Live on BTSport 1: Sat 17.30: A Daniel Sturridge opener (9/2, Paddy Power) and a 5/1 treble (BetVictor) are two of our four FA Cup picks.
As the likes of Chelsea, Manchester City and Tottenham have already bowed out of the competition, Liverpool will see the FA Cup as a brilliant chance to secure some silverware this term and bet365 make the Reds 5/1 third favourites, behind holders Arsenal (5/2, Stan James) and Manchester United (11/4, BetVictor) to lift the trophy at Wembley in May.
Brendan Rodgers’s troops reached the fifth round in dramatic circumstances, two late goals giving them a replay success against ten-man Bolton but bookies aren’t expecting Liverpool’s path to the quarter final to be quite so treacherous.
The Reds head to Crystal Palace, where they’ll kick off as William Hill’s 11/10 favourites to get to the last eight at the first attempt, while the Eagles are Stan James’s 13/5 outsiders and it’s also 13/5, this time courtesy of Paddy Power, for Rodgers’s charges to be taken to another replay.
Following their troubles against Bolton, that stalemate quote is set to attract cash, alongside another goalless affair at 11/1 with Skybet but Liverpool’s form of late has been pretty impressive and they deserve their status as favourites, even though Palace come into the clash in decent shape themselves.
A close encounter nevertheless looks inevitable so a case can be made for an away success by a one-goal margin, available at 11/4 (Stan James), BetVictor price the Reds at 7/1 to register a 1-0 triumph and fit-again front man Daniel Sturridge will be the punters’ choice at 9/2 in Paddy Power’s first scorer betting, especially as he came so close to notching against Spurs on Tuesday.
Tournament jollies Arsenal were drawn at home to Championship opposition but won’t be taking anything for granted given that visiting Middlesbrough accounted for Man City in round four. The Gunners are Skybet’s 4/9 chances to dispose of the Teesside outfit at the Emirates Stadium, where the upset is rated at 13/2 by Ladbrokes.
On their own patch, Arsene Wenger’s side should be able to get the job done but Boro are more than capable of giving them a few scares along the way. Stan James’s 5/6 for both teams to find the net catches the eye then, betway go 21/10 about the Gunners winning but also conceding and more accurately, it’s 8/1 (BetVictor) for the hosts to finish on the right side of a 2-1 scoreline.
Manchester United couldn’t defeat Cambridge at the first attempt in the last round but they’re just 4/9 with Stan James to take just 90 minutes to sidestep Preston at Deepdale on Monday. Louis Van Gaal’s team are 6/4 via Skybet to prevail ‘to nil’ while at the other end Radamel Falcao could feature and BetVictor quote the Colombian at 17/4 to break the deadlock.
Elsehere, it could be an inconclusive affair at Villa Park, where BetVictor post 12/5 against Leicester earning a replay against managerless Aston Villa and Derby (4/6, Winner.com) are the pick in their all-Championship scrap with Reading.
Finally, the lowest positioned team left in the competition Bradford have a tremendous cup pedigree but are just 19/20 courtesy of bet365 to come unstuck at the hands of Sunderland and the same firm offer 6/4 about a Stoke success at Blackburn.
Recommended Bets:
Liverpool to win by one – 11/4 (Stan James)
Daniel Sturridge to score first – 9/2 (Paddy Power)
Arsenal to win and both teams to score – 21/10 (betway)
Man Utd, Stoke & Derby treble – 5/1 (BetVictor)
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