FA CUP SATURDAY: We preview Sunday’s FA Cup games between MIDDLESBROUGH v TOTTENHAM, LIVERPOOL v EVERTON and GILLINGHAM v WEST HAM with a recommended BETDAQ bet and extended match stats.
MIDDLESBROUGH V TOTTENHAM
2.01pm We have another action packed day of FA Cup action on Sunday and we kick off our preview with Middlesbrough hosting Spurs. While Jose Mourinho has improved Spurs going forward since he took charge, he’s definitely not improved them at the back. This has really held back any progress and they suffered another loss away to Southampton on New Years Day, and it’s fair to say that they just can’t keep outscoring teams. They must improve at the back, but can Middlesbrough take advantage?
The match odds at the time of writing currently trade; Middlesbrough 5.7, Tottenham 1.69 and the draw is 4.0. Middlesbrough are towards the bottom of the Championship table, however they come into this game having won their last four. They have climbed away from danger and look pretty safe now. Obviously this is a drop in class for Spurs but we can’t have them as short as 1.69 here. They still look woeful at the back and we expect Middlesbrough to give them a tough afternoon – we’re happy to lay 1.69.
BETDAQ BEST BET:
Lay Tottenham at 1.69.
You can view all markets here -> http://bit.ly/BDQMddTot
MATCH STATS
- Middlesbrough and Spurs haven’t met in the FA Cup since January 1966, a 4-0 victory for Spurs. Boro’ have been eliminated on each of the three occasions they’ve faced Spurs in the FA Cup.
- Spurs have won their last three matches against Middlesbrough, last facing them in February 2017 in the Premier League.
- Middlesbrough have been eliminated from eight of their last nine FA Cup ties against Premier League opponents, progressing only against Man City in January 2015 in this run.
- Spurs have progressed from 38 of their last 40 FA Cup ties against non-top flight opponents, failing only against Leicester in January 2006 and Leeds in January 2013.
- This is Jose Mourinho’s first FA Cup match since the 2018 final, a 1-0 defeat against Chelsea as Man Utd manager. Mourinho has won 13 of his 14 FA Cup matches against lower-league opposition, losing only to Bradford City in January 2015 with Chelsea.
LIVERPOOL V EVERTON
4.01pm This is undoubtedly the highlight of the Third Round draw. However it’s also fair to say that this isn’t the game that it once was – Liverpool are just too good now. Klopp might see this as a chance to rest some players, and with Everton having a new manager they have to target the FA Cup to have something to cheer in their season. We should have a good game but Liverpool look close to unbeatable at the moment and look like they will set records this season!
The match odds at the time of writing currently trade; Liverpool 2.16, Everton 3.55 and the draw is 3.8. Liverpool were close to 1.3 when the sides met in the Premier League recently, so obviously Klopp resting players is already priced in. We still feel that the 2.16 on Liverpool is massive here though. They have made Anfield a fortress in recent years and while Everton have improved with a new manager, backing Liverpool at odds against at home is too appealing to turn down.
BETDAQ BEST BET:
Liverpool to beat Everton at 2.16.
You can view all markets here -> http://bit.ly/BDQLfcEvt
MATCH STATS
- Liverpool and Everton have met in the FA Cup 24 times previously, making it the most played match in the history of the competition.
- Everton have played five away matches against Liverpool in the FA Cup – four have been drawn and gone to replays, though the most recent match in January 2018 was won 2-1 by the Reds.
- Liverpool have lost each of their last two FA Cup matches, losing to West Brom in January 2018 and Wolves in January 2019 – they haven’t lost three in a row in the competition since January 1954.
- Everton have been eliminated in the FA Cup third round in three of the last five seasons, having been eliminated at this stage in just three of the previous 16 before that.
- Liverpool striker Divock Origi has scored in all four of his home matches against Everton in all competitions, including a brace in their 5-2 Premier League win in December 2019.
GILLINGHAM V WEST HAM
6.16pm We end the day with Gillingham hosting West Ham after they got off to a winning start under David Moyes. It’s hard to know what West Ham should do with the FA Cup this season – on one hand they should focus on it because it would be nice to have a positive Cup run but on the other hand, a couple of losses in the Premier League and they will be in the bottom three. It’s so tight at the bottom of the table.
The match odds at the time of writing currently trade; Gillingham 5.8, West Ham 1.64 and the draw is 4.3. Gillingham are currently sitting in midtable in the Championship and if West Ham can perform anywhere close to how they did when beating Bournemouth 4-0 last time out then they should get the job done here. The 1.64 looks ten ticks too big on the Hammers and we’re happy to back them at the odds.
BETDAQ BEST BET:
West Ham to beat Gillingham at 1.64.
You can view all markets here -> http://bit.ly/BDQGilWes
MATCH STATS
- This is the first ever FA Cup meeting between Gillingham and West Ham United.
- West Ham and Gillingham have met four times previously, all in the second tier in 2003-04 and 2004-05 – the Hammers won three of those four matches, losing the other at the Priestfield Stadium in September 2003.
- Gillingham have reached the FA Cup fourth round just once in their previous 15 seasons, doing so last season – they last did so in consecutive seasons in 2003-04 (five in a row).
- In each of the last two seasons, the side eliminating West Ham from the FA Cup has been from League One – Wigan in 2017-18 and AFC Wimbledon in 2018-19.
- West Ham manager Manuel Pellegrini has progressed from all four of his previous FA Cup third round ties (three with Man City, one with West Ham).
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