MY ACCOUNT
– One of Manchester City and Chelsea will be exiting at the third-round stage
– Liverpool have the squad to launch a successful trophy defence
– Manchester United have lost only three of their last 19 games in all competitions
The FA Cup is famed for the thrills and spills that come with it and, while there will be upsets aplenty as the season progresses, class should still come to the fore when the silverware is being dished out at Wembley in June.
Only once in the last nine seasons has a team outside the so-called big-six gone on to lift the FA Cup and that was Leicester’s win in 2020-21, a season in which the Foxes also went on to finish fifth in the Premier League.
In fact, only three times in the last 27 years have one of Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester City or Manchester United failed to win the competition.
Four of the last six finals have featured at least two of those elites too, and in an indifferent year, when the calendar has become even busier due to the inclusion of a winter World Cup, having a deep pool of talent may be more important than ever before.
It should therefore be no surprise to see those recent winners, along with Tottenham and a much-improved Newcastle, dominating the market and one of those eight aforementioned are expected to make their presence felt.
Liverpool can make a bold bid in trophy defence
With FA Cup favourites Manchester City hosting Chelsea in a potential third-round epic, swerving those two heavyweights makes plenty of sense and that may help Liverpool put up a successful trophy defence.
For their impeccable standards, Jurgen Klopp’s Reds have made a poor start to the Premier League season and they already have their work cut out just to finish in the top four.
Injuries have not helped their cause but many of their players either did not go to the World Cup or played only minor roles, so they should be fresh and they are expected to improve as the campaign progresses.
Even so, Liverpool supporters will be demanding their team to give the competition they won last term full respect and they should utilise home advantage at 5/19 with LiveScore Bet in their third-round clash with Wolves, who are embroiled in a Premier League relegation scrap.
A bit of luck will be needed with the draw but five all-Premier League ties means the opposition could soon be dwindled down and Liverpool have much greater resources available to them than most.
Red Devils strong candidates to end five-year trophy drought
Manchester United have improved no end since the appointment of Erik ten Hag, so much so that the Red Devils have put themselves back in the top-four picture.
Ten Hag’s team have lost only three of their last 19 games in all competitions and they could continue to improve as the Dutch coach becomes more settled with his squad.
United have defeated the likes of Liverpool, Arsenal and Tottenham at Old Trafford this term and at home are expected to overcome third-round opponents Everton, who have struggled on their travels and have Premier League survival as their priority, with the Red Devils 2/5 to win with LiveScore Bet.
Ten Hag will be determined to fully cement his position among the Red Devils faithful with some silverware and they look overpriced to end a five-year trophy drought, especially given the squad quality and depth at the Dutchman’s disposal.
