The key to the Carling Cup is picking which top sides rest players and could be vulnerable, and which will take it ’seriously’ and put out full strength teams, making their price attractive.

One side that will definitely be gunning for the trophy are Man City. They have no European distractions and a big squad, and against a Fulham side that Roy Hodgson has said will already rest players, and are poor away from home, the 4/9 on offer in places is appealing.

Chelsea are a slightly different proposition – they may rest some of their stars (Drogba for example) but Joe Cole and Zuri Zhirkov come in, and they should have far too much for QPR, however much the away side are ‘up for it’.

The double comes up best priced at SkyBet, paying a combined 1.71 (Chelsea 2/9 and Man City 2/5)

Man City and Chelsea Double @ 1.71 (SkyBet) – 2 points