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Rochdale will hope to get the better of visitors Liverpool U21 on Tuesday, when the two clubs clash in the EFL Trophy at Crown Oil Arena.
Neither team have yet played a game in the competition this season, but both teams will be confident given they come into clash the clash on the back of victories.
Read our prediction, preview and betting tips for the game below, and make sure to check out our today's betting tips page for more of our expert predictions.
Rochdale vs. Liverpool U21 key stats
- Rochdale have scored five goals in their two games against Liverpool U21s.
- Liverpool U21s have scored one or fewer goals in five of their last six away games.
- Both teams have scored in seven of Rochdale's last nine competitive home fixtures.
Rochdale vs. Liverpool U21 preview: A key test for young stars
Rochdale vs Liverpool U21 — Tale of the Tape
| Rochdale | vs | Liverpool U21 |
|---|---|---|
| 17th (League Two) | Position | 7th (Premier League 2) |
| 7 | Points | 7 |
| 7 | Goals For | 8 |
| 10 | Goals Against | 4 |
| 3 | Clean Sheets | 0 |
| 14th | Home / Away Rank | 19th |
Rochdale head into the EFL Trophy having won 2-0 against Oldham Athletic on Saturday, a result that left them 17th in League Two with seven points after seven league fixtures.
While their position at this stage of the season is not particularly impressive, it is important to remember that they are embarking upon their first campaign back in the fourth tier after an absence of two seasons.
Rochdale will hope to improve significantly upon their showing in last season's EFL Trophy given they were eliminated in the group stage, taking four points from three games.
Rochdale are likely to field a weaker XI than usual, so it would not be surprising to see Lucas Bispo Martinez used in the club's front three.
The visitors come into the clash having emerged as 5-1 victors against Brighton & Hove Albion U21s on Saturday, and that success left them in seventh place with seven points from a possible 12 in the Premier League 2.
The Reds will not have fond memories of their last two meetings with their hosts considering they lost both encounters, conceded five goals and failed to find the back of the net themselves.
Liverpool U21s finished bottom of their EFL Trophy group with two points from nine, and they conceded six goals in those three fixtures.
Boss Rob Page could look to use striker Will Wright up front, with the 18-year-old seen as one of the club's best attacking prospects.
Rochdale vs. Liverpool U21 form guide & betting tips
| Rochdale | vs | Liverpool U21 |
|---|---|---|
LWLDW |
Form | DWLW |
| 7 | Points | 7 |
| 11th | Form Table | N/A |
| 6 | Goals For | 8 |
| 5 | Goals Against | 4 |
LWLDW |
Form (All Comps) | DWLW |
Whispers predicts: Rochdale 3-1 Liverpool U21
The bookmakers view the hosts as clear favourites, with a Rochdale victory priced at 9/10 (1.9).
Considering both teams have scored in seven of Rochdale's last nine competitive home fixtures, it makes sense to predict Both Teams to Score at 4/9 (1.44).
There could be value in predicting Under 1.5 Goals for Liverpool U21s at 8/13 (1.62) given Liverpool U21s have scored one or fewer goals in five of their last six away games.
The hosts have already scored five times in two games against Liverpool U21s, so it may be worthwhile to predict Over 2.5 Goals for Rochdale at 2/1 (3).
> Both Teams to Score at 4/9 (1.44) | Likelihood: Likely
> Under 1.5 Goals for Liverpool U21s at 8/13 (1.62) | Likelihood: Possible
> Over 2.5 Goals for Rochdale at 2/1 (3) | Likelihood: Outsider