The Carabao Cup returns again this season with Leeds United taking on Crewe Alexandra in the second round this evening
The match kicks off tonight, Tuesday 24th August, at 19:45 in Elland Road.
Leeds have now started to get their Premier League season back on track with a comeback draw against Everton at the weekend. Although the team are struggling to keep clean sheets of late, they are still unbeaten in seven home games.
This game will probably be a chance for Marcelo Bielsa to try out new players and spot new partnerships. The game will also be an opportunity to see signings like Kristoffer Klaesson and Junior Firpo getting full run-outs.
Crewe, on the other hand, are in the middle of a terrible run of form. After four games in League One, they find themselves in the relegation zone with a single point.
They have lost three games on the bounce including most recently a 1-0 loss to Accrington Stanley at home. David Artell will need to play a strong side to try to get a result against Leeds and give confidence to the side.
Crewe have nothing to lose against this Premier League side so this could prove to be an interesting, unpredictable game.
💪@LUFC host Crewe Alexandra tomorrow evening in the @Carabao_Cup.👇 #LUFC #MOT @Tudor_Freight pic.twitter.com/cA7ndBRfqe
— Leeds United StatZone (@lufcsz) August 23, 2021
Predicted Starting 11
Leeds United
Formation
4-1-4-1
Starting Team
Klaesson (GK), Firpo, Cooper, Struijk, Shackleton, Phillips, Roberts, Rodrigo, Klich, Costa, Bamford.
Injuries
Llorente, Koch
Crewe Alexandra
Formation
4-3-3
Starting Team
Richards (GK), Ramsay, Thomas, Offord, McFadzean, Ainley, MacDonald, Finney, Knight, Porter Mandron.
Injuries
None
Former #itfc academy player Ben Knight has joined Crewe Alexandra on loan until the end of the season from Manchester City.#CreweAlex #ManCity #EFL https://t.co/L7bqouJeQv pic.twitter.com/DKfsNhHUY4
— Luke Penning (@LukePenningVGP) August 16, 2021
Betting
Leeds are the bookies’ favourites with odds of 2/11 to win in normal time.
A draw in 90 minutes has odds of 11/2.
Crewe are heavy underdogs with odds of 13/1 to win outright.
Score Prediction
There is no other way this tie is going, Leeds are 50 places ahead of this struggling Crewe side. The Whites will clearly dominate this game and look to make it a cricket score.
Crewe may not go down without a fight but expect this game to end 4-0 to Leeds.
Raphinha 🤝 Scoring against Everton pic.twitter.com/KlmHlz2f3y
— Leeds United (@LUFC) August 21, 2021
