Liverpool and Cardiff Tipped To Reach Carling Cup Final | Thebigtip

Cardiff host Crystal Palace in this second leg Carling Cup Semi Final on Tuesday night knowing that if they fail to score they go out of the competition. Palace come to the Cardiff City Stadium with a 1-0 advantage earned in the first leg at Selhurst Park, courtesy of a headed goal by Anthony Gardner. However, Palace boss, Dougie Freedman, will be reminding his players not to get carried away with that result as the last time they played at Cardiff  in the Championship back in November, they were beaten 2-0. A similar result on Tuesday night would see the Bluebirds make a third visit to Wembley in four years after making the FA Cup final in 2008 and the Play Off Final in 2010.

The betting ahead of the game is interesting with Cardiff 8/11 odds on favourites to win in the 90 minutes while both sides are quoted at 5/6 to qualify for the final.

Cardiff probably played the better football in the first leg but was denied victory due to Palace’s excellent defensive organisation in which Gardner was outstanding. Cardiff striker, Kenny Miller, did have the ball in the net but his header was ruled out due to an infringement. Joe Rails also threatened for Cardiff and Peter Whittingham often looked dangerous. However, in overall terms, it was Palace who deserved to hang on to the win which will make the second leg much more interesting.

Malky Mackay’s men come into the second leg with a hard fought 3-2 league win over Portsmouth at the weekend in which they came from behind twice and scored the winner deep into injury time. This performance bears testimony to the attitude of the Cardiff team and demonstrates what a difficult side they will be to beat at home; after all, they have only lost twice in the Championship at the Cardiff City Stadium all season and sit third in the Championship Table with promotion still firmly in their sights.

Palace on the other hand come into the match having lost away at Blackpool on Saturday and with three defeats in their last five games. Their only win in January came in the first leg against Cardiff, which if added to the fact that they have lost eight times away from home in the league this season then the odds quite understandably favour a Cardiff victory.

Cardiff should prove too strong for Palace and will have enough in 90 minutes to produce the win and overall the necessary result to ensure they return to Wembley next month, even if t means going into extra time or winning on penalties.

In the other semi final on Wednesday night it's Liverpool v Man City at Anfield and it is the home side who hold the 1-0 advantage, a result that very few would have predicted as the Reds were the first team to win at the Etihad Stadium this season, especially after they were well beaten 3-0 in the league there just ten days earlier, but that is exactly what happened in the first leg with Liverpool skipper, Steven Gerrard, scoring the winner from the penalty spot after only 8 minutes.

The betting is very close with some Bookmakers unable to separate the two with both priced around 13/8 to win in 90 minutes, however, it is Liverpool who have the slightest advantage due no doubt to them being the home team. Certainly if it was based on the form of the two sides last weekend then City would be favourites after beating Spurs, while the Reds lost to relegation threatened Bolton 1-3.

Notwithstanding, this is another game and with Liverpool 1-0 up from the first leg, they are 2/5 odds on to qualify for the final while City are around the 2/1 to progress to Wembley.

City will be certainly coming to win the game, manager Roberto Mancini has made no secret of the fact that he wants to win everything that is still available to his team this season and he also believes that a one goal deficit is nothing to be frightened of. He will field a very strong team which should include Mario Balotelli up front with Sergio Aguero and will have Nigel de Jong to anchor the midfield.

Liverpool meanwhile will hope to quell the tide that City throw at them and know that an early goal in their favour could really leave the visitors with a mountain to climb. Liverpool has yet to lose at home this season and that includes a 1-1 draw against Man City in November. They will be difficult to break down and should be able to get the draw required to reach the final.

Prediction: Liverpool to play Cardiff in the Carling Cup Final on Sunday 26th February