FA CUP QUARTER-FINALS TIPS: SAINTS TO PUSH ARSENAL ALL THE WAY
It’s the last eight of the FA Cup and there are a couple of Football League sides out to cause an upset for the remaining Premier League clubs.
A blockbuster of a tie awaits on Saturday lunchtime as Manchester City host Liverpool at the Etihad while, on Saturday evening, Port Vale attempt to cause the upset of all upsets as they travel to face Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.
An intriguing clash is in store in Saturday’s late game as in-form Southampton welcome an Arsenal side fresh from losing the EFL Cup final, while there’s an all-Premier League tie between West Ham and Leeds to round off the quarter-finals.
Here, we pick out three of the best bets as the remaining clubs eye a trip to Wembley...
Tip 1 – Southampton-Arsenal draw in 90 minutes @ 5/1
What a run Southampton are on.
Tonda Eckert’s Saints haven’t lost since mid-January and dumped Premier League Fulham out in the last round – Ross Stewart’s penalty proving the difference.
Their reward for that win? A home tie against Arsenal.
It will be a far different prospect than their meeting in the final game of last season’s Premier League: a narrow win for the Gunners against their already-relegated hosts, who had won just twice all season.
Nearly a year on, Southampton are pushing for a Premier League return. Rather than the cup run being a distraction, it seems to have been a catalyst in their play-off push.
Arsenal will want to bounce back from last week’s defeat to Manchester City, but they haven’t been at their best in recent weeks.
Functional rather than eye-catching, they are clear at the top but the pressure will mount in weeks to come – the EFL Cup final defeat was a missed opportunity to end their well-documented trophy drought.
Portsmouth, Wigan and Mansfield haven’t been the toughest route to the last eight, to say the least, and the Gunners actually fell behind at both Fratton Park and Field Mill.
They could well do so again here and we’re backing the hosts to take this one to at least extra time.
Southampton have scored in every game since New Year’s Day, with former Middlesbrough midfielder Finn Azaz shining with nine league goals.
A draw in 90 minutes is an extremely reasonable 5/1 while it’s a long 25/1 if you fancy the Irishman to make it into double figures for the season in the match as well.
Tip 2 – West Ham to beat Leeds & under 2.5 goals @ 17/4
Both West Ham and Leeds could probably do without the FA Cup amid a relegation battle but, having come this far, they will now harbour hopes of going all the way.
Leeds are out of form. Their fifth-round win over Norwich is their sole victory since early February and they haven’t so much as scored in their last five Premier League games.
Additionally, their dismal away form makes this a huge opportunity for the Hammers.
The Whites have won just once away from home in the league – at bottom-of-the-table Wolves back in September – and Championship Derby County are the only other side they have beaten on the road in 90 minutes.
West Ham’s recent form has given them a real shot at Premier League survival and a win here could be a psychological boost over a relegation rival – these two have a potentially huge final day showdown.
The hosts haven’t lost at the London Stadium since early January and have recently held both Manchester City and United here.
Their last three league home games have had under 2.5 goals and we’re backing that to be the case again.
It’s 17/4 for a home win and under 2.5 goals – a victory that not only sends West Ham to Wembley but leaves Leeds nervously approaching the final weeks of the season.
Tip 3 – Nico O’Reilly & Dominic Szoboszlai 1+ shot on target in Man City vs Liverpool @ 4/1
This is a massive clash for both sides.
Last week’s EFL Cup win leaves City still hunting the domestic treble, albeit with a lot of work to do in the Premier League, while Liverpool can rescue what has been a disappointing season with success in the FA Cup and the Champions League.
Meetings between these two tend to be anything but straightforward and January’s clash at Anfield was no different.
Dominic Szoboszlai scored and was then sent off in a bizarre ending to the game, which City won 2-1.
Free-kick specialist Szoboszlai has had 19 shots on target in the league this season and scored 12 goals – including two in the FA Cup.
City’s man of the moment is Nico O’Reilly. The England international scored both goals in the Arsenal win and has emerged as a key player for Pep Guardiola’s men this season.
He’s had 10 Premier League shots on target and has eight goals in all competitions.
It is well worth a look at the 4/1 for both O’Reilly and Szoboszlai to at least force the goalkeeper to make a save here as both sides target another FA Cup semi-final.
Odds correct at time of publication but subject to change
