2024 FA Cup Final Preview

If there is a sense of déjà vu surrounding the 2024 FA Cup Final then it should be no surprise, with the two clubs that competed in 2023 heading back to Wembley this weekend.

Once again Manchester comes to London with the reigning Premier League champions City taking on local rivals United at England’s showpiece stadium, for football’s oldest trophy.

A total of 732 clubs entered the 143^rd edition of the sport’s oldest national competition and now we are down to the final two.

For both teams, this will mark the conclusion of a busy season and they will be desperate to end the campaign with a piece of silverware to take back home.

City will be playing their 59^th match of a season that has already produced a Premier League title, the UEFA Super Cup and the Club World Cup.

As for United, the return has not been what they would have hoped for with an eighth place finish in the Premier League, a fourth round exit from the Carabao Cup and a group stage departure from the Champions League.

However a chance for their first FA Cup triumph in almost a decade would at least provide some small comfort for the Old Trafford faithful.

Last season’s FA Cup Final saw City win a tight contest courtesy of an Ilkay Gundogan double either side of a Bruno Fernandes penalty.

Between them they have played in 33 combined FA Cup Finals, with United featuring in 22 of them, winning 12.

Meanwhile, City have seven FA Cup wins to their name, with the first coming in 1904 and three since their big money takeover in 2009.

How They Got Here

After a 5-0 win over Huddersfield in the Third Round, City have had to navigate four rounds of Premier League opponents to reach the final.

Nathan Ake’s 88^th minute goal proved to be the difference in the Fourth Round win over Tottenham before a comfortable 6-2 win against Luton booked a Quarter Final date with Newcastle.

In front of their home fans, Bernardo Silva netted a brace to send City back to Wembley, with a resurgent Chelsea standing in their way.

In a contentious second half, it was Silva once again coming through for City with his 84^th minute strike the difference between the two teams.

While City had their share of drama on the road to the final, it was nothing compared to United’s eventful course.

It began with a pair of away ties against Wigan (2-0 win) and Newport County (4-2 win) before a tense trip to take on Nottingham Forest in the Fifth Round.

Casemiro needed to come through in the clutch for his side, scoring the match’s only goal in the 89^th minute.

It took until the Quarter Finals for United to finally draw a home game, and it was old rivals Liverpool coming to town and the match finished 2-2 after 90 minutes with Antony scoring an 87^th minute equaliser.

Extra time was even more eventful with the visitors taking the lead through Harvey Elliott before Marcus Rashford levelled the scores eight minutes from time and Amad Diallo winning the match in the 121^st minute.

Their Semi Final against Championship side Coventry looked like it was going to be smooth sailing early, with the side up 3-0 with 20 minutes remaining.

However Coventry rallied and levelled the scores in second half stoppage time, and were controversially denied a winner at the end of extra time.

United won the penalty shootout 4-2 and booked a return to Wembley for this local derby final.

Goals Markets

For better or worse, United’s dramatic matches in the FA Cup have me leaning on the over for this total goals market, 3-3 after 90 minutes in the Semi Final, 2-2 in the Quarter Final against Liverpool and 4-2 in the Fourth Round all showed how much fun cup football can be.

City have played a few more cagey affairs but when their forward line clicks, there are few more lethal combinations in the sport.

Let’s start things off by backing the over and hope both teams bring their shooting boots to Wembley.

Over 3.5 Goals @ $2.00

Player Markets

Working off the expectation of a few goals being scored in this match, there are a few standout options in the goalscorer market.

It feels strange to say that after a season where he has netted 38 goals in all competitions, he has been a bit inconsistent, but I’m taking on Erling Haaland in this fixture.

The Norwegian cyborg is the main threat and United will be going all out to stop him destroying them.

That should open up space for Phil Foden, one of the stars of their Premier League title winning campaign and a decent value option having scored a brace against West Ham last week.

His teammate Bernardo Silva has been the FA Cup specialist and I’ll also have a play on him to score at some point in this match.

As for United, their Danish striker Rasmus Hoijland looks like the most likely option having scored 16 goals leading the line for the club.

Phil Foden Anytime Goalscorer @ $2.10

Rasmus Hoijlund Anytime Goalscorer @ $4.20

Bernardo Silva Anytime Goalscorer @ $4.60

Match Markets

It should be pretty obvious by now that I’ll be taking City to win the match, after all they have won seven straight in all competitions and have not lost or drawn a domestic match since April 1 against Arsenal.

