Football Betting
FA Cup – Liverpool v Manchester United
January is proving to be a massive month for Liverpool. They’ve already completed a two-legged semi-final in the Carling Cup against Manchester City and now face the Blues’ third-round conquerors, arch-rivals Manchester United, in the fourth round of the FA Cup.
Liverpool have already put five past another Lancashire side, Oldham Athletic, in the third round of the competition but can probably expect a more searching test of their credentials when United arrive on Merseyside. The two teams played out a 1-1 at Anfield in the Premier League earlier this season but that match was overshadowed by a race row that led to an eight-match suspension for Liverpool’s Uruguayan striker Luis Suarez. The club and its players were also criticised for standing by their man and the Reds’ profile took a further blow when racial discrimination reared its ugly head again during the third-round tie with Oldham. Officials and supporters, therefore, will need to be on their best behaviour when United take to the pitch at Anfield for what is always one of the most keenly contested match-ups in English club football.
Suarez will miss United's return to Anfield
United have won the FA Cup more times than anyone else and also have the most final appearances, 18 in total. But they haven’t won the competition since 2004 whereas Liverpool beat West Ham United on penalties in the final in 2006, their seventh successive in the tournament. United have lost on three of their last four visits to Anfield and it’s likely that the home side will have the tournament as a higher priority than their visitors this season, though the same argument was put forward before United’s visit to Manchester City in the previous round. United have also won four of five FA Cup clashes between the sides since the Second World War, including in the third round last season, so history is on the side of Sir Alex Ferguson’s team.
This really does look too close to call as Liverpool rarely concede at home but don’t score many either, while United have been either brilliant or very ordinary against the top teams so far this season. The draw in 90 minutes at 11/5 looks the safest option, therefore, though there have only been two tied games between the sides in FA Cup history since United evolved from being called Newton Heath so a bet on Liverpool in the Draw No Bet at 8/11 market makes more sense. Steven Gerrard to score first and Liverpool to win 1-0 also looks decent value at 40/1.
