EFL Cup Final Manchester City vs Tottenham picks and predictions

James Bisson - Head of Content, Betting
James Bisson • Head of Content, Betting 16+ years betting experience
Updated: Apr 22, 2021 , 04:17 PM ET

Manchester City academy graduate Phil Foden is enjoying the best season of his young career for a dominant City team.

Phil Foden Manchester City English Premier League
Photo By - USA TODAY Sports

It's an all SuperLeague matchup this weekend, with Manchester City and Tottenham set to visit Wembley in the EFL Cup final.

One of the wildest and most shameful weeks in the histories of both clubs will come to an end with the chance to lift a trophy, with City attempting to check the first box as they push for the triple, while Spurs try to end a 13-year trophy drought. 

Here are our best EFL Cup predictions and soccer betting picks for Manchester City vs. Tottenham on Sunday, April 25, with kickoff set for 11:30 a.m. ET. 

Manchester City vs Tottenham betting preview

Injuries

Manchester City: Sergio Aguero (Questionable), Kevin De Bruyne (Out), John Stones (Out).
Tottenham: Harry Kane (Questionable), Ben Davies (Doubtful), Matt Doherty (Questionable).

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Side pick

Last week, Manchester City's weekend began with their hopes of a quadruple (winning the Premier League, Champions League, FA Cup and EFL Cup) ending, as they lost in the FA Cup semifinal to Chelsea, and then it got even worse, with the ill-fated SuperLeague announcement. However, it did not seem to have any impact on the squad, as they dominated Aston Villa in a midweek Premier League match, securing three points in a 2-1 win despite playing over half the game with 10 men.

So, while there may be dysfunction in the boardroom, the squad remains a powerhouse, with just three losses and no draws since December. Tottenham, on the other hand, exist in a state of dysfunction and that held true this week, with news of their inclusion in the SuperLeague quickly followed by the club and manager Jose Mourinho parting ways. Chaos follows Mourinho and so it was not a surprise to see the partnership end so unceremoniously and so close to a cup final. 

Unfortunately, the new manager bounce won't help Spurs end their trophy drought on Sunday. Manchester City have been the class of England all year and they will earn their first trophy of 2021 at Wembley.  

PICK: Manchester City (-221)

Over/Under pick

Since the calendar turned to 2021, Manchester City have played in 29 matches across all competitions. Of those 29 matches, 23 have seen the Citizens score multiple goals, as they resemble the fantastic Pep Guardiola sides of the past, with lightning-quick passing patterns and unpredictable off-ball movement. City's attackers should wreak havoc on a slow-footed Spurs backline, with Phil Foden taking an increasingly prominent role in City's play and thriving. 

With the Citizens always likely to net multiple goals themselves, we'll only need a single Spurs goal to push this total Over. Had Tottenham allowed Mourinho to lead the team out at Wembley, we wouldn't feel so confident. But, there's reason to believe Tottenham will attack with intent in this one.

PICK: Over 2.5 (-125)

Prop pick

Among the many complaints that hung over former Spurs manager Jose Mourinho during his time in North London was his archaic, often cowardly approach. The Special One parks the bus like no other world-class manager, with his team setup rarely changing regardless of opponent. This defensive approach stood in contrast to Tottenham's DNA, the freewheeling style of Mourinho's predecessor, Mauricio Pochettino, and ignored the absurd attacking talent within the squad. 

That will not be the case under caretaker manager Ryan Mason. The 29-year-old joined Spurs' youth academy when he was just nine years old and spent 17 years with the club, before re-joining as a youth coach in 2018 after his career was cut short due to a frightening head injury. Mason understands the DNA of Spurs and the type of play supporters want to see.

Tottenham may lose on Sunday, but Mason will be sure if they lose, they lose the Tottenham way — with bravery in attack. 

PICK: Both Teams To Score - Yes (-101)

Manchester City vs Tottenham betting card

  • Manchester City (-221)
  • Over 2.5 (-125)
  • Both Teams To Score - Yes (-101)
    Picks made on 04/22/2021 at 4:15 p.m. ET.
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James Bisson
Head of Content, Betting

James Bisson is the Editor-in-Chief at Covers. He has been a writer, reporter and editor for more than 20 years, including a nine-year stint with The Canadian Press and more than five years at theScore. He has covered dozens of marquee events including the 2010 Winter Olympics, the 2006 Stanley Cup final and Wrestlemania 23, and his work has appeared in more than 200 publications, including the Los Angeles Times, the Guardian, Yahoo! Sports, the Toronto Star and The Globe and Mail.

His book, “100 Greatest Canadian Sports Moments”, was a hardcover best-seller in Canada in 2008 and earned him appearances on CBC Radio and Canada AM. He has written more than 50 sportsbook reviews, more than 200 industry news articles, and dozens of other sportsbook-related content articles.

A graduate of the broadcast journalism program at Ryerson University (now Toronto Metropolitan University), James has been an avid bettor since the early 2000s, and cites bet365 as his favorite sports betting site due to its superior functionality and quick payouts. His biggest professional highlight: Covering Canada's first Olympic gold medal on home soil – and interviewing Bret Hart. Twice.

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