But with Pep Guardiola’s men at $1.33 to win in 90 minutes and $1.14 to lift the trophy, I’ll have to get a bit creative to find some value.

While City has been quite strong defensively of late, keeping five clean sheets in their last seven outings, United has found a way through that wall in four of the last five derbies.

Last year’s final finished 2-1 and taking City to win without a clean sheet looks like the best value option in this market.

Manchester City to Win and Both Teams to Score @ $2.50

2023

732 clubs entered the 2022-2023 FA Cup and we are now down to two ahead of the FA Cup Final under the arch at Wembley Stadium.

In the 142^nd edition of the tournament we will have a first as Manchester’s two premiere clubs City and United face off with their sights set on winning the oldest tournament in the sport.

Premier League champions City will be playing the first of two finals in the span of eight days as they seek to complete a treble for the first time under Pep Guardiola.

On the other side, Manchester United will seek to end what has been an up and down debut season for Dutch manager Erik ten Haag as they chase their second piece of silverware after taking out the Carabao Cup at this same venue earlier this year.

Between the two clubs, they have made 31 total FA Cup Finals but never in the same year.

United will be preparing for a record equalling 21^st final, having last made it to this stage in 2018, going down to Chelsea 1-0 courtesy of an Eden Hazard penalty midway through the first half.

Their most recent success came in 2016 when they defeated Crystal Palace 2-1 in extra time with Jesse Lingard the hero in the 110^th minute.

As for the blue half, this will be their 12^th final however somewhat surprisingly, just their fourth since their big money takeover in 2009.

City demolished Watford 6-0 in their most recent appearance in 2019 however they were also on the wrong end of one of the bigger upsets of the modern era when Wigan defeated them 1-0 in the 2013 Final.

How They Got Here

City’s run to the final has been nothing short of dominant with the side winning all five ties and are still yet to concede a goal in this tournament.

Up first they were drawn against Chelsea in what would normally have been a blockbuster tie were Chelsea not a total basket case and City won that one 4-0.

Arsenal were up next at the end of January where they won a much closer affair 1-0 thanks to Nathan Ake’s goal.

Bristol were the fifth round opponent in City’s lone away match, not that it bothered them recording a 3-0 win before defeating Burnley 6-0 at the Etihad Stadium in the Quarter Finals.

Championship side Sheffield had their Cinderella run brought to a screeching halt in the Semi Finals at Wembley with City cruising to a 3-0 win.

United’s first four results followed a scarily symmetrical patten, winning each tie 3-1 in front of the Old Trafford faithful, but their run was not without drama.

In the Quarter Final against Fulham, United were trailing 1-0 when they were awarded a penalty after Willian handled a goal bound strike earning the Brazilian a red card.

The reactions of Aleksandar Mitrovic and manager Marco Silva saw those two men dismissed as well, meaning Fulham finished the fixture with just nine players on the pitch, where they were unsurprisingly overrun.

In their Semi Final tie with Brighton, the two clubs played out a scoreless 120 minutes sending the match to penalties.

Both sides dispatched their first six spot kicks before Solly March was unsuccessful with his attempt, allowing Victor Lindelof to send United back to the FA Cup Final.

Goals Markets

Ask any keen football fan what sort of match viewers should be expecting in a Cup final and they’ll tell you it is going to be a cagey arm wrestle.

It makes sense with the unders hitting in three of the last five FA Cup Finals and both teams to score only hitting once in the last five.

However with Pep Guardiola at the helm of Manchester City, we know that this side is going to go on the attack and try to take the match to United.

Even with a few injury questions surrounding some key attackers, City have such a ridiculous amount of depth at their disposal, it should not disrupt their momentum too much.

As for United, they ended the season on a tear winning their last four matches and looking like a dangerous team when in possession.

Both teams to score has hit in the last three Manchester derbies with City winning their two home matches while United took out the most recent meeting at Old Trafford in January 2-1.

Both Teams to Score @ $1.70

Player Markets

There is no question that the key player in this match for both sides is Erling Haaland, City’s marksman number nine who may in fact be the most realistic cyborg ever created.

After tearing up the Premier League, Haaland is going to draw all of the attention and even so, that may not be enough to stop him.

Unfortunately the market is well aware of just how good he is and he is at a ridiculously short price in every player market.

There is value to be had elsewhere in the City squad, with Riyad Mahrez looming as a key figure due to the injuries that Kevin De Bruyne and Jack Grealish are dealing with.

