da spicy bet： The football just keeps on coming now in 2016/17 as the third round of the newly named EFL Cup takes centre stage this week.
da casino： As the first opportunity for clubs to win silverware, the competition isn’t always given as much respect as it perhaps should due to a packed fixture schedule but this season there looks to be a number of clubs who could really do with lifting the three handled trophy.
Last year’s final saw Manchester City beat Liverpool at Wembley as Jurgen Klopp looked for his first trophy with the Reds and Manuel Pellegrini won his last with the Citizens.
The competition has been targeted by many managers in their first seasons at clubs as a way of installing a winning mentality early on and with a number of high-profile new faces at some of England’s biggest teams, expect them to all be going for it this year.
Meanwhile, there’s still the potential for some shocks as the draw threw up some great looking ties so before the action all gets underway tonight, here are five things to look out for from the third round…
Will Everton lay down a marker?
The Toffees have started very well and are unbeaten under Ronald Koeman, but what their fans want most of all is a trophy.
It’s been a long time since Everton last lifted something but this current crop of players is as good as they’ve had for a while and as important as good league form is, Koeman must know delivering a trophy would make him an instant icon.
Their latest step is against Norwich City tonight.
Nicklas Bendtner to face Arsenal
They say players are always likely to score against their former sides so Arsenal had better watch out against Nottingham Forest at the County Ground.
The former Gunners player Nicklas Bendtner has signed for the Championship side and has said he will celebrate if he scores, just not wildly. As Arsenal fans will attest to, though, it’s a big if.
Jurgen Klopp set to field a strong team
Jurgen Klopp is a big fan of this competition if you hear him speak about it and with no European football for the Reds this season, expect a strong line-up from the German.
Liverpool head to Derby County tonight on the back of another eye-catching performance against Chelsea but they’ll have to make sure they don’t let that momentum fade away.
Can Northampton pile on the pressure on Mourinho?
Jose Mourinho has lost three games on the bounce at Manchester United and so naturally questions are being asked of the Portuguese manager.
Undoubtedly, he’ll still fancy himself to turn things around and the fixture against Northampton Town provides a chance to do so.
It also provides a chance, though, for things to get really chaotic if they conspire to lose.
Can West Ham kick-start their season?
West Ham have a home game against Accrington Stanley which, if they lose, would be nothing short of a disaster.
The Hammers and their fans just need a break to get things going this season and whilst on paper, this should be a bit of a banker, the club have already shown their frailties in games they’re expected to win this season.
Accrington have nothing to lose and West Ham arguably have everything to lose.