Who will play in the EFL Cup final?

Liverpool are through to the EFL Cup final after a comprehensive display to win their semi-final 2^nd leg 2-0 at Arsenal. After a goalless 1^st leg at Anfield, and with the Reds still without their two African superstars in Mo Salah and Sadio Mane, representing their countries at AFCON, Arsenal will have been confident of turning next month’s final into an all-London affair, but Liverpool dominated and deserved to go through to face Chelsea at Wembley. Diogo Jota, set up both times by Trent Alexander-Arnold, scored both goals to send Liverpool to a Wembley final for the first time in six years. As if to sum up how it’s going for Arsenal, they did have one of their star players back from AFCON duty, Thomas Partey flying straight home after Ghana’s shock exit. He came on as a substitute in the 74^th minute and was sent off for a second bookable offence in the 90^th.

Trent Alexander-Arnold Assist Minutes (settled at 96)

We told in yesterday’s blog how Trent Alexander-Arnold was proving a popular buy on the Assist Minutes spread at 13-16, and those buyers will have thoroughly enjoyed another fantastic performance from arguably the best full-back in world football. Not since Roberto Carlos was marauding up the left flank for Real Madrid has a full-back had such an influence on the way his team plays, and Trent was at his best again in inspiring Liverpool to victory and the EFL Cup final. We mentioned that he will take on even more creative responsibility than usual, given the Reds were still without their AFCON stars Mo Salah and Sadio Mane, and that he’d ‘look to play in the likes of Diogo Jota’, and so it proved, Alexander-Arnold setting up both Jota’s goals and amassing Assist Minutes of 96. Punters who bought at 16 made a tasty profit of 80 times their bet, and could even feel a little unlucky at that, as Trent provided a succession of chances from the right flank, including a second-half corner that Ibrahima Konate thudded against the post.

Is Jose Mourinho under pressure at Roma already?

There have been stories circulating that Mourinho’s Roman revolution could be nearing its end already, despite the Special One only taking over in the summer. Things started so well, with six straight wins, but Roma have struggled for consistency since. After back to back defeats against Milan and Juventus, Mourinho needed to get some results, and after Sunday’s 1-0 win against Cagliari, they won a second straight game last night, beating Lecce in the Coppa Italia. England striker Tammy Abraham scored his 10^th goal in 12 games to help Roma win 3-1.

Cross-Bookings (settled at 1950)

All the bookings markets have sailed over in Roma’s little run of four games, and last night’s win over Lecce was no exception. Against Milan there were five yellows and a red, the same against Juve and seven yellows against Cagliari, so it’s no wonder we saw plenty of buying in our bookings markets ahead of last night’s game. The Cross-Bookings spread was set at 730-840, meaning buyers won 1110 times their stake as both sides received three yellows and the visitors had Mario Gargiulo dismissed.

What’s the biggest shock of the day at the Australian Open?

Defending champion Naomi Osaka was beaten in straight sets by unseeded American Amanda Anisimova in a thrilling match. Osaka was seeded 13 after taking a four-month break at the end of last season for mental health reasons, but had won 24 of her previous 25 matches at Melbourne Park. Anisimova, a semi-finalist at the 2019 French Open when aged just 17, was not intimidated by the occasion or opponent as she battled back from losing the 1^st set to win 4-6 6-3 7-6. She faces number 1 seed Ash Barty next.

Anisimova Points (settled at 115)

While Osaka came into this tournament after a lengthy layoff, the reigning champ had looked in good form in coming through her first couple of matches unscathed. But as she showed with that deep run in Paris a couple of years ago, Anisimova is not one to fold under the pressure of the big occasion, and gave as good as she got throughout. The spread for Anisimova Points was set at 66-70, meaning buyers won 45 times their bet.