Mahrez is coming off a strong season for his club, scoring 15 goals in 47 appearances with five of those coming in the FA Cup.

On the other side, Marcus Rashford has to have a big game if United are any chance of pulling off the upset.

The 25-year-old has scored 30 goals in all competitions this season, including equalling his career best with 17 in the Premier League.

He scored the winner when they met in January and he will be a focal point for United.

Marcus Rashford Anytime Goalscorer @ $3.25

Riyad Mahrez Anytime Goalscorer @ $3.60

Match Markets

There’s no point in trying to sugar coat the tip for this fixture, Manchester City is the better team and should find a way to win even if they have to go without a couple of stars.

Those absences might mean they are a bit slow to get into their game and may not do this in the dominant fashion we are used to and there is a good chance the teams head into the halftime break level.

But in the end, quality will win through and City have that over their local rivals, setting themselves up to complete the treble in the Champions League Final next weekend.

Draw/Manchester City HT/FT Double @ $4.00

SGM: Manchester City to Win (90 Mins), Over 3.5 Goals, Erling Haaland 2+ Goals @ $7.06

2023

It’s football’s oldest cup competition and is always a special day at in London as we prepare for the 2022 FA Cup Final between Chelsea and Liverpool.

For the first time since the 2019 decider between Manchester City and Watford, Wembley Stadium will be packed out with over 85000 people in the early hours of Sunday morning and both sets of fans will surely provide a raucous atmosphere.

With both clubs desperate for silverware for very different reasons, it is shaping up as a fascinating game of football.

Unlike Leicester last year, there isn’t really an underdog angle to take with this fixture, with Chelsea and Liverpool representing the established powers of English football.

Chelsea is in its fourth FA Cup Final in the last five years, however they have only won one of those, in 2018 against Manchester United, while going down to Arsenal in 2017 and 2020 as well as the Foxes 12 months ago.

Liverpool is (at the time of writing) still in the mix for a quadruple after already claiming the Carabao Cup, however this might be their best chance of a second trophy with a deficit in the Premier League title race to overcome and the Champions League Final against Real Madrid.

They have won seven FA Cups in their history however their last appearance in the final came in 2012 where they lost to Chelsea 2-1 and their most recent title in the competition came in 2006 in that famous come from behind win over West Ham.

We’ve gone through the markets and found our best bets for the 2022 FA Cup Final below so read on and see who we are backing.

How They Got Here

Chelsea and Liverpool both entered the FA Cup in the Third Round Proper with the rest of the Premier League and Championship and managed to navigate the five matches required to reach the final this weekend.

The Blues comfortably dispatched National League side Chesterfield FC 5-1 in their first fixture before needing extra time to get by stubborn League One opponent Plymouth Argyle 2-1 in the Fourth Round once again at Stamford Bridge.

In the Fifth Round, their run of lower league opponents continued but this time they were forced to go on the road, needing to come from behind in the second half to get by Championship side Luton Town 3-2.

A Quarter Final trip to Middlesbrough resulted in a 2-0 victory thanks to goals from Lukaku and Ziyech, booking a Wembley date with Crystal Palace in the Semi Final, which they won 2-0 with second half goals from Loftus-Cheek and Mount.

As for Liverpool, they hosted League One Shrewsbury Town and after a brief scare where they trailed for seven minutes in the first half, they found their way and won 4-1 on the day.

It was another Championship opponent at Anfield in the fourth round with Cardiff City dispatched 4-1 before they hosted fellow Premier League side Norwich, grinding out a 2-1 win.

That booked a quarter final trip to Nottingham Forest and Diogo Jota’s 78^th minute strike was all that could separate the two clubs.

An epic, end to end Semi Final against Premier League title rivals Manchester City was played out at Wembley with Liverpool advancing 3-2 to book their place in the final match of the competition.

Goals Markets

Recent history between these clubs does not lean one way or another in terms of what sort of contest we could be in for.

This will be the fourth clash between them this season with the most recent being a scoreless draw in the Carabao Cup decided on penalties, while the Premier League meetings ended 1-1 at Anfield and 2-2 at Stamford Bridge.

As for their lead in form, both teams to score has hit in Liverpool’s last three matches but they won their four prior to that to nil.

Chelsea’s recent results have had been similarly all over the place albeit with much less consistency one way or another.

