Soccer FA Cup Preview 5-7 Jan 2007
Pinnacle Sports offer their betting tips and analysis for the coming FA Cup soccer action between 5th and 7th January 2007.
Holders Face 2005 Winners In Tie Of The Round
On Saturday Liverpool begin the defence of the FA Cup with a tough home tie against Arsenal, winners in 2005. The Reds' last piece of silverware was won in dramatic style thanks largely to the contribution of Steven Gerrard, whose volley in the final minute could easily be considered the best goal of any final. The Liverpool captain is hitting form, along with the rest of the team, at just about the right time. The Reds have kept clean sheets in nine of their last ten Premiership fixtures, climbing to third in the table, and Pinnacle Sports price the holders 1.87 (0/scratch & -0.5).
In contrast to Liverpool's consistency, the Gunners have been erratic over the busy Christmas period, though they remain unbeaten at the Emirates Stadium - where they beat Liverpool 3-0 in November - Arsenal have now lost five of their eleven league fixtures on the road. The last six meetings of the clubs have gone the way of the home side, which doesn't bode well for the London side who will travel back to Anfield three days later to play a postponed Carling Cup semi-final. Pinnacle Sports post the visitors 2.06 (0/scratch & +0.5) with Arsene Wenger facing a mounting injury list of attacking players. The Frenchman reintroduced Thierry Henry in Tuesday's home win over Charlton, after a six week lay-off, with doubts persisting over Julio Baptista, Theo Walcott, Emmanuel Adebayor and Freddie Ljungberg. Though Henry scored against the Addicks, he may still lack full match sharpness.
Villans Handed Tough Trip To Old Trafford
Having made a positive return to his managerial career at Aston Villa, Martin O'Neill faces his first mini-crisis. The Villans slipped into the bottom half of the table over the Christmas period, and despite earning a creditable draw against Chelsea, are now ten games without a win. To retain any chance of silverware this season the Claret and Blues must overcome the worst possible FA Cup draw, faced with a visit to Old Trafford.
The Red Devils romped to a 3-0 win at Villa Park on December 23rd, and haven't lost at home in 10 games, so understandably Pinnacle Sports are sweet on United, pricing them 1.99 (-1.5). Irrespective of the two clubs' contrasting recent form, United have won nine straight encounters, with Villa last winning at the Theatre of Dreams in 1983, hence Pinnacle Sports's price about the visitors 1.935 (+1.5).
Everton And Blackburn to Scrap It Out At Goodison
Everton and Blackburn meet in one of four all-Premiership 3rd round ties. Featuring such physical sides, the game at Goodison promises to be a bruising, low-scoring encounter, as all of the last six meetings have produced less than 2.5 goals. No surprise then, that Pinnacle Sports's favour under 2 & 2.5 goals at 1.813.
In spite of being thrashed 6-2 at the Emirates Stadium two days before Christmas, things picked up for Rovers, recording a hat-trick of wins, culminating with a comprehensive win at the JJB Stadium on New Year's Day. Rovers may be without Captain Lucas Neill - widely tipped to depart during the January transfer window - but face no fresh injury problems after the busy year-end schedule, looking to go one better than 2005 when they made the semi-finals, priced 1.781 (+0.5) by Pinnacle Sports. The Toffees last played in an FA Cup final in 1995, earning them their last piece of silverware. Having lost just twice this season at home in the league, Everton are slight favourites with Pinnacle Sports at 2.18 (-0.5).
Spurs Expecting Frosty Reception In Cardiff
Having been one of the Championship pace-setters, the Bluebirds are facing a mid-season crisis, without a win in ten games, failing to score in seven of them. This should be good news for Spurs, who travel to Ninian Park on Sunday for a third round FA Cup tie. However, despite their dip in form, the vociferous Cardiff fans are certain to get behind their team, and make it an uncomfortable day for the Premiership visitors. Cardiff's fans are notoriously aggressive, and have been banned from the club's upcoming game at Wolves.
Tottenham are on a roll in cup competitions, already qualified for the knock-out stages of the UEFA Cup and last four of the Carling Cup. However, they have only won once from 11 away Premiership games. The home support will expose any cracks in the Lilywhites who last year relinquished a 2-0 lead in a BBC televised FA Cup clash against another Championship side, Leicester, eventually losing 3-2. PinnacleSport.com price Cardiff 1.833 (+0.5 & +1) with Spurs 2.1 (-0.5 & -1).
