MANCHESTER UNITED VS LIVERPOOL THROWS TOURNAMENT WIDE OPEN
The first FA Cup draw since William Hill became an official supporter and the official betting partner of The FA Cup threw up a couple of tasty looking ties. The highest profile of which would seem to be the tie between Liverpool and Manchester United. Hills make Liverpool 11/8 the slight favourites to make it into the hat for the fifth round. United got an away win against Manchester City and they are 13/8 to win at Anfield. Liverpool are 8/11 to qualify with United Evens. It is 4/1 for the winner of this tie to win the trophy.
The other big tie of the round will see Sunderland taking on Middlesbrough in an all North East tie and Hills make Sunderland the favourites at 4/6 and 2/5 to qualify.
Following their victory against Portsmouth, Chelsea are the 4/1 favourites to win the Cup, with Tottenham 9/2 second favourites.
With a number of London teams still in the hat, Hills are offering 5/1 that two sides from the capital fight it out in the final. It is 66/1 for an all Merseyside final and 150/1 for an all North-East final.
With Liverpool facing Manchester United, you would think that the draw is ideally suited for the London sides to stamp their authority on the competition, said Hills spokesman Joe Crilly.
With three Premier League teams (Bolton, QPR and Wolves) having to face third round replays, Hills offer even money that all three get through (8/11 that at least one of those teams are knocked out). Hills go 100/1 that all three Premier League sides facing replays are knocked out.
Dave Jones, speaking exclusively to William Hill, said The Liverpool/Manchester United fourth round draw will be one of the biggest games in the competitions history. It will be a tough away game for United, but as they proved today when they beat Manchester City, they have the quality to go to Anfield and get a result. It will however, be very tough for them as Liverpool have been resurgent under Kenny Dalglish.
Match Odds:
4/6 Sunderland; 5/2 Draw; 16/5 Middlesbrough
1/2 Hull; 13/5 Draw; 9/2 Crawley
10/11 West Brom; 23/10 Draw; 12/5 Norwich
8/11 Blackpool; 5/2 Draw; 14/5 Sheffield Wednesday
10/11 Stevenage; 23/10 Draw; 12/5 Notts County
11/2 Watford; 16/5 Draw; 4/11 Tottenham
11/8 Liverpool; 21/10 Draw; 13/8 Manchester United
2/1 Derby; 11/5 Draw; 11/10 Stoke
1/1 Everton; 11/5 Draw; 11/5 Fulham
How many Premier League teams will reach the final: 8/15 two; 11/8 one; 33/1 none
5/1 All London Final
66/1 All Merseyside
150/1 All North East (Middlesbrough, Sunderland, Newcastle)
To Qualify:
2/5 Sunderland; 7/4 Middlesbrough
1/1 Manchester United; 8/11 Liverpool
FA Cup Outright: 4/1 Chelsea; 9/2 Tottenham; 11/2 Manchester United; 8/1 Arsenal; 9/1 Liverpool; 16/1 Newcastle; 16/1 Stoke; 16/1 Sunderland; 25/1 Everton; 28/1 Fulham; 33/1 Aston Villa; 33/1 West Brom; 50/1 Bolton; 50/1 Leicester; 50/1 Norwich; 50/1 Southampton; 50/1 Swansea; 66/1 BAR
Prem Sides To Qualify:
3-5: 66/1
6-8: 6/4
9-10: 4/7
11: 6/1
Further Information…Joe Crilly…07850 518 164
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