Both teams to score has hit just once in the last four FA Cup Finals and the Carabao Cup decider between the two suggests we could be in for another cagey, low scoring affair.

Despite both clubs possessing a plethora of attacking options, this contest is shaping up as an arm wrestle that could go down to the wire.

Back Under 2.5 Goals @ $1.91

Player Markets

We all know about Liverpool’s star studded attacking lineup, with all three of Mo Salah, Sadio Mane and Diogo Jota each scoring over 20 goals in all competitions with the Egyptian maestro scoring 30 all up.

There’s also the supporting cast lead by January signing Luis Diaz who has registered five goals in his time in England.

However Salah is the key man for Liverpool and if they are going to score, he is the one to unlock a defence.

Chelsea has a wide range of goalscoring options as well with Thomas Tuchel not leaning on one player in particular to shoulder the burden.

Romelu Lukaku has lead the way with 14 goals on the season, however he hasn’t quite lived up to expectation.

Kai Havertz, Mason Mount and Timo Werner have all scored over 10 goals with a busy season of over 50 matches resulting in a heavily rotated lineup week in, week out.

Rising American attacker Christian Pulisic looks like one of the value options and has history, scoring in the 2020 FA Cup Final against Arsenal.

There’s plenty of options in the Chelsea squad but Pulisic at that price when he looks like a real difference maker in a game like this.

Back Mo Salah Anytime Goalscorer @ $2.38

Back Christian Pulisic Anytime Goalscorer @ $4.00

Head to Head

Three meetings this season, three draws after 90 minutes, you can tell where this match is heading.

While we would love to see one of those end to end contests that instantly becomes etched in our memories, we’re going to see both clubs go out and make sure that they don’t lose the game first and foremost.

While Chelsea’s lead in form is somewhat concerning, dropping points against opponents they really shouldn’t, you have to think they will find a way to get up for this one.

They have the big game experience and will be desperate to avoid another runners up medal but that may not be enough against a side that a decade ago would have dismantled all comers.

Whichever way this one goes, extra time sounds like it is going to be needed with both teams cancelling each other out.

Back the Draw (90 Minutes) @ $3.40

2021

One of the most special occasions on the English football calendar is the FA Cup Final.

Even though the 2021 edition will miss some of the pomp and circumstance with a limited number of spectators (reportedly 21000) allowed into the home of football, we are in for a magnificent tie.

Chelsea and Leicester City will face off with both sides desperate to claim the oldest Cup competition in all of football.

In terms of history in this competition, Leicester and Chelsea could not have more different stories.

Chelsea is chasing their ninth win in this competition, their sixth since 2007 and are in the final for the fourth time in five years.

After losing a bruising encounter against Arsenal last year, the Blues will be out to make amends in 2021 with new manager Thomas Tuchel enjoying a fantastic start to life in London.

Leicester fans are still dining out on their unlikely Premier League triumph in 2015/2016 however their fortunes since then have been somewhat mixed.

In the FA Cup, the Foxes have not reached the Final since 1969 and have lost on all four occasions that they played for the trophy.

Can they end their drought and hand Brendan Rodgers his first trophy with the club?

Read on four our FA Cup Final Preview and best bets.

How They Got Here

It would have been more than reasonable to expect Leicester to throw the FA Cup away as they chased a Champions League spot through the Premier League.

Rodgers instead has expertly juggled two competitions with his side currently in third place and chasing their first trophy since the Premier League triumph five years ago.

It was a smooth entry to this tournament in January with a 4-0 win at Stoke followed by a 3-1 win away to Brentford later that month.

Up next was their first all Premier League tie where they hosted and defeated Brighton in dramatic circumstance with a 94^th minute winner from Kelechi Iheanacho to set up a clash with Manchester United.

Leicester recorded an impressive 3-1 win in the Quarter Finals to book a Wembley date against Southampton in the Semi Final, which they won thanks to another goal from Iheanacho.

Chelsea also began their campaign with a 4-0 win which came over League Two side Morecambe, before a 3-1 win over Luton in Frank Lampard’s final match in charge.

The Fifth Round saw them made to work by Barnsley in the Fifth Round, coming away with a 1-0 win as Tuchel settled into his new role.

The Blues knocked out Championship-bound Sheffield United in the Quarter Finals before edging Manchester City in a tense Semi Final.

Goals Markets

We are not going to be treated to a high scoring, back and forth contest on Saturday night, both of these sides know what their best path to victory is.

