HAPPY DIAZ HERE AGAIN
In-form ace can add to Man Utd misery
A POOR season for Manchester United should be all but over tomorrow with Liverpool likely to end their FA Cup hopes.
United boss Erik ten Hag desperately needs to land some silverware to maintain his grip on the Old Trafford hot seat.
But even the bookies rate their chances of winning their Old Trafford quarter-final clash against their big rivals as slim.
Sky Bet have United out at 16-5 for the home win, with Jurgen Klopp’s visitors odds-on at 87-100 with BetMGM. The draw is as big as 3-1 with bet365 and Betfred.
Both sides have been depleted by injuries in recent weeks and, although United had no game in midweek, Liverpool made the most of their 6-1 romp over Sparta Prague, resting key players and allowing others like Mo Salah to get some vital minutes.
Even though the Anfield men are busy chasing glory on four fronts, I still think they will have too much for United.
Ten Hag’s men have been notoriously inconsistent this season, compared to a rampant Liverpool team that has lost only twice in domestic competitions.
Klopp’s side have conceded just six goals in their nine-game unbeaten run, scoring a massive 28 goals into the bargain.
United will no doubt raise their game against their old enemy and make it difficult, so I can see a onegoal difference between the sides.
I’d take Liverpool to win it 2-1 in 90 minutes, at odds of 8-1 with William Hill, while Sky Bet’s correct-score group betting – that Liverpool triumph by 1-0, 2-0 or 2-1 – is worth considering at 5-2.
Backing the handicap draw, with United getting a goal start, gives you slightly improved odds of 11-4 with Sky Bet.
The firepower that Klopp has at his disposal is awesome, with fitagain Salah, Darwin Nunez and Cody Gakpo all weighing in with plenty of goals and assists this term – including four goals between them on Thursday.
Any one of them would be worth backing to score but for better value it’s worth taking Luis Diaz at 10-3 to net at any time, or an attractive 10-1 to grab the first goal.
The Colombian forward – rested in midweek – has netted four times in the last 11 games and he could well be the man to make the breakthrough.
For United, skipper Bruno Fernandes has a good record in the competition recently, scoring five with one assist in his last six FA Cup appearances.
It’s certainly worth taking Sky Bet’s 2-1 that he scores or assists, but I’d prefer to go for the 9-2 that he simply provides at least one assist.
For added interest, I’d have a punt on Sky Bet’s Requestabet odds of 9-2 that both teams score, each team wins four or more corners and each side gets at least 20 booking points.
The other three quarter-finals all look like home wins – 4-6 shots Wolves should beat Coventry, Manchester City can edge out Newcastle at 2-9 and Chelsea, at 4-9, are likely to topple Leicester. A treble would pay just under 2-1.
To increase the value, back each home side minus one goal to win on the handicap, which would then pay around a more attractive 19-2.