Manchester City +225 Favorites to Win FA Cup After Third Round
- Manchester City are favorites to retain FA Cup
- Premier League pursuit could make Liverpool a team to avoid
- Manchester United and Tottenham progressed after Third Round replays
Manchester City are priced at +225 to win the FA Cup. Pep Guardiola’s team are the strong favorites to retain the trophy ahead of Liverpool at +500. A pair of London clubs follow the top two in the latest betting – Jose Mourinho and Frank Lampard will be particularly keen to pick up some silverware this season.
In a dreary replay on Wednesday, Manchester United snatched a victory against Wolves to book their place in the Fourth Round of the competition. The 12-time Cup winners are +1200 to add a 13th FA Cup to their packed trophy cabinet.
FA Cup Odds
Team | Odds |
---|---|
Manchester City | +225 |
Liverpool | +500 |
Tottenham | +800 |
Chelsea | +900 |
Leicester | +1000 |
Arsenal | +1200 |
Manchester United | +1200 |
West Ham | +2500 |
Newcastle | +5000 |
Sheffield United | +5000 |
Southampton | +6600 |
Bournemouth | +8000 |
Burnley | +8000 |
Watford | +8000 |
Cardiff | +10000 |
Norwich | +10000 |
Birmingham | +15000 |
Brentford | +15000 |
Derby | +15000 |
Fulham | +15000 |
Odds taken Jan. 16
Liverpool to Focus Elsewhere
Liverpool are still unbeaten in the Premier League, but their +500 to win the FA Cup is a bit short. Jurgen Klopp will prioritize the league and Champions League for the remainder of the season, and will likely name inexperienced teams in the FA Cup, as he did in the Third Round Merseyside derby. The much-changed eleven was good enough to get the better of Everton and should be able to see off Shrewsbury in the Fourth Round, but it’s unlikely to carry them into the latter stages.
A favorable draw into the last eight might change things for Klopp. The league could be as good as sorted by then, and elimination from the Champions League might see Liverpool turn their attention to a potential second League-Cup double in the club’s history.
Mourinho Searching for Silverware
With one win in five league matches and sitting nine points behind Chelsea, Tottenham’s hopes of finishing in the top four are fading fast. RB Leipzig will fancy their chances of knocking out Mourinho’s side in the last 16 of the Champions League, too.
Harry Kane’s injury leaves Spurs in a difficult spot. Their away tie to Southampton in the Fourth Round of the Cup is far from a walkover, but Mourinho may view the FA Cup as his best chance to make something from this season. Champions League qualification is obviously the main aim, though we can be sure Mourinho would love to bring some silverware to north London after Mauricio Pochettino failed to do so during his time at the club.
How far can José Mourinho's @SpursOfficial go in this season's #EmiratesFACup? ? pic.twitter.com/KquISXsYym
— The Emirates FA Cup (@EmiratesFACup) January 14, 2020
Southampton manager Ralph Hasenhuttl made plenty of changes for his side’s Third Round win over Huddersfield. Similar squad rotation will make their Fourth Round meeting much easier for Spurs, particularly if the red-hot Danny Ings is left out.
City Deserve Their Favorites Status
With their Premier League crown slipping away, Manchester City are left with the cup competitions this season. The Champions League is the one they want most of all, of course, but Guardiola has more than a deep enough squad to compete on multiple fronts.
Running and jumping all over Wednesday's training session! ?♂️
? #ManCity pic.twitter.com/DAH68xTE3G
— Manchester City (@ManCity) January 15, 2020
The Fourth Round clash with Fulham should be a comfortable victory for the reigning Premier League champions. If a tougher draw follows in the Fifth Round, it wouldn’t be a surprise to see Guardiola name a full-strength team and potentially rotate in the league. With one foot already in the League Cup final, a domestic cup double is possible for City this season.
City are going to be the team to beat in the FA Cup. They have won nine of their last 10 matches and scored 13 goals in their last three outings. Chelsea and Spurs will be motivated to make a cup run, but neither would be favored if drawn against City. A Champions League exit to Real Madrid will only make the FA Cup a greater priority for City – this is the time to back them to win their win the oldest cup competition in the world for a seventh time.
Best bet: Manchester City (+225)