FA Cup preview: anyone but City?
With the third round of the FA Cup upon us – Crystal Palace vs Everton has already thrilled the purists – who’s going all the way this time? Assuming it’s not Man City?
Yes, City are reigning champions – last year, Pep Guardiola’s team saw off plucky upstart local rivals Man Utd 2-1 in the final – but actually, this is one competition City haven’t won with crushing monotony in recent years.
Poch remains potless in English football
At least, not as much crushing monotony; City have been victorious twice during Pep’s tenure.
In other words, if you’re not a City supporter, you’ve still got a chance. And let’s face it, the other members of the “big 7” could use a little of that fabled Cup magic.
Mauricio Pochettino remains potless when it comes to English football; under the Argentine, this Chelsea side remain as hit-and-miss as they were under Graham Potter and Frank Lampard. The Blues are currently tenth in the league table, having lost as many games as they’ve won in the Prem this season.
Man United are going nowhere under Erik ten Hag; after winning the Carabao Cup and reaching the final of this competition last season, the Red Devils have been desperately disappointing in Ten Hag’s sophomore season, dumped out of Europe and racking up Prem defeats too. The Dutchman’s future with United looks increasingly imperilled.
Arsenal have won this trophy more than any other team – 14 times to date, most recently under Arteta in 2020. But the Gunners have hit an iffy spell with back-to-back defeats in their last two outings, and their challenge for the league title could be slipping away.
Newcastle are in a more concerning position, have lost five of their last six league games. Eddie Howe’s future with the club is at risk, according to some – with Girona boss Michel Sanchez recently linked with a move to St James’ Park.
And Liverpool and Tottenham? Actually, Liverpool and Tottenham are doing fine, but it’s always nice to win a Cup, no? Liverpool have at least collected a few trophies since Klopp rocked up, most recently both the FA Cup and the League Cup in 2022.
Salah & Szoboszlai are absent for Liverpool
Liverpool are without Mo Salah for their fixture against Arsenal in north London on Sunday, with the Egyptian King off to the Africa Cup of Nations. The impressive Dominik Szoboszlai is also absent through injury. So can the visitors find a way to blow away the Gunners?
For Spurs, winning silverware should be a rather more pressing priority; their last FA Cup win came in 1991, while they haven’t won a trophy of any kind since their League Cup win of 2008, back in the brief glory days of Juande Ramos.
Ange Postecoglou has undoubtedly endeared himself to Spurs fans. But landing a trophy would only add to the straight-talking Aussie’s reputation. That said, Spurs will have to win their tie against Burnley this weekend without captain Heung-Min Son, who is otherwise engaged in the Asian Cup this month. Lads, it’s Burnley? We’ll see.
Could Villa be worth a punt?
Even if some of the above teams have sputtered on occasions when you’d expect them to cruise, a good Cup run could offer a triumphant end to the season. Or at least some small solace for everything else that’s gone wrong.
You can find the latest betting on this week’s FA Cup action here. If you prefer to go straight to the outright betting, City are understandable favourites at 5/2 – cast your eye over the whole list here.
And at 20/1, could Aston Villa be worth a punt this year? Unai Emery’s side are flying in the Prem. But Emery loves a Cup, having claimed the Europa League three times with Sevilla, and then again with Villarreal in 2021.
Not since 1957 have the Villans won this competition. But Emery may be just the man to inspire his players to long-awaited glory this season…
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