Chelsea handed another kind FA Cup draw
Chelsea have won the FA Cup in each of the last two seasons and their hopes of becoming the first team since Blackburn in the 19th century to triumph in three successive years was boosted when they were drawn at home to underperforming Championship side Ipswich in the third round.
It's the fourth time in five that the [5.8] favourites to win the competition have been given a home encounter and also the fourth time in five that they will face a Football League team.
The tie of the round though is undoubtedly Manchester United's clash with Liverpool, with one of the two most successful clubs in English football history set to fall at the first hurdle for the second season in a row. The hosts are [6.8] second favourites to take the trophy, while Liverpool are [22.0].
Another appetising third round fixture pits Leicester against Manchester City, a game pairing two bosses with fine cup records, Sven-Goran Eriksson and Roberto Mancini, against former employers. The duo used to work together too, with Eriksson giving Mancini his start in coaching at Lazio. It's [9.0] that the Italian makes this the tenth trophy won in his managerial career.
The other sides making up the top seven in the betting will all face lower league opposition. Arsenal ([8.6]) will welcome Leeds United, who provided Liverpool, Tottenham and most notably Manchester United with tough tests in cup action last season.
Tottenham ([10.5]) will face the winners of the Luton versus Charlton second round replay at White Hart Lane, while Everton ([17.5]) will be making a trip to the club with the worst home record in the Football League, Scunthorpe.
Who will be meeting in Wembley come May? Share your predictions below...
Published: 29 Nov 2010
horlahtunji (November 29, 2010 6:15 PM) said:
man u is going down against liverpool this season
Steve Palmer (November 30, 2010 1:36 PM) said:
So ONLY Chelsea gets a kind draw...Liverpool probably thought the same (was it?) v Reading last season?