Man City Early +275 Favorites to Repeat as FA Cup Champions

• Man City is priced at just +275 to win the English FA Cup
• Liverpool is not far behind at +425
• All eyes are on the EPL top six

Manchester City’s demolition of Watford in the 2018-19 English FA Cup Final was arguably the most brutal ever. For City, it wrapped up a domestic treble – the EPL, the FA Cup and the League Cup – and with there being no sign of them taking their foot off the gas, season 2019-20 promises to be an equally successful one for Pep Guardiola’s men.

2019-20 English FA Cup Odds

*Odds taken 06/19/19. 

That City have been immediately installed as favorites for next season’s FA Cup is no surprise, but for them to be offered at just +275 makes light of the fact it’s a competition that’s entered by 736 teams. Equally, Liverpool at +425 as second-favorites ignores the other EPL teams, especially those in the top six, who fancy their chances of winning it.

But, if not City or Liverpool, then who? We’ll take a look at the teams we think have a good chance.

A Battle of the Top Six

Beyond the big two, the other four teams who make up the “Big Six” are Tottenham, Manchester United, Chelsea, and Arsenal, and all will be looking to strengthen their squads over the summer in the hope of winning some silverware next season. And with City and Liverpool expected to be fighting it out for the EPL title again next season, all four will view the FA Cup as eminently winnable.

For Tottenham, an FA Cup win would give them their first trophy for 29 years.

For Tottenham, an FA Cup win would give them their first trophy for 29 years – the last being the FA Cup in 1991 – and would rid manager Mauricio Pochettino of the tag “trophy-less”, something that has loomed large over him and his club over the last few seasons.

"It is the best game in the world after the World Cup,"

Mauricio Pochettino was in pretty defiant mood after Tottenham's Champions League loss.

More here: https://t.co/GWrZMz4j64 pic.twitter.com/zfvGZKvUnN

— BBC Sport (@BBCSport) June 2, 2019

Finally Poch’s Time?

So, maybe next year’s FA Cup will be the one for Spurs who under Pochettino have pushed themselves ahead of Arsenal and Manchester United and who now sit alongside Chelsea as the greatest threat to City and Liverpool. It’s a club that has the stadium, the manager, the infrastructure, and the players to win something, but they desperately need to deliver.

For Chelsea, next season promises to be one of transition – there’ll be a new manager at the helm after Maurizio Sarri departed for Juventus – with the club the subject of a two-window transfer ban. This may hinder their chances of competing of the EPL front but it takes six victories to win the FA Cup compared to a 38-game season in the EPL.

With a huge squad of young players at Chelsea’s disposal – many have been out on loan over the last few seasons – they may just see the FA Cup as an ideal platform.

Time For a United Revival

Manchester United will be looking to re-establish themselves at the top of the English game, after a few seasons in the wilderness, and will be hoping to reinvigorate their squad over the summer, which may mean parting company with the enigmatic Paul Pogba.

According to TJ, Juventus are planning to offer Manchester United €40m-€50m cash & Joao Cancelo in order to sign Paul Pogba in the summer! pic.twitter.com/tpAf7OTWle

— Forza Juventus (@ForzaJuveEN) June 14, 2019

But they have a lot of ground to make up to catch City and Liverpool, so the FA Cup may just be what they need to get the club back in the habit of winning silverware. They can never be discounted.

Neither, for that matter, can Arsenal who flattered to deceive in Unai Emery’s first season in charge, culminating in that humiliation in the Europa League final. But it’s a club with a great pedigree in the FA Cup, especially in recent years – with no fewer than six wins in the 21st century. Like Chelsea, they can never be ruled out.

Hammers and Toffees Within a Shout

Beyond the top six, West Ham (+3000) are worthy of consideration and so too are Everton (+2000) – who will be spending big this summer – while Watford proved it is possible for a mid-table team to make the final. But outside of that group, it’s hard to see the romance of the cup providing a shock winner, and it’s highly unlikely a team outside the EPL will even get to the final.

So, from a pragmatic perspective, it’s hard to look outside the top six for a winner, but we do think there is better value to be had than with City and Liverpool.

Pick: Tottenham (+900)