Updated 14 May 2025

EFL Cup Predictions  

Our free EFL Cup predictions can be used to bet on all stages of the competition. England’s second most prestigious football cup competition, currently known as the Carabao Cup for sponsorship reasons, has seven rounds of matches you can place wagers on.

From early round giant-killings to the Wembley showpiece, follow our expert analysis and EFL Cup tips for all matches. 

When Do We Publish Our EFL Cup Predictions? 

EFL Cup - Wikipedia

You will find our football betting tips for the Carabao Cup approximately 48-72 hours before each fixture kicks off. We want punters to have enough time to consider each of our insights and build their wagers and betting strategy around that.  

When it comes to the semi-finals or the final at Wembley, you can sometimes find our predictions a little earlier. In all cases, whether we publish our predictions 48 or 96 hours in advance, we always ensure thorough research and analysis have been carried out. 

We assess several factors and areas of interest before our tips and match predictions are released. This includes recent form, team news, training updates, and how congested fixture periods may interrupt the teams sent to play multiple EFL Cup matches.

Although we prioritise the big fixtures while providing tips, our dedicated team of experts provides predictions for as many games as possible. 

Carabao Cup Tips & Advice 

You can find Carabao Cup score predictions that span numerous betting markets across all stages of the tournament. Or perhaps you’d prefer to stick with betting on a team to win outright, or simply backing them in their next match. Whatever it is, our experts have the tips you want to bet on. 

We deliver several well-founded predictions tailored to the competition’s unique characteristics and format. For example, squad rotation policies, differing team motivations, as well as multiple potential giant-killing scenarios, you can wager on. 

Here are some of our favourite League Cup predictions. 

Match Winner EFL Cup Betting Tips 

The foundation of all predictions is who wins the game. Rightly so, you may just want to hear about the likely match winners. Betting on a team to win is straightforward, with 1×2 tips among the top betting options for a simple and easy betting experience. 

Our tips are built on the assessment of both teams’ recent form, their head-to-head records, and, sometimes, most importantly, their team selection on the day. We always pay attention to clubs genuinely committed to EFL Cup progress and those that might field weakened sides to prioritise league or continental campaigns. 

Carabao Cup Tips for Both Teams to Score 

Some of the most popular EFL Cup tips we offer are for Both Teams to Score (BTTS) markets. This is mostly because BTTS markets are suitable in cup competitions where tactical approaches vary significantly. For example, league games between teams of similar stature may lead to bore draws, whereas some sides may only get one pop at progressing past a side in the division above. 

If you check out our Carabao Cup predictions today, remember to look for us highlighting matches where both teams are likely to adopt positive approaches. This could work particularly well when lower-league underdogs host Premier League giants like Manchester City or Manchester United and push forward with nothing to lose. Clean sheets, straight losses without goals, and straight matches with 1+ goals are also factored in.

Anytime Scorer Predictions 

Goals markets can offer exceptional value in EFL Cup fixtures. Especially when Premier League sides like Aston Villa face lower-league opposition like AFC Wimbledon. While we make EFL Cup score predictions available to account for defensive vulnerabilities, attacking strengths, and historical scoring patterns, anytime goalscorer is certainly another top market to consider. 

Betting on anytime scorers means you win if your selected player finds the back of the net at any point in a match. They don’t have to bet on the first goalscorer or net the last one in a game. Our EFL Cup predictions for anytime scorers win whether the player nets in the first minute, 56th minute, or at any other point in the 90 minutes plus stoppage time.   

Where to Bet on Our League Cup Predictions 

You can bet on our EFL Cup tips at any of our recommended online bookies. These leading UK bookmakers provide punters with a wide range of markets compatible with our League Cup predictions. This means you can find competitive odds for everything, including outrights, match results, goalscorers, handicaps, and various special bets.  

  1. Spreadex – Unrivalled selection of spread and fixed odds for the EFL Cup. 
  2. Betfred – Get on Double Delight and Hat-Trick Heaven promotions for matches. 
  3. Fitzdares – Classy bookie offering excellent Carabao Cup betting odds. 
  4. AK Bets – Fun football bookie with great in-play markets for the League Cup. 
  5. BoyleSports – Irish betting site with some of the best offers in the industry. 