Chelsea have conceded just one goal in the tournament and have kept 18 clean sheets in all competitions since their German boss took over (possibly 19 after their match with Arsenal Thursday morning).

Leicester knows that style points do not matter in Cup football and even though they are more than capable of putting four or five past anyone on their day, they will be happy to engage in an arm wrestle here.

Historically these sides tend to play in low scoring matches with two or fewer goals through 90 minutes hitting in seven of their last eight contests in all competitions.

Under 2.5 Goals is not quite an even odds play but there’s still enough value in that market looking at how the two clubs are tracking heading into this match.

Player Markets

In the interests of keeping this preview fair and balanced (or thereabouts), I’ve found an anytime goalscorer play on both sides.

Based on the build up he has received thus far in the preview, it should be no surprise to find out I have landed in Iheanacho for Leicester.

While Jamie Vardy gets plenty of headlines, the Nigerian has been one of the standouts not just in the Leicester side but in the Premier League over the last two months, scoring 13 goals and setting up three more since the start of March.

The former Manchester City man has scored four goals in the FA Cup to date and will be primed for a big game on this stage here.

As for Chelsea, it’s a slightly tougher proposition settling on a player with a number of different striking options for Thomas Tuchel.

Tammy Abraham started off on fire scoring four goals across the Fourth and Fifth Rounds before an injury saw him miss over a month of action and be relegated to a bench role.

Timo Werner is a hot and cold prospect who could have the game or his life or need to be hooked at halftime while Olivier Giroud may not have the chance to make a real impact on the match depending on how it unfolds.

With the uncertainty over who will lead the line, it is worth exploring some of the secondary goalscorers and trying to find some value.

Two names leap out ahead of the pack here, Christian Pulisic dominated last season’s FA Cup Final before being forced off due to injury while Mason Mount has popped up with nine crucial goals for his club this season.

Both players have featured a lot for Tuchel in recent fixtures and are well worth a value play, but I’ll back Mount as he seems to find himself in good positions a bit more often.

Back Kelechi Iheanacho Anytime Goalscorer @ $3.00

Back Mason Mount Anytime Goalscorer @ $4.00

Head to Head

Anytime you back a result in a Cup match, it always needs to come with the caveat of making sure you are clear on which market you are backing.

The Head to Head market is the 90 minute result so a draw is in play, whereas the Lift the Trophy market is just on who will win the match, regardless of if extra time and penalties are needed.

Chelsea have been the better side lately but they have had plenty of trouble getting by Leicester over the last few seasons, winning just two of the last eight matches, one of which came in the 2018 FA Cup in extra time.

As we saw last year as well, just because Chelsea are favoured in the FA Cup does not mean they will live up to that billing.

When you factor in that Leicester will have had an extra 24 hours rest as well, it certainly points towards a very even match with the Foxes able to finish strong.

After much deliberation, I honestly cannot split these sides and think that we will need more than 90 minutes to do it this weekend.

If you want a non-betting tip, Chelsea in extra time but I’ll stick with backing the draw.

Back the Draw (90 Minutes) @ $3.30

2020

No matter the circumstances, the FA Cup Final is always a special occasion, even in the unusual situation of 2020.

It remains the oldest cup competition in all of football and a trophy that both Arsenal and Chelsea would love to get their hands on.

We’re previewing Sunday morning’s FA Cup Final right here so read on for our best bets.

It’s a rematch of the 2017 FA Cup Final where Arsenal stunned newly crowned Premier League champions Chelsea to claim a record 13^th title on the back of Per Mertesacker’s herculean efforts.

Of course things are a whole lot different heading into this match, starting with the states of the two clubs.

The Gunners are in the midst of a major transition, having just finished in eighth place in the recently concluded Premier League campaign and the futures of several players up in the air as new boss Mikel Arteta puts his stamp on the squad.

Chelsea on the other hand enjoyed a strong season in Frank Lampard’s first season in charge of the club where he made his name as a player.

After qualifying for the UEFA Champions League on the final day of the season, Chelsea will now look to cap their season with a trophy.

In the Premier League this season, Chelsea defeated Arsenal 2-1 in the first meeting at the Emirates with late goals from Jorginho and Tammy Abraham before a 10-man Arsenal side battled for a point at Stamford Bridge in an enthralling 2-2 draw.

Last season these sides also met in the Europa League Final where Chelsea crushed a flat Arsenal team 4-1 in Azerbaijan.

