Solskjaer’s strength in depth can pile on Cup misery for off-form Liverpool
With both sides set to rotate players, back United to triumph Sheffield Wednesday to inflict shock by knocking out Everton
It will be just a week since Liverpool and Manchester United cancelled each other out in the Premier League when the teams walk out at Old Trafford tomorrow, but a more exciting game is surely on the cards in the FA Cup fourth round.
Sandwiched between two midweek Premier League fixtures, this match is likely to feature a host of personnel changes, with Liverpool last in action on Thursday when suffering a shock 1-0 defeat by Burnley.
Bookmakers are finding it hard to split the teams, with Ladbrokes quoting 31/20 for a Manchester United success, 33/20 for a Liverpool win and the draw in 90 minutes available at 12/5.
At those prices, I would much rather be backing Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side, who have had an extra day’s rest, and a quick look at the teams’ benches for the league match last Sunday suggests squad rotation will favour the home side.
Mason Greenwood, Edinson Cavani, Donny van der Beek, Nemanja Matic, Juan Mata, Eric Bailly, Alex Telles and Dean Henderson were all socially distanced on the sidelines at Anfield and that group, who will probably all start tomorrow, look stronger than Liverpool’s likely replacements Divock Origi, Takumi Minamino, Alex Oxlade-chamberlain, James Milner, Nat Phillips, Rhys Williams and goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher.
With that in mind, there is the possibility that United could win by a comfortable margin, and if I were to have a bet, I would be tempted to take the 15/4 about United winning to nil in the hope that Jurgen Klopp decided to rest at least two members
Odds may fluctuate. Please bet responsibly: begambleaware. org. Need help? Call the National Gambling Helpline on 08088 020 133. of his supremely talented front three.
I love looking for potential giantkillers in the early rounds but there are thin pickings this weekend for any punter looking for potential Davids.
If there is to be a shock, it could come tomorrow night at Goodison Park, where I am going to be backing Sheffield Wednesday to beat Everton at 8/1.
Morale at the Sheffield club has improved since the sacking of Tony Pulis last month and interim manager Neil Thompson has presided over a run of three wins. The only negative is a recent coronavirus outbreak, which resulted in the shutdown of the training ground, but they still look overpriced.
Everton are in the mix for Champions League qualification and that will surely mean manager Carlo Ancelotti rests plenty of his firstteam squad and they squeaked past Championship strugglers Rotherham only in extra-time in the last round.
The Cheltenham Festival is less than two months away and there are only a few major staging posts left in advance of the biggest racing meeting of the year in March.
One such fixture is being held this afternoon at Ascot, where the Grade One Clarence House Chase at Ascot takes centre stage.
Last season’s Queen Mother Champion Chase winner, Politologue, is favourite at around 11/8 to extend his winning streak to three after impressively winning the Tingle
Classic Ben’s trainer Stuart Edmunds has turned a corner after a bad run of form
Creek Chase on his return to action last month.
He might not get things his own way with King George runner-up Waiting Patiently in the field, while Defi Du Seuil would be a huge danger if bouncing back to the form he showed 18 months ago before a couple of disappointing efforts of late.
That race may be best left alone and I am going to be backing a horse in one of the earlier handicaps: Classic Ben, who runs in the 2m 7f handicap chase (2.25). His trainer, Stuart Edmunds, has turned a corner after a bad run of form, with a winner and two seconds from his past four runners and Classic Ben should appreciate the soft conditions. He won off a 1lb higher mark at Sandown two years ago and should run well from the front at odds of around 7/1.