Weekend Review: Bookies’ delight following League Cup draw and penalty drama

A 0-0 draw in 90 minutes and a dramatic penalty shootout in the League Cup final between Chelsea and Liverpool made for an excellent Sunday for the bookies.

Liverpool (8/11 to lift the trophy) secured a record ninth league cup after ousting Chelsea (Evs) 11-10 on penalties after a planned masterstroke from Chelsea boss Thomas Tuchel failed to materialise.

Hoping to replicate the same strategy that saw his side triumph in the Super Cup in the summer, substitute goalkeeper Kepa replaced the imperious Edouard Mendy to display his shootout skills.

Instead, Kepa didn’t save one of Liverpool’s 11 spot kicks and with 90,000 eyes in Wembley on him, he ballooned his penalty into the stands to condemn Chelsea to defeat in the first domestic cup final of the season.

Mendy made a stunning double save during the game and will be sorely disappointed to have been denied the chance to been the shootout saviour.

WE ARE THE CARABAO CUP WINNERS!!! ?? #CarabaoCupFinal pic.twitter.com/HDAq8DpkUa

— Liverpool FC (@LFC) February 27, 2022

Kindred Group’s Ali Gill said: “The Carabao Cup final going all the way to penalties, at 0-0, is always a dream results for the book, if not for the viewing public, although as a 0-0 this was pretty good viewing.

“Interest in the outright on this cup is always small, but all told we came out with a small profit on a Liverpool win on the outright too,” he added.

Betfred’s Alan Firkins added: “The 90-minute draw was, of course, a cracking result, but Liverpool’s eventual success against Chelsea will surely only inspire them in their pursuit of Manchester City for the Premier League title – for which they’re now a firm 11/4 shot.”

In the Premier League, Manchester United (9/25) failed to strengthen their grip on their top four spot with a drab 0-0 draw against relegation-threatened Watford (13/2).

Champions League chasers Tottenham and West Ham responded with impressive wins to ramp up the pressure on the Red Devils.

Spurs (19/20) demolished Leeds United (11/4) 4-0 which led to the eventual sacking of maverick coach Marcelo Bielsa, while West Ham (19/20) won 1-0 against Wolves (17/5) at the London Stadium thanks to a Tomáš Souček finish.

The big man knows how to score goals ?@tomassoucek28 pic.twitter.com/MXoDvpsxSg

— West Ham United (@WestHam) February 28, 2022

Manchester City (1/4) survived a VAR penalty scare over a potential Rodri handball against Everton (11/1) to secure a 1-0 win thanks to Phil Foden to maintain their lead atop the Premier League table.

Gill said: “A decent week in the Premier League, thanks mainly to one result. Man United’s 0-0 draw with Watford was the money maker on singles and doubles, more than making up for the punters mopping up on Spurs’ demolition of the now manager-less Leeds.

“Everton only shipping one late goal to City meant that one went nicely our way too, although if VAR had a pair of eyes, let alone endless camera angles to see a clear handball, things could have been even better,” he added.

Firkins noted: “United’s impotent effort at Old Trafford against lowly Watford was another trading highlight – they’re 2/1 now for a top-four finish, with notably Arsenal and Spurs very much in their way.”

Elsewhere, in horseracing, Any Second Now cemented its place as the favourite for the Grand National following an impressive performance at Fairyhouse.

PHOTO FINISH! ?

Any Second Now WINS the Grade 3 Bobbyjo Chase at Fairyhouse! ? pic.twitter.com/xTJL4ZDT2Q

— Racing Post (@RacingPost) February 26, 2022

The Ted Walsh-trained horse finished ahead of Escaria Ten in a thrilling end to the Bobbyjo Chase in what many are predicting could be the eventual 1-2 finish for the Grand National.

Any Second Now finished third in last year’s meeting at Aintree and is now looking to leap into first spot in a few months’ time.

Firkins said: “Any Second Now won the Bobbyjo Chase at Fairyhouse by a whisker, and last year’s Aintree third is now 10/1 clear Grand National favourite, from 14/1, with Betfred.”