How They Got Here

While Arsenal’s Premier League form was up and down, they seemingly found another gear when it came to this competition.

After grinding out a 1-0 win over Championship side Leeds in the third round, Arsenal defeated Premier League rivals Bournemouth 2-1 in the fourth round and were then drawn to face League One side and 2008 FA Cup champions Portsmouth, whom they defeated 2-0.

Following the COVID enforced break, Arsenal’s quarter final with Sheffield was held after the season resumed and it was a late Dani Ceballos goal that got them home before a memorable semi final win over Manchester City two weeks ago to send the club to its 21^st FA Cup Final.

Chelsea on the other hand brushed aside Nottingham Forest 2-0 in the third round before seeing off a gallant Hull 2-1 in the fourth round before a memorable fifth round win over Liverpool sent them to the quarter finals.

In said quarter final they saw off Leicester 1-0 before a commanding 3-1 semi final win over Manchester United gave them a chance to reclaim the trophy they last won in 2018.

Goals Markets

If nothing else, Arsenal and Chelsea tend to produce plenty of goals in their clashes… admittedly usually just for Chelsea but there’s value to be had backing a similar match to unfold at Wembley.

In five of the last six standalone, competitive matches we have seen Both Teams to Score and Over 2.5 Goals hit and wouldn’t you know it, there’s a market that will allow you to back that outcome.

There’s plenty of attacking talent (not to mention defensive fragility) on both teams so don’t be at all surprised if this match turns into a case of “last team to score wins”.

Player Markets

If we’re expecting goals in this match, then there’s value to be found in the Anytime Goalscorer market.

We’ll start off on the Chelsea side since that’s where the favourite lies in Frenchman Olivier Giroud.

He might not be the best striker to take to the pitch on Sunday morning but he has a knack for scoring those crucial goals for his club, no matter who it is.

Not to mention, if you’re the sort of person who is amused by these sorts of things, wouldn’t it be fitting for him to score against his former club in a final again?

Back Olivier Giroud Anytime Goalscorer @ $2.30

Meanwhile, we’re not exactly going out on a limb backing Arsenal’s talisman Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang to get on the scoresheet but in an Arsenal side with few true elite players, he is perhaps the one.

His brace got Arsenal over the line against Manchester City, he is the man for the big occasion, or just any occasion as evidenced by his 68 goals in all competitions over the last two seasons.

If the Gunners are going to win this one, they need Aubameyang to be Batman in a team of Robins.

Back Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang Anytime Goalscorer @ $2.63

Head to Head

In just about any other match, you could take Chelsea without a second thought but it’s hard to ignore the fact Arsenal are the FA Cup specialists.

Even when things are at their most chaotic for they club, there’s something about Wembley that seems to bring out the best in them.

There is no chance they do this in a canter, it will be scrappy, maybe not overly pretty and undoubtedly frustrating to watch, but in a situation like this, I’ll back Mikel Arteta to get the best out of his side as they claim FA Cup number 14.

Back Arsenal to Lift the Trophy @ $2.20

2019

Manchester City goes into the 2019 FA Cup Final looking to complete a domestic treble after taking out the Premier League last weekend.

They last won the FA Cup in 2011 and famously lost to Wigan in 2013.

Watford on the other hand have defied expectations to make it back to Wembley for the first time since their 1984 defeat to Everton.

Even though City goes into the FA Cup Final as heavy favourites, there’s still plenty of value to be found in this one.

Goals Markets

While we all dream about a close, high scoring FA Cup Final, chances are this game will be a grind as both sides set up not to lose.

City haven’t been lighting up the scoreboard the way you would expect a Pep Guardiola side to lately.

Since blasting Chelsea 6-0 back in February, their goals have dried up.

In that time they have scored two or fewer goals in eight of 13 domestic matches and they may look to suffocate Watford out of this rather than trying to outscore them.

Considering they went four games without conceding a goal, that run was ended by Brighton at the weekend, they are a very good chance to keep a clean sheet here.

Dating back to February, they have kept clean sheets in all bar nine of their 22 matches in all competitions

Because of that, I’ll back Under 2.5 Goals in this match, which has hit in six of their last eight in the Premier League.

Anytime Goalscorer Market

Someone is going to have to score for City so naturally you think of Sergio Aguero.

He’s only scored twice in the FA Cup this season but has been in strong form lately, finding the back of the net in three of City’s last six matches and has seven goals in his last ten appearances.

Even at under even money, I’ll back him to score on the big stage.

