This weekend, we’ve got Premier League, Emirates FA Cup and Sky Bet Championship football to look forward to. The race to Wembley is heating up in the FA Cup, whilst Liverpool will be looking to capitalise in the Premier League.
Also, on Friday night, promotion chasing Brighton & Hove Albion welcome Derby County to the Amex Stadium in Championship action. Stand by for what promises to be another fascinating weekend of football in England.
- Liverpool v Burnley – Liverpool to Win with a -2 goal handicap (13/8 at Coral)
- Middlesbrough v Manchester City – Manchester City to Win with a -1 goal handicap (6/5 at Coral)
- Arsenal v Lincoln City – Arsenal to Win with a -3 goal handicap (6/4 at Betfair)
- Tottenham Hotspur v Millwall – Tottenham Hotspur to Win and Both Teams to Score (21/10 at Coral)
- Chelsea v Manchester United – Chelsea to Win (19/20 at Betfred)
- Brighton & Hove Albion v Derby County – Brighton & Hove Albion to Win to Nil (9/4 at Bet365)
Premier League
With the likes of Chelsea, Tottenham Hotspur, Manchester City, Arsenal and Manchester United all involved in the Emirates FA Cup, Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool have the chance to claw back some points on those around them in the Premier League. After beating the Gunners last time out, the Reds will be hunting down Man City in third place. Elsewhere, Everton welcome West Bromwich Albion, Hull City play Swansea City and West Ham United travel to Bournemouth.
Liverpool v Burnley – 12th March
On Sunday, Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool and Sean Dyche’s Burnley meet at Anfield for a crucial Premier League fixture. The Reds will be looking for revenge after their 2-0 defeat at Turf Moor earlier in the season. In their previous two home games, Liverpool have beaten Tottenham Hotspur and Arsenal.
Six points from their last three Premier League fixtures have put the Merseyside outfit back on track in the league. Last Saturday’s 3-1 win over Arsenal leapfrogged Klopp’s boys over the Gunners into fourth in the Premier League table. Meanwhile, Burnley’s 3-2 loss at Swansea City means they have still yet to win on the road all season.
The Clarets were outstanding in their 2-0 win over the Reds back in August, but that was at Turf Moor. Away from home, Dyche’s men have a shocking record, drawing two and losing 11 of their 13 away league matches. Because of that, we’re predicting a comfortable home triumph in this one, and we like the look of Coral’s 13/8 for the Reds to win with a -2 goal handicap.
Liverpool to Win -2 – 13/8 at Coral
FA Cup
With just eight teams left in the Emirates FA Cup, who can make it through to next month’s Wembley semi-finals? Middlesbrough and Manchester City meet at the Riverside Stadium, whilst Arsenal welcome relative minnows Lincoln City to the Emirates on Saturday. Sunday sees Millwall travel to Tottenham Hotspur, with the blockbuster match between Chelsea and Manchester United taking place at Stamford Bride on Monday night.
Middlesbrough v Manchester City – 11th March
Aitor Karanka’s Middlesbrough play Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City at the Riverside Stadium on Saturday for a place in the FA Cup semi-final. Boro, who knocked City out this competition two seasons ago, also earned a 1-1 draw at the Etihad Stadium in a Premier League fixture back in November.
The Citizens have turned a corner since their heavy defeat at Everton in January. Before facing Stoke at the Etihad on Wednesday, Pep’s boys have won four straight Premier League matches. As for Boro, they have lost four of their last six top flight games, dropping into the relegation zone in the process.
Karanka’s boys have beaten three lower league teams on home soil to reach the last eight of the cup, but we can’t see them going any further. City look as though they are hitting form at just the right time, and we feel there’s good value in Coral’s 6/5 for the away side to win -1.
Manchester City to Win -1 – 6/5 at Coral
Arsenal v Lincoln City – 11th March
After a disastrous 2017, Arsene Wenger will be hoping his side can put their recent run behind them and progress to the semi-finals of the FA Cup without any hiccups against Danny Cowley’s Lincoln City on Saturday. The Imps have done a remarkable job reaching the last eight, but the Gunners should ease past them at the Emirates.
