The Premier League and Sky Bet Championship takes a break this weekend to let Emirates FA Cup football take centre stage.
The third-round draw has thrown up some exiting matchups, including Friday’s all-Premier League contest between West Ham United and Manchester City, Tottenham Hotspur’s home game with Aston Villa and many other standout ties.
We will also be looking at the top leagues from Spain and Italy, as Villarreal welcome Barcelona in La Liga, whilst Juventus entertain Bologna in the Italian Serie A. It promises to be yet another enthralling – not to mention long – weekend of football and here are our betting tips.
- West Ham United v Manchester City – Manchester City to Win (7/10 at Betfred)
- Manchester United v Reading – Manchester United to Win -2 (13/8 at Coral)
- Preston North End v Arsenal – Arsenal to Win and Both Teams to Score (19/10 at Betfred)
- Liverpool v Plymouth Argyle – Liverpool to Win 4-0 (9/1 at BetVicor)
- Tottenham Hotspur v Aston Villa – Tottenham Hotspur to Win -1 (4/5 at Ladbrokes)
- Cambridge United v Leeds United – Leeds United to Win 3-0 (19/1 at BetVictor)
- Villarreal v Barcelona – Barcelona to Win (1/2 at Sky Bet)
- Juventus v Bologna – Juventus to Win -1 (6/10 at Coral)
FA Cup
The third round of the 136th FA Cup gets underway this Friday evening, as Premier League rivals West Ham United and Manchester City go head-to-head in the capital. Last season, Manchester United, managed by Louis van Gaal, beat Alan Pardew’s Crystal Palace in the final. United kick their 2017 FA Cup campaign off with a home game with Jaap Stam’s Reading, while Sam Allardyce’s Palace begin with a tricky looking tie at Bolton Wanderers.
West Ham United v Manchester City – 6th January
We kick things off with Friday’s all-Premier League tie between Slaven Bilic’s West Ham United and Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City, which takes place at the London Stadium, Stratford.
Both sides have endured some tough PL results in recent weeks, but both will see the FA Cup as a very welcome distraction. The Hammers, who lost 2-0 to City’s rivals Manchester United on Monday, reached the sixth round of the competition last year. Meanwhile, the Citizens, who last won the FA Cup in 2011, were knocked out by Chelsea at the fifth round stage last term.
City head to the capital as favourites, and we can’t see them having too many problems seeing off West Ham to reach round four. Betfred are offering the tempting price of 7/10 for Man City to win on Friday.
Manchester City to Win – 7/10 at Betfred
Manchester United v Reading – 7th January
Manchester United welcome back Jaap Stam, who takes his Reading side to Old Trafford for an intriguing looking FA Cup tie on Saturday. The Royals, who are going great guns in the Championship at present, will fancy their chances of causing an upset at the Theatre of Dreams.
However, United are also in fine form and starting to look like a Jose Mourinho side at last. The Red Devils have won their last six Premier League matches on the spin, conceding just three goals in the process. In fact, since losing to Fenerbahce in the Europa League, United have won 10 and drawn three of their following 13 games in all competitions.
Reading may be impressing in England’s second tier, but Man Utd are starting to look like a real force under Mourinho. We’re backing United to win with ease on Saturday, and we feel there’s good value in Coral’s 13/8 for the home team to win -2.
Manchester United to Win -2 – 13/8 at Coral
Preston North End v Arsenal – 7th January
Another tasty looking third round FA Cup tie is Saturday’s contest from Deepdale, as Championship side Preston North End entertain Arsene Wenger’s Arsenal. Although the Gunners will be expected to go through, North End are a very capable outfit these days, especially on their own patch.
However, Arsenal, who recently lost back-to-back away matches, have picked up their form in the past couple of weeks, and they will be eager for a good run in the cup. Meanwhile, Preston have lost just one of their last six Championship matches, a run that has taken them into the top half of the division.
The last time these two met in this competition, Arsenal ran out 4-2 winners at Deepdale back in January 1999 – Emmanuel Petit bagged a brace, with Luis Boa Morte and Marc Overmars getting the others. We’re predicting more of the same to unfold on Saturday, and we like the look of Betfred’s 19/10 for the Gunners to win and both teams to score. Arsenal drew their last away game 3-3 at Bournemouth, so we don’t think their defence will manage a clean sheet, but they will have enough to win against lower league opposition.
Arsenal to Win and Both Teams to Score – 19/10 at Betfred
Liverpool v Plymouth Argyle – 8th January
Plymouth Argyle’s reward for seeing off Newport County at Rodney Parade in a second round replay before Christmas is a trip to Anfield to take on Jurgen Klopp’s high-flying Liverpool.