Result Markets

All of the numbers say this FA Cup Final is only going to go one way and that is to Manchester.

Under the Abu Dhabi ownership, they have never dropped a game against Watford, winning ten straight and they go into this game expecting another victory.

Add in a 14 game winning run in the Premier League and even in a one-off Cup Final setting, City will be hard to stop.

As we mentioned before, this game might be a tight, low scoring affair so whoever wins could very well take it out with a clean sheet.

That’s where the value is for a City win here, so I’ll take them to win a low scoring affair.

Back Manchester City to Win to Nil @ $1.91

2018

As one of the two biggest events in London on Saturday, Chelsea and Manchester United will go head to head in the FA Cup Final for the first time since 2007.

Chelsea’s campaign got off to a rough start, needing penalties in a third round replay to get past Norwich before 3-0 and 4-0 wins over Newcastle and Hull respectively got them into the last eight.

Jamie Vardy sent their quarter final against Leicester to extra time before a Pedro winner sent them to Wembley for a semi-final date with Southampton.

Midseason signing Olivier Giroud (fresh off winning three of the last four FA Cups with Arsenal) scored an exceptional goal and Alvaro Morata put the game away with ten minutes remaining.

United have enjoyed a much smoother path to the final conceding just once in their five matches so far and winning every match in the prescribed 90 minutes with Romelu Lukaku being the chief destroyer of opponents.

Their opening game against Derby County finished 2-0 thanks to late goals from Jesse Lingard and Romelu Lukaku.

Back to back away wins followed that with a 4-0 victory at Yeovil Town and a 2-0 win over Huddersfield Town booked their spot in the quarter finals.

A 2-0 win over Brighton sent them to the semi-finals where Alexis Sanchez does what Alexis Sanchez does, scores at Wembley as they beat Tottenham 2-1.

Speaking of Sanchez, he loves playing at Wembley, including games with Chile and Arsenal, he has scored eight goals in eight appearances in the England national team’s stadium.

He bagged a double in his Wembley debut for Chile in 2013 as they beat England 2-0 before playing a crucial role after signing for Arsenal in 2014.

In the FA Cup he has taken it to another level, scoring a double in the 2015 semi-final against Reading as the Gunners won 2-1 in extra time before backing it up with a rocket in Arsenal’s 4-0 Final triumph.

Last season he scored the extra time winner in the semi-final before opening the scoring in the final (coincidently against Chelsea).

He has failed to score on just two occasions at Wembley, in the 2014 Community Shield, his competitive debut for Arsenal, and in United’s Premier League loss to Tottenham in February.

Thankfully for United supporters, he found his touch again in the semi.

With a record such as that you have to back him to score again in this game.

Back Alexis Sanchez Anytime Goalscorer @ $3.50

What is more important however is the winner of the trophy, since that is what they are playing the game for.

Both sides have been maddeningly inconsistent all season with Chelsea’s holes on full display in their Premier League finale defeat at Newcastle.

United closed the season in indifferent form, with just three wins from their last six games.

This has the makings of an even final with the two meetings between the teams being split down the middle.

Chelsea won at Stamford Bridge, while Manchester United claimed the Old Trafford encounter.

The impact of both managers cannot be understated here as both will set up teams with a defensive focus, looking to stifle the creativity on the other side.

An early goal should really open this game up and it won’t be a repeat of the A-League Grand Final with just one goal deciding the game, these attackers are just too good to be kept quiet.

Extra time would not be a surprise but I am backing Chelsea to get the job done here.

Back Chelsea to Lift the Cup @ $1.95

2017

Chelsea were in control of the English Premier League for the majority of the season and they have the chance to complete the Domestic Double when they take on Arsenal in the 2017 FA Cup Final at Wembley on Sunday morning.

Chelsea will go into the FA Cup Final as clear favourites, but they face an Arsenal side that has found a semblance of their best form in the second half of the season.

Will Chelsea capture the double or will Arsene Wenger secure Arsenal some much-needed silverware? We have analysed both teams and our complete 2017 FA Cup Tips can be found below.

How They Got There

Chelsea started their FA Cup campaign with a comfortable win over Peterborough United and they were far too strong for Brentford in the Fourth Round.

They overcame Wolverhampton to set-up a quarter-final clash with Manchester United and they won that 1-0 before they upstaged Tottenham 4-2 in an epic FA Cup Semi-Final.