Lincoln’s amazing cup journey started with a home draw with Guiseley, and it’s taken them to victories over Ipswich Town, Brighton & Hove Albion and Burnley. Their cup run has not hindered their league form either, as City still sit top of the Vanarama National League. As for Arsenal, three Premier League defeats in four has seen them drop out the top four.
Nevertheless, with the game at the Emirates, Wenger will be looking for his side to dominate from start to finish. The players will want to put on a show in front of their frustrated home supporters, so we believe Betfair’s 6/4 for the Gunners to win with a -3 goal handicap is worth having a punt on.
Arsenal to Win -3 – 6/4 at Betfair
Tottenham Hotspur v Millwall – 12th March
Neil Harris takes his Sky Bet League One side Millwall to White Hart Lane to face Mauricio Pochettino’s high-flying Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday. The Lions have beaten three Premier League teams to reach the quarters, whilst Spurs have seen off Aston Villa, Wycombe Wanderers and Fulham.
After a slow start to the season, Millwall have hit their stride, as they now occupy a place in the play-offs. Their form since December has been exceptional, winning 11 and drawing six of their 17 league and cup games. Tottenham are also a team in fine fettle, having lost just one of their previous 12 Premier League matches.
Although we feel Spurs will prevail, we fancy Millwall to make life difficult for the eight-time FA Cup winners. Coral are offering the tempting odds of 21/10 for the Lilywhites to win and both teams to score.
Tottenham Hotspur to Win and Both Teams to Score – 21/10 at Coral
Chelsea v Manchester United – 13th March
On Monday evening, Chelsea entertain Manchester United at Stamford Bridge for the final FA Cup tie of the round. When these last met, the Blues ran out 4-0 winners in Premier League action back in October, which remains United’s last league defeat. With this one also at the Bridge, Antonio Conte’s men are the clear favourites to progress.
However, Jose Mourinho and co are a completely different side these days from the team who were annihilated in west London in October – and they will no doubt be out for revenge in this one. The Red Devils, who won the EFL Cup recently, have won 16 of their last 21 fixtures in all competitions.
With just the Premier League and FA Cup to focus on now, Chelsea will be looking to do the double this year. Monday’s 2-1 win at West Ham United saw them go 10 points clear at the top of the league, and victory against Man United will put them in a great position to lift their first FA Cup since 2012. Betfred are offering 19/20 for the Blues to win at home yet again on Monday.
Chelsea to Win – 19/20 at Betfred
Championship
With just 11 games to go in the Sky Bet Championship, the race for promotion is starting to get very interesting indeed. Newcastle United’s two huge away wins within a week has put them in pole position to win the title, but Brighton & Hove Albion are not done and dusted just yet.
On Friday evening, the Seagulls welcome Steve McClaren’s Derby County to the Amex Stadium, as they look to put pressure on the Magpies by claiming three points before Newcastle face Barnsley on Saturday.
Brighton & Hove Albion v Derby County – 10th March
Brighton & Hove Albion host Derby County at the Amex Stadium on Friday looking to get their promotion campaign back on track. After losing their last two, Chris Hughton’s Seagulls have dropped five points behind the leaders. Meanwhile, Derby sit 10th in the table, 10 points adrift of the play-offs.
The pair have had a pretty rough time of late, but both will be desperate to get a positive result from this one. Before facing each other on Friday, Derby host Preston North End, whilst Brighton travel to Rotherham United on Tuesday evening. In the reverse fixture on the opening weekend of the season, they played out a 0-0 draw at Pride Park.
However, we can see the Seagulls getting back to winning ways at the Amex on Friday. Albion have only failed to score once on their own patch this season, whilst Derby have lost three successive Championship away matches without scoring. The home side are available at 9/4 (Bet365) to win to nil against the Rams this Friday.
Brighton & Hove Albion to Win to Nil – 9/4 at Bet365