Capital One Cup
The first semi final of the Capital One Cup takes place tonight with Stoke hosting Liverpool in the first leg. Both sides have had a mixed season and are currently mid table in the Premier League.
Stoke play a lot more attractive football this season and with an attacking trio of Bojan, Shaqiri and Arnautovic they have been a pleasure to watch at times. However, like their opponents tonight they have struggled to score goals and it is the reason they are not further up the league table.
Daniel Sturridge and Jordan Henderson are both deemed not fit enough to return to the side yet which is a big blow for Jurgen Klopp's team. Christian Benteke has scored the winner twice in the past three games for them but still looks low on confidence and I'm not sure he is a particularly good fit for them.
The first leg of a semi final is often a cagey affair and I don't think this will be any different. Neither side will want to go into the second leg with a deficit to overturn and continuing on from their low scoring matches so far this season I think this game could well end up 0-0 or 1-1.
13:40 Southwell
There is not much to get excited about on the racing front today but this is a nice little race at Southwell.
Philba for Michael Appleby is chasing a hat trick after two good wins at a lower level. He is sixteen pounds higher than the first of those wins and I think that could well be enough to stop him in this higher grade. It looks like he will race fairly handily again and if so will be there to be shot at when they enter the final furlong.
Westwood Hoe is also on a hat trick and won here last time out in a better race than this. He only carries an extra two pounds here today and I think he will take all the beating. With Tom Queally doing the steering he will sit in behind the leaders and then looked to strike inside the final furlong and appears to have the class to do so. At the prices he looks a really nice bit of value and is the stand out bet of the day for me.
Today's Selections
Stoke v Liverpool - correct score 1-1 - 1 point @ 13/2 (888sport)
Southwell 13:40 - Westwood Hoe - 2 points @ 9/4 (Betvictor)