Arsenal were not particularly convincing against Preston North End in the Third Round, but they were dominant against Southampton before they beat non-league side Sutton United in the Fifth Round.

Arsenal dispatched another non-league side Lincoln City in the Quarter-Finals and an Alexis Sanchez goal in extra-time against Manchester City sent them to Wembley for a tilt at another FA Cup Final.

Recent Meetings

Chelsea and Arsenal met in the English Premier League on two occasions this season.

Arsenal were outstanding against Chelsea when they won 3-0 in their first meeting this season, but that game proved to be the turning point for Chelsea and they lost only a couple more games.

They played again at Stamford Bridge in February and Chelsea cruised to a 3-1 victory, with the only Arsenal goal coming in injury time.

Chelsea have had a clear upper hand over Arsenal in recent memory and the Gunners have won just one of their past 12 games against their rivals.

Betting Statistics

Chelsea not only won the English Premier League title, but they were one of the best betting sides in the League.

They were a profitable betting play across every metric and they proved particularly tough to beat as favourites – finishing the season with a very healthy 29.3 percent profit.

This was certainly not the case for Arsenal and they ended up as a narrow losing betting proposition in the English Premier League this season.

Their record as home favourites was strong, but they did not win many games whatsoever as underdogs – although they did finish the season with a wet sail.

Analysis

Chelsea have been the dominant team in the English Premier League all season long and they should really prove too strong for Arsenal.

Arsenal will go into the 2017 FA Cup Final without key defender Laurent Koscielny and they have been badly exposed when he is not in their side this season.

It really would not surprise if this ended up being something of a rout and Chelsea are an excellent bet to record a comfortable victory.

Back Chelsea To Beat The Line (-1 Goal)

2016

The FA Cup may have lost its lustre somewhat in recent years, but the FA Cup Final remains one of the most anticipated events on the international sporting calendar.

It is always interesting when we have a David vs Goliath like showdown in the FA Cup Final and even though both Manchester United and Crystal Palace are both English Premier League sides, there is very little doubt that most experts believe that the final is Manchester United’s to lose.

Can Manchester United win the FA Cup for a record-equally 12^th time or can Crystal Palace score an upset win and lift the trophy for the first time?

How They Got There

Manchester United required an injury time penalty to beat Sheffield United in the 3^rd round before they scored comfortable victories over Derby County and Shrewsbury Town.

They required a replay to get past West Ham in the sixth round and they waited until the last possible moment before they scored the winner against Everton in the semi-finals.

Crystal Palace scored upset wins over Southampton, Stoke City and Tottenham Hotspur to set up a sixth round clash with Championship side Reading, which they won in fairly comfortable fashion.

Their semi-final with Watford was hotly contested, but a second half goal from Connor Wickham was enough to secure them a second ever FA Cup Final.

Recent Meetings

Crystal Palace and Manchester United met in the English Premier League on two occasions this season.

Manchester United recorded a comfortable 2-0 victory over Crystal Palace when the two sides played at Old Trafford less than two months ago, but they played out a scoreless draw when they met earlier in the season.

The Red Devils have dominated Crystal Palace since the London-based club returned to the English Premier League and they won the four previous meetings played between the two sides.

Crystal Palace have only qualified for the one previous FA Cup Final, but in that fixture they played Manchester United and were able to force a replay following a 3-3 draw, but Manchester United claimed the Cup with a 1-0 victory.

Betting Statistics

Manchester United were a disappointing betting side throughout the English Premier League season and they finished their campaign with just 16 wins from their 33 fixtures as favourites for a sizeable loss.

However, they did improve in the second half of the season and backing Manchester United in the past 18 games of their campaign would have seen you walk away with a handy profit.

Crystal Palace did not win when they were expected to during the English Premier League, but they were a very profitable betting team as underdogs and they finished with a record of 6-6-5 in games as underdogs away from their home ground.

However, the majority of their big upset wins came in the first half of the season and they did fall in a hole at times during the season.

Analysis

I expect this to be a fairly dour contest as neither team will be key to keen to take many chances and Louis Van Gaal gets particularly defensive on the big occasion.

Manchester United are clearly favourites and they do look like a decent bet at their current quote of $1.75, but I am keen to add some value to that bet by taking advantage of the $2.50 that is on offer for Manchester United to win to nil.

Crystal Palace has scored in just one of their past six games against Manchester United and I don’t expect that to change this weekend.

Recommended Bet: Manchester United To Win To Nil @ $2.50