How to Wager on Carabao Cup Tips 

The best betting sites provide the odds and markets you need for betting on our Carabao Cup predictions. These are safe bookies which are all regulated by the UK Gambling Commission.  

Here’s how to join a site and place your bets. 

  1. Create an Account – Head on over to the bookie of your choice and complete the online sign-up form with your name, address, e-mail address, etc.  
  2. Select a Deposit Method – Most bookies offer more than one deposit method, such as debit cards and e-wallets. 
  3. Get Your Free Bets – If you’re claiming a free bet or bonus offer, make sure to enter any bonus codes or tick the required box to get them. 
  4. Navigate to the Carabao Cup Betting Section – When you’ve found the odds you want to bet on, add them to your betting slip. 
  5. Confirm Your Bets – Review your selections before choosing your stake and hitting the “Bet” button. 

Types of EFL Cup Betting Predictions We Offer 

Our EFL Cup betting predictions cover both individual match markets and tournament outrights. To ensure accuracy, we analyse each fixture’s unique characteristics, accounting for all types of factors and influential data. Think team selection strategies, historical cup performances, and suitability for knockout round matches.  

Our EFL Cup predictions also take defensive frailties, attacking potency, and probable team selections into account. This can be an unpredictable tournament to cover, with lower-league sides like Bradford City, Carlisle United or Colchester United occasionally upsetting Premier League sides like Arsenal, Liverpool, West Ham United, or Crystal Palace. 

Squad rotation is also common in the EFL Cup, so our expert knowledge comes in handy.  

EFL Cup Betting Tips for Matches 

These English EFL cup predictions focus on what happens in a game between two teams. When betting on what can happen in matches, such as who plays and which established stars might be rested, our data-driven predictions and expert opinions for these popular markets can help. 

  • Over 1.5 Goals – Bet on whether the total number of goals in a game is over or under this number. 
  • Win From Behind – Wager on a team to concede the first goal in a match but go on to win.   
  • Cards – You can bet on the number of cards shown to a side, players to be carded, or the combined number shown in a match.   
  • Win to Nil – Bet on a team to win without conceding. 
  • Corners – Markets include the number of corners won by a team or the final combined number in the match.     
  • Half Time Full Time – Our tips cover the match result at both half time and full time. 
  • Bet Builder – Multiple selections from the same match combined into one larger bet.   
  • Correct Score – You can bet on the precise score in a match at full time.  

We offer more than standard match result markets. For example, performance markets like booking points or Asian handicap tips compatible with Carabao Cup betting odds. 

EFL Cup Accumulator Tips 

You can also consider our Carabao Cup predictions and accumulator tips, which combine multiple selections into a single wager for enhanced returns. We provide accumulator tips that look to avoid volatile fixtures in the EFL Cup. Instead, we focus on creating balanced multi-selection bets that have attractive risk-to-reward profiles.  

Our EFL Cup accumulator tips can be placed on early rounds or all four games in the semi-finals, for example. You can also create accas featuring games from the League Cup and the Scottish Premiership, for example.  

Carabao Cup Final Predictions 

You can bet on our EFL Cup final predictions when the stage is set at Wembley Stadium. This is the pinnacle of the competition, where two teams go at it for the trophy. When providing probability-based football predictions for the final match, we look at the unique dynamics at play, such as previous final experience, player injuries, the gulf in team class, squad depth, and tactical matchups. 

Although it’s just one match, we make sure our predictions for the final cover the impact of both sides’ tactics and how they may work on the day. In addition to attacking and defensive strengths, we look at managerial approaches, likely team selections, and how both teams may handle the psychological impact of playing at Wembley in front of a huge crowd. 

What is the EFL Cup? 

The EFL Cup, or Carabao Cup as it’s more popularly known, is England’s secondary domestic cup competition. Although not as glamorous as the FA Cup, it forms one of three major trophies required to claim England’s domestic “treble”. 

