Carling Cup: Match Previews and Predictions for Round 3

A crazy weekend for the English Premier League clubs will see most of them take a midweek break to fight for another chance at bragging rights come February as the third round of the Carling Cup plays out matches on Tuesday and Wednesday, the 20th and 21st of September.

In one of two tournaments that pit the top flight against the lower divisions on an equal field of play, it is a chance to see some interesting matchups as well as some possible upsets.

Fifteen EPL teams still remain, but with three of the 16 games pitting top-tier clubs against each other, it is guaranteed that there will be at least three less after this round.

Last year's reigning champions, Birmingham City, the only team ever to win the League Cup and then be relegated, are still in it, but face a tough challenge in their opposition. The runners-up, Arsenal, are also still in the competition; with their rough start to the EPL campaign, this competition might be their best chance at gaining some momentum before next weekend.

Tuesday and Wednesday should be a great start to the week before the weekend brings on Round 6 of the EPL.

Aldershot Town vs. Rochdale

Two middle-of-the-table English League One sides clash here in the Carling Cup. Rochdale is coming off of a tough 3-2 loss to League One leaders Charlton Athletic, while Aldershot Town is on a high, currently experiencing a five-game unbeaten run with two draws and three wins.

Date: Tuesday, September 20th, 2011

Key Players: Ashley Grimes (Rochdale), Alex Rodman (Aldershot Town)

Match Prediction: Aldershot 3, Rochdale 2

Arsenal vs. Shrewsbury Town

Arsenal is in the midst of an unforgiving crisis at the moment. They finally put together some offense against Blackburn Rovers, but their defense continues to be horrid.

Shrewsbury have fallen back to League Two and are in third place, trying to regain promotion back up into League One. Their last group of games have gone much better than the Gunners'; they are on four wins and one loss out of their last five.

Date: Tuesday, September 20th, 2011

Key Players: Robin Van Persie (Arsenal), Marvin Morgan (Shrewsbury Town)

Match Prediction: Arsenal 2, Shrewsbury 1

Aston Villa vs. Bolton Wanderers

Alex McLeish continues his run with Aston Villa after winning the competition last season with Birmingham City. The Villains are one of only four unbeaten teams that remain in the EPL and should continue on fine form come Tuesday.

Bolton Wanderers have had great attacking tenacity so far this season, but their front line have lacked teeth. If their finishing does not improve, they are out of the cup as the first EPL team eliminated of Round 3.

Date: Tuesday, September 20th, 2011

Key Players: Gabriel Agbonlahor (Aston Villa), Ivan Klasnic (Bolton Wanderers)

Match Prediction: Aston Villa 3, Bolton 1

Burnley vs. Milton Keynes Dons

Burnley have been suffering so far this season in the championship; they are feared to be headed back down to League One after having reached so high into the EPL just two seasons ago.

MK Dons are pushing for a chance at promotion back up into the championship; they sit fourth in League One on 17 points.

Date: Tuesday, September 20th, 2011

Key Players: Keith Treacy (Burnley), Sam Baldock (MK Dons)

Match Prediction: Burnley 1, MK Dons 2

Leeds United vs. Manchester United

Jermaine Beckford (pictured above) is no longer at Leeds United, but it does not change the fact that in January of 2010, when the White rolled into the Theatre of Dreams of Old Trafford, they put a damper on any dreams Manchester United may have had.

The championship side shocked the Giants, 1-0, at home during the FA Cup Rounds of two seasons ago. They hope to rekindle that old fighting spirit once again.

Manchester United, however, have been the toast of the EPL; they remain perfect, with 15 points from five games in the league, and their form is sensational at the moment. Wayne Rooney is on fire, despite losing his footing on a spot kick vs. Chelsea, and he will be on top of his game.

Date: Tuesday, September 20th, 2011

Key Players: Wayne Rooney (Manchester United), Ross McCormack (Leeds United)

Match Prediction: Manchester United 5, Leeds 1

Nottingham Forest vs. Newcastle United

Nottingham Forest continue to struggle in the championship and, after losing to Derby in their famous rivalry, they are truly down and out in spirits at the moment.

It is the exact opposite, however, for Newcastle. The Toon Army have been marching along in the EPL and are another of the four unbeaten teams in the top flight, with four draws and a victory to their name.

Date: Tuesday, September 20th, 2011

Key Players: Matt Derbyshire (Nottingham Forest), Leon Best (Newcastle)

Match Prediction: Forest 0, Newcastle 3

Stoke City vs. Tottenham Hotspur

The second of three EPL battles in the League Cup is Stoke City vs. Tottenham at the Britannia. Stoke suffered a humiliating loss to Sunderland after having beaten Liverpool at home the week before. They will hope their home fans can be the difference against Tottenham.

Spurs crushed a nine-man Liverpool side, 4-0, on Sunday and are finally back on track to fight for a top six spot. Look for Adebayor and Defoe to continue their so far devastating partnership.

Date: Tuesday, September 20th, 2011

Key Players: Peter Crouch (Stoke City), Emmanuel Adebayor (Spurs)

Match Prediction: Stoke City 1, Spurs 2

Wolverhampton Wanderers vs. Millwall

Wolves have had two straight defeats at the hands of Tottenham and Queens Park Rangers. They desperately need something positive from this match if they hope to turn their fortunes around.

Millwall are fresh off a derby draw against West Ham and the Lions fans will hope to make a small den in the stands of Molineux in hopes of inspiring their boys to a victory.

Date: Tuesday, September 20th, 2011

Key Players: Kevin Doyle (Wolves), Darius Henderson (Millwall)

Match Prediction: Wolves 2, Millwall 1

Blackburn Rovers vs. Leyton Orient

Blackburn Rovers are on cloud nine after having upset Arsenal at Ewood to continue showering down frustration and disillusion on the Gunners. Yakubo was the surprise of the day (he had two goals in the match) and he will be looked to for more inspiration on Tuesday.

