Capital One Cup Final 2015: Latest Predictions After Semi-Final Leg 1 Matches

Tottenham Hotspur took the upper hand in their Capital One Cup semi-final tie with a 1-0 win over Sheffield United on Wednesday, but the fixture is far from over with a return leg to come next week. 

Meanwhile, a first-leg draw at Anfield on Tuesday puts Chelsea in a more difficult position than they would prefer, after already beating Liverpool on Merseyside in league competition earlier this season.

First-Leg Score	Second-Leg Prediction	Predicted Aggregate Score
Liverpool 1-1 Chelsea	Chelsea 3-1 Liverpool	Chelsea 4-2 Liverpool
Tottenham 1-0 Sheff Utd	Sheff Utd 1-1 Tottenham	Tottenham 2-1 Sheff Utd

The Blades will pray that a return to Bramall Lane can give them the motivation required to pull off an upset and make their way to Wembley.

Looking back on this week's first-leg encounters, read on for a look ahead to next week's fixtures, examining who we're likely to see make their way to Wembley for this season's Capital One Cup final.

Chelsea vs. Liverpool (First Leg: 1-1)

Jon Super/Associated Press

Prior to Tuesday's clash at Anfield, not many would have predicted that it would be Chelsea who would be left relieved with a 1-1 draw against the Reds, with Liverpool saddened not to have taken a better result.

Blues stopper Thibaut Courtois was given Man of the Match credentials for his work in rejecting the Reds' barrage of chances, but counterpart Simon Mignolet was among those who claimed Liverpool deserved a win, per Eurosport:

The fixture was further evidence to the fact that Rodgers' men are improving, going nine matches unbeaten across all competitions.

Iain Macintosh of ESPN FC emphasised this point, saying the Reds are now more worthy of their credit:

That being said, the chances weren't taken and an away trip to Stamford Bridge next week looks daunting. Chelsea are yet to drop a Premier League point at home this season and are more than capable of turning the tie in their favour.

Jose Mourinho has commented that his fans must be more tenacious, though, in their work. Speaking to Chelsea TV (h/t the Liverpool Echo's Andy Kelly), he said:

"

It was a two-leg semi-final, now it’s a one-leg semi-final. That says a lot. 

Two legs is difficult, Anfield is difficult and with this result we transform a two-leg semi-final into a one-leg semi-final at Stamford Bridge.

If Stamford Bridge can give us 25 percent of the emotion Anfield gives Liverpool, I think we can do it. Liverpool, instead of 40,000 fans, they will have five or 10 (thousand). 

Chelsea, instead of 1,000, will have 40,000. I hope that can make a difference in the atmosphere.

"

Admittedly, the Liverpool star is rising once again, but the Reds' conversion rate is a worrying factor, failing to score more than two goals in their last five consecutive matches.

With new motivation to put the fixture to bed, Chelsea's rabble of professionals promise to not only be a tough party to break down, but also will undoubtedly have more chances at home, not to mention tucking some away.

Second-Leg Prediction: Chelsea 3-1 Liverpool (Chelsea Advance 4-2)

Sheffield United vs. Tottenham Hotspur (First Leg: 0-1)

Alastair Grant/Associated Press

Nigel Clough's Sheffield United put up a fierce fight against Spurs on Wednesday and at times looked capable of upstaging their Premier League opponents as the lowest-ranked team remaining in the League Cup.

A 1-0 defeat at White Hart Lane is an agreeable result for the Blades, who will bank on a home leg bringing them a more positive outcome.

As WhoScored attests, shots on target weren't rife throughout the fixture, but Clough's men can at least be proud at restricting a top-flight side so astutely, albeit registering no shots on target of their own:

The League One outfit were perhaps somewhat predictable in adopting a defensive attitude at times, more eager to avoid the loss than they were to necessarily chase the lead.

However, as Tom Collomosse of the London Evening Standard states, they were threatening their hosts in the lead-up to half-time:

An Andros Townsend penalty in the second period eventually gave Mauricio Pochettino's outfit the breakthrough, but Spurs must be more imposing in attack next Wednesday if they're to reach Wembley.

Again, though, it will be in defence where Clough's team hope to thrive, with only Bristol City conceding fewer home goals in League Two this season than the Blades.

Jamie McDonald/Getty Images

With a 1-0 deficit to overcome, Sheffield United will be forced to pursue goals, but open up too wildly and their Premier League foes are sure to punish them.

It's been a fairytale journey for the Bramall Lane outfit thus far, but in failing to clinch some sort of result in north London, Sheffield United are at extreme risk of missing out on a Wembley date.

Second-Leg Prediction: Sheffield United 1-1 Tottenham Hotspur (Tottenham Advance 2-1)