Five first goal scorers you should back in the EFL Cup fourth round

The EFL Cup provides clubs who are seemingly uninterested in winning silverware the chance to give fringe players and youngsters the chance to taste a bit of first team football.

For years this competition has been an afterthought for fans and clubs alike, despite there being a number of reasons why winning it isn’t as embarrassing as many will have you believe.

One of those reasons is that it can give clubs the chance to secure silverware midway through the season, which then gives them more of a chance to concentrate on their league or European commitments, which you don’t necessarily get if you’re trying to win the FA Cup.

The FA Cup is the more superior competition but it’s much harder to win and the business end of the FA Cup coincides with the business end of other important competitions. Why don’t clubs ever see it that way?

But regardless of that very obvious reality, several clubs are still expected to rest key players in this week’s EFL Cup fourth round.

This means picking a first goalscorer to lump on with Winner Sports is a much harder task, but we’re going to have a go anyway.

Here are five first goal scorers we think are worth throwing some money at on Tuesday and Wednesday night…

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Tammy Abraham - 7/2

Football Soccer Britain - Bristol City v Aston Villa - Sky Bet Championship - Ashton Gate - 27/8/16
Bristol City's Tammy Abraham celebrates scoring their goal
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The Bristol City striker is the EFL Cup’s top scorer with three goals so far and he scored the Robins’ winner in the three previous rounds.

Hull City have conceded 24 goals in all competitions so far this season, 15 of those coming in their last four outings, and Abraham will be looking to exploit the Tigers’ leaky defence further on Tuesday night.

The on-loan Chelsea striker has 11 goals in 17 appearances in all competitions and should add to that impressive record at Ashton Gate.

Lucas Perez - 7/2

The Arsenal striker has struggled for game time since his £17.1m summer switch from Deportivo La Coruna, but is expected to start against Reading in Tuesday night.

The Spaniard’s only two goals for Arsenal to date have come in this competition and he’ll be desperate to prove he deserves a starting role in the Premier League by getting on the scoresheet once again.

Daniel Sturridge - 4/1

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Liverpool's Daniel Sturridge celebrates scoring their fourth goal
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The England international has had to make do with a role off the substitutes bench this season but is expected to be handed a place in Klopp’s starting XI for the visit of Tottenham Hotspur.

Sturridge scored two goals in the last round and will want to prove to Klopp that he is capable of leading the line, particularly against strong Premier League opposition.

Ayoze Perez - 7/2

Ayoze Perez celebrate scoring v Ipswich Town

The Newcastle striker’s double helped down Ipswich Town at St. James’ Park in an impressive 3-0 victory on Saturday.

The Spaniard has two goals in two appearances in the EFL Cup this season, too, and is expected to be in the starting XI to face Preston North End on Tuesday.

With Newcastle on a run of seven games without a loss and five consecutive victories, expect them to have too much for Preston and Perez to be at the forefront of their attacking play.

Simone Zaza - 15/2

A long-shot but the Italian has been playing particularly well for the Hammers in recent weeks, and has only really lacked a goal to compliment his positive contribution to West Ham’s improved fortunes.

Chelsea are the visitors at London Stadium on Wednesday night and, although that might sound like a daunting task for the Hammers, the last few weeks has since a huge improvement for Bilic’s side.

Antonio Conte could decide to rest a handful of key players as he makes a title challenge his biggest priority, while West Ham could do with a good cup run to further help them improve on a disappointing start to the campaign.

Zaza will score eventually, so don’t be surprised to see him open his West Ham account this week.