at least be sparks of confidence around the dressing room ahead of Liverpool’s visit. The manager desperately needs a result.