Introduced in the 1960/61 season, Carabao Cup rules determine that it’s a straight knockout format with single-leg ties until the semi-finals. The semis are two-legged contests, in which both sides playing one home and one away match. The final is played at Wembley Stadium in late February or early March, meaning it is almost always the first multi-divisional trophy awarded in the English football calendar. 

League Cup Sponsors

It’s currently called the Carabao Cup, but this tournament has had several different sponsors and official names over the years. Not quite as many as the EFL Trophy, but still more than a few. Starting as the Football League Cup in 1960, the Milk Marketing Board became the first official sponsor in 1981.

With the exception of one subsequent season, the competition has always had a partner since. This League Cup sponsors list covers all the different names of the tournament down the years:

  • 1960–1981: Football League Cup
  • 1981–1986: Milk Cup
  • 1986–1990: Littlewoods Challenge Cup
  • 1990–1992: Rumbelows Cup
  • 1992–1998: Coca-Cola Cup
  • 1998–2003: Worthington Cup
  • 2003–2012: Carling Cup
  • 2012–2016: Capital One Cup
  • 2016–2017: EFL Cup
  • 2017–2027: Carabao Cup

What Teams Play in the Carabao Cup? 

All 92 clubs from the Premier League and English Football League are eligible to play in the Carabao Cup. This makes it exciting for smaller, lower-league clubs and Championship sides. However, the secondary national football cup tournament is not always popular with elite teams. 

The Carabao Cup is for professional clubs from England’s top four divisions. 

Home | Liverpool FC Carabao Cup Champions

  • 20 Premier League teams 
  • 24 Championship teams 
  • 24 League One teams 
  • 24 League Two teams 

The Cup is renowned for frequent David versus Goliath encounters involving lower English leagues. Matches where clubs like AFC Wimbledon, Fleetwood Town and Lincoln City can test themselves against the big dogs.

This means teams usually associated with EPL wins, or participation in the Champions League or Europa League. 

Previous EFL Cup Winners 

There’s a reason why most pundits’ Carabao Cup predictions favour England’s elite clubs. Aside from having the better key players, managers, and squad depth, Premier League (and old Division 1) sides have won it the most times. Liverpool have 10 cup wins, followed by Manchester City (8) and Manchester United (6), respectively. 

These are the winners since 2015. 

  • 2025 – Newcastle United
  • 2024 – Liverpool
  • 2023 – Manchester United
  • 2022 – Liverpool
  • 2021 – Manchester City
  • 2020 – Manchester City
  • 2019 – Manchester City
  • 2018 – Manchester City
  • 2017 – Manchester United
  • 2016 – Manchester City
  • 2015 – Chelsea

Although Birmingham City (2011) and Swansea City (2013) are surprise winners of the League Cup, no Championship team has yet won it. Bradford City, then of the English League 1, were unsuccessful finalists in 2013. 

FAQs 

Why are your England EFL Cup betting tips free?

We offer free EFL Cup predictions today because we can. Keeping our Carabao Cup betting tips and other sports predictions gratis means we can provide more quality betting advice to a wider base of football enthusiasts. While there are paid football tipping services with subscription fees, we never charge. 

What's the difference between the FA Cup and EFL Cup?

The biggest difference is that the EFL Cup features 92 teams from England’s top four divisions, while the FA Cup includes those teams plus amateur clubs from lower tiers. Other than that, the EFL Cup concludes earlier in the season (February/March) and before league campaigns, features fewer rounds, and relies on two-legged ties for semi-finals. Our predictions for EFL Cup matches differ as they are different competitions. 

Where can I bet on your betting tips for the EFL Cup?

You can bet on our tips for EFL Cup fixtures and outrights at any of our recommended football sites with odds for the Carabao Cup.  

Who writes your Carabao Cup betting tips?

Our dedicated football experts provide all the League Cup tips you find on our site. 

Are the Carabao Cup and EFL Cup the Same?

Yes – they are the same competition. The EFL Cup is the tournament’s official name, while Carabao Cup is used in conjunction with its current sponsorship title. Rest assured, our Carabao Cup predictions this week and English League Cup predictions are for the same tournament. 

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