• What: EFL Cup Picks
  • When: Semi-Final Second Leg Matches Tuesday, February 3 and Wednesday, February 4, 2026
  • Where: Etihad Stadium and Emirates Stadium
  • Watch: CBS, Paramount+

The top two sides in the race for the English Premier League title are also tipped to clash in the EFL Cup final. Manchester City and Arsenal are the betting choices to advance as the second leg of the semifinals in this competition takes place later this week.

Arsenal are set as -162 favorites over Chelsea in the second leg of the semifinal between these two ancient rivals. Meanwhile, Manchester City is established at a betting line of -136 to carry on and reach the final by winning Leg 2 against Newcastle United.

Let's look at the latest English Football League Cup semi-final betting lines. Remember, the odds are always subject to change.

EFL Cup Semi-Final OddsThe PickBovadaBetUSBetOnline
Arsenal vs ChelseaArsenal-162-162-151
Manchester City vs Newcastle UnitedMan City-136-133-126

Second-leg matches in the semifinals will see Arsenal and Chelsea play on February 3, with Manchester City and Newcastle United to clash on February 4.

Best EFL Cup Betting Tips

If you're new to betting on soccer, not to worry. Our soccer betting page is chock full of the best wagering advice and handy betting tips. If you are a soccer bettor and you enjoy wagering on knockout cup competitions, the UK offers plenty of opportunities to do so. The FA Cup will be contesting the fourth round of that competition later this month. You can check out the latest FA Cup odds by perusing our informative FA Cup betting page.

The EFL Cup is a months-long competition, but thanks to your mobile device, you'll never be more than moments away from placing your English League Cup wagers. Take advantage of the top mobile betting apps to place a bet wherever you happen to be in the course of your day.

EFL Cup SemiFinal Betting Picks

Both Newcastle United and Chelsea have work to do to get to the Cup final. And they'll have to dig in and get the job done as away sides in second-leg matches.

Arsenal vs Chelsea

The Gunners just keep on gunning. Since winning 3-2 at Chelsea in the opening leg of the EFL Cup semifinals, Arsenal is 3-1-1. They whipped Leeds United 4-0 in EPL action on the weekend. Arsenal has scored at least three goals in each of its past four matches.

Chelsea has won five straight matches since that first-leg loss to Arsenal. There have been 3-2 wins over Napoli (UCL) and West Ham United (EPL), a 3-1 win at Crystal Palace, and a 2-0 shutout of Brentford.

Placing a wager on Arsenal to win 1-0, 2-0, or 2-1 will all get you odds of +750 in an exact score prop wager. It's +900 that penalty kicks will be required to decide the match. Arsenal's Victor Gyokeres is +190 to be an anytime goal scorer. Chelsea's Cole Palmer is set at +1100 to net the first goal of the match. Arsenal is +155 to keep a clean sheet, as the club has done in its last two home matches against Chelsea.

Pick: Chelsea hasn't won at the Emirates since 2021. In the last three matches there, Arsenal has three wins, two clean sheets, and a goal differential of 9-1.

Arsenal To defeat Chelsea in EFL Cup semifinal
Bovada
-162
Bet Now!

Expect that Arsenal dominance to continue. Bet the Gunners to advance to the final with a home win.

Manchester City vs Newcastle United

Since blanking Newcastle 2-0 in the opening leg of their semifinal, Manchester City has endured a run of indifferent form. City is 2-2-1 in their past five matches across all competitions. There was a 2-0 loss to arch-rival Manchester United, and a stunning 3-1 loss to Bodo Glimt in UCL competition.

By contrast, the Cup holders are continuing to struggle. Newcastle is 1-2-2 over the past five matches. The only win for United was a 3-0 victory over PSV Eindhoven in UCL action.

In soccer prop betting on this match, a 1-1 draw is the +600 favorite in a correct score play. The match ending in a draw is given odds of +280. Manchester City's Erling Haaland is set at -120 to be an anytime goal scorer. You'll get +1800 odds on Newcastle's Nick Woltemade to score 2+ goals.

Pick: Newcastle's away form has been especially dreadful. The club is 1-5-3 over the past nine away matches. That doesn't bode well for United. Neither does the club's 2-20-3 all-time slate at Etihad Stadium.

Manchester City To defeat Newcastle in EFL Cup semifinal
Bovada
-136
Bet Now!

Interestingly, though, Newcastle's last win at the Etihad was a 2-0 victory in the EFL Cup Round of 16 on October 29, 2014. But don't expect history to repeat itself. Take City to win in the EFL picks.

Updated EFL Cup Soccer Futures

Oddsmakers are setting the odds in the EFL Cup futures market as almost a pick'em. Manchester City is the ever-so-slight even-money chalk to capture the trophy for the eighth time, and the first time since 2021.

Should you choose to cast your lot with Arsenal, the Gunners are offered at a betting line of +110 in the EFL Cup picks. You have to go all the way back to 1993 to find Arsenal winning this trophy.

There's value, if not perhaps logic, in going with Chelsea or Newcastle United to rebound and find a way to claim the EFL Cup title. Most recently, the winner of this competition in 2015, Chelsea, is showing odds of +1800 in EFL Cup betting. Reigning champions Newcastle can be had at a betting line of +4000.