Liverpool – Stoke City. Mark O’Haire’s prediction

Liverpool hold a 1-0 advantage coming into the second leg of their League Cup semi-final tie with Stoke on Tuesday and the Reds will be looking to extend a fabulously strong head-to-head record with the Potters.

Not since 1959 have Stoke triumphed at Anfield (W0-D5-L31). Indeed, the guests have scored just once in their most recent eight visits to the red side of Merseyside. But Jurgen Klopp’s troops are an inconsistent bunch and that probably explains why, even with a one-goal lead, the Reds offer little to no value at odds-on quotes.

It’s now or never for the visitors who’ll be looking to bounce back from Saturday’s 3-0 reverse at Premier League leaders Leicester. The visitors have fired blanks in their last two outings but do boast a talented strikeforce and I’ll happily put my faith in the Potters grabbing a goal.

Stoke’s road record this season reads a reasonable W6-D5-L4 and although 10 of those fixtures fell below the 2.5 goals line, they’ve been leaking plenty of late. The Potters have kept just a solitary clean sheet in seven and shipped at least two goals in four of their previous six away days.

As for Liverpool, the Reds are still struggling with defensive injuries and their only shutout in seven this calendar year came at home to Exeter. The hosts have leaked 10 goals in their last five outings with 10 of their previous 15 at Anfield rewarding Both Teams To Score punters.

It’s that angle that I’m keen to pursue. Interestingly, 12 of the past 16 semi-final second legs in this competition have featured at least three goals. So I’ll get with the goals and back Both Teams To Score at 2.00 with William Hill.