Argyle, who are currently second in League Two, needed a 113th-minute Graham Carey penalty to eventually get the better of Newport. Plymouth and Liverpool have not met in any competition since 1962, back when The Beatles were a fledgling pop act. The Reds, who are second in the Premier League, are the overwhelming favourites to progress to round four at the Pilgrims’ expense.
Although it will no doubt be a great day out for the Plymouth supporters, we anticipate Liverpool to ease past them on Sunday. BetVictor are offering the tempting odds of 9/1 for Klopp’s men to win 4-0, a price we feel is very much worth having a punt on.
Liverpool to Win 4-0 – 9/1 at BetVictor
Tottenham Hotspur v Aston Villa – 8th January
Also on Sunday, Mauricio Pochettino’s Tottenham Hotspur welcome Steve Bruce’s Aston Villa to White Hart Lane. Villa may be a Championship side nowadays, but they have certainly been given a new lease of life by Bruce and are looking like they could push for a quick return to the top flight.
As for Spurs, after a few indifferent results in November, they have been superb in December. Since losing 1-0 to Manchester United, Tottenham have beaten Hull City, Burnley, Southampton and Watford, scoring 13 and conceding three in the process, to fire themselves back into top four contention.
Although we believe the Villans will make life difficult for the Lilywhites at times on Sunday, we can see Pochettino’s men prevailing. Ladbrokes are offering 4/5 for the home team to win -1 and that looks good against a side who are much better at home than on the road.
Tottenham Hotspur to Win -1 – 4/5 at Ladbrokes
Cambridge United v Leeds United – 9th January
The last of our FA Cup previews is the match between Shaun Derry’s League Two outfit Cambridge United, and Garry Monk’s Championship high-flyers Leeds United.
Cambridge currently lie seventh in the League Two table, whilst Leeds, who have been in tremendous form since Monk took over, occupy fifth in the second tier table. You have to go all the way back to 1984 for the last time these two met, with the pair playing out a 2-2 draw in an Old Division 2 matchup.
On Monday, a Chris Wood brace and a Kyle Bartley goal gave the Whites an impressive 3-0 victory over Yorkshire rivals Rotherham United. We fancy the same scoreline to unfold in this one, and BetVictor are offering the eye-opening price of 19/1 for Leeds to win 3-0 once again on Monday night.
Leeds United to Win 3-0 – 19/1 at BetVictor
La Liga
After a short Christmas break, La Liga is back with a bang this weekend. League leaders Real Madrid, who are fresh off the back of becoming FIFA Club World Champions, begin 2017 with a home fixture with struggling Granada. Meanwhile, Barcelona travel to fourth placed Villarreal, Sevilla make the trip to Real Sociedad and Atletico Madrid host Alaves.
Villarreal v Barcelona – 8th January
The biggest game from La Liga this weekend is without doubt the huge clash at the Estadio El Madrigal, as Fran Escriba’s Villarreal host Luis Enrique’s Barcelona this Sunday.
With Real Madrid’s Club World Cup commitments, Barca have closed the gap at the top to just three points. Since drawing with Real at the Camp Nou in early December, Blaugrana have won four straight matches in all competitions, conceding just once in the process.
Villarreal, who are currently five points behind Barcelona in fifth, will no doubt be a tough test for the Spanish champions on Sunday. Nevertheless, we can see Enrique’s side sneaking to another vital win. Sky Bet have the away victory available at decent odds of 1/2 and that’s solid value here.
Barcelona to Win – 1/2 at Sky Bet
Serie A
Before the winter break, Juventus’ 1-0 win over Roma put them four points clear of Luciano Spalletti’s men at the top of the Serie A table. Napoli, who face a home game with Sampdoria on Saturday, are currently third, seven points adrift of Juve. The Old Lady, who have a game in hand on their title rivals, welcome 15th-placed Bologna to the Juventus Stadium this weekend.
Juventus v Bologna – 8th January
On Sunday evening, Massimiliano Allegri’s Juventus entertain Roberto Donadoni’s Bologna at the Juventus Stadium. Juve will be looking for a routine win that will keep them clear at the top of the Serie A table as they press for yet another title.
Allegri’s troops go into this one having won their last three. Overall, the Old Lady have won 14 of their 17 Italian top-flight fixtures, and they are the only side yet to draw a game. As for Bologna, they currently lie in a lowly 15th, although they did secure a solid 3-0 victory at Pescara last time out in the league.
Unfortunately for the Red and Blues, we can’t see the home team having any problems whatsoever on Sunday. Coral are offering 6/10 for Juventus to win -1, a price we feel is well worth taking advantage of given the gulf in class between the teams.
Juventus to Win -1 – 6/10 at Coral