Leyton Orient are at the bottom of League One and are in no shape to push for more than pride in this match. That could, however, be just enough to see them grab a goal and frustrate Rovers into earning their trip to the fourth round of 16.

Date: Tuesday, September 20th, 2011

Key Players: Yakubu (Blackburn Rovers), Dean Cox (Orient)

Match Prediction: Rovers 3, Orient 1

Crystal Palace vs. Middlesbrough

Middlesbrough just beat Crystal Palace, 1-0, on Saturday and they will turn around for an immediate rematch in the Carling Cup. Boro are pushing to regain EPL status next season; they currently sit in second place in the championship.

Palace, on the other hand, will hope to exact revenge and see off their opposition to get the bitter taste of defeat out of their mouths. It would not surprise me to see the match from Saturday revisited, but go in the opposite direction.

Date: Tuesday, September 20th, 2011

Key Players: Marvin Emnes (Middlesbrough), Sean Scannell (Crystal Palace)

Match Prediction: Middlesbrough 0, Crystal Palace 1

Brighton Hove Albion vs. Liverpool

Liverpool have to get a win in this game. They must look forward and forget their match on Sunday. Two straight utterly frustrating losses in the EPL have them in a bad mental spot and they need a boost. 

An away-win in the cup could be just what the doctor ordered before facing Wolves at Anfield on this coming Saturday.

Brighton have been the surprise package of the Npower Championship so far this season. Their new stadium has been a great home for them so far; they are yet to lose at the Amex. They will hope to pull off a major upset by kicking the Merseyside giants while they are down. 

Date: Wednesday, September 21st, 2011

Key Players: Stewart Downing (Liverpool), Ashley Barnes (Brighton)

Match Prediction: Liverpool 2, Brighton 1

Cardiff City vs. Leicester City

Welsh capital club Cardiff City have three draws and a win in their last four games and continue to push for another solid season in England's second tier. They face a tricky opponent in Leicester City and will have to have their wits about them to avoid being knocked out.

Leicester are ridding a three-game unbeaten run at the moment that sees them rising up the championship table. Their new attacker, Jermaine Beckford, has great pedigree in this competition and could see a lot of action for the Foxes.

Date: Wednesday, September 21st, 2011 

Key Players: Jermaine Beckford (Leicester City)

Match Prediction: Cardiff 1, Leicester 2

Chelsea vs. Fulham

Chelsea could have been level or won against Manchester United on Sunday; however, Fernando Torres failed to knock home the easiest goal of probably his career when he rounded David de Gea with ease. Despite his goal in the second half, he still looks a shambles as his confidence was against shattered. Ramires equally gaffed in the first half as the Blues gifted away a chance to knock the giants off their pedestal.

However, Fulham did not miss their chance; an action-packed second half at Craven Cottage saw the London side reverse a 0-2 deficit to Manchester City to a 2-2 draw that stifled the Citizens' chances of staying joint top with United. Danny Murphy and Bobby Zamora were the culprits that left Sergio Aguero's first-half brace wanting at the death.

Date: Wednesday, September 21st, 2011

Key Players: Fernando Torres (Chelsea), Danny Murphy (Fulham)

Match Prediction: Chelsea 2, Fulham 2

Manchester City vs. Birmingham City

Sergio Aguero's brace on Sunday was not enough to see the Sky Blues advance victorious past Fulham; the Cottagers had a few surprises of their own. Now, the Citizens will look to exact revenge on last year's Carling Cup champions.

Birmingham City may be the returning champions, but they are far from the same team. Their manager and the majority of their key players from the cup run are long gone and there is little hope that they will survive the onslaught they are sure to see at the Etihad Stadium.

Date: Wednesday, September 21st, 2011

Key Players: David Silva (Manchester City), Chris Wood (Birmingham City)

Match Prediction: Man City 5, Birmingham 0

Southampton vs. Preston North End

Southampton's Saints marched to the top of the Npower Championship with a victory over Birmingham City on the weekend and continue to ride what has been an excellent start to their season and promotion run for the EPL.

Preston North End are growing in stature in League One and will hope to push from promotion as well this season. Three straight victories have them hungry for more and this should be a great matchup.

Date: Wednesday, September 21st, 2011

Key Players: Adam Lallana (South Hampton), Jamie Proctor (Preston North End)

Match Prediction: Southampton 3, Preston 1

Everton vs. West Bromwich Albion

David Moyes continues to find ways to manufacture success at Everton despite blow after blow that he has taken in recent seasons with the club being strapped for cash. Two wins and a draw in their last three games after losing their opener have them charged up to fight for the cup.

West Bromwich Albion, on the other hand, thought they had gotten out of the gates with a 1-0 victory courtesy of Peter Odemwingie. However, that one bright spot was crushed when newly promoted Swansea City crushed the Baggies, 3-0, this past weekend. 

Date: Wednesday, September 21st, 2011

Key Players: Leighton Baines (Everton), Peter Odemwingie (West Brom)

Match Prediction: Everton 3, West Brom 2

Conclusion

It is certain to be another action-packed Cup tie-break from regular-season action for the English clubs. With many evenly matched and tasty games to watch, there is no doubt to be a surprise or two between Tuesday and Wednesday.

I look for the majority of the EPL teams to advance, save for the games where two top-flight clubs face off, and I believe Southampton to be the standout from the championship to shine in action during midweek.

Thanks for following me and be sure to read further on Bleacher Report and at the links below. You can follow me on Twitter @thedailyatz and Facebook or visit my website.