The two remaining FA Cup quarter-finals take place on Sunday afternoon, as Chelsea face Leicester at Stamford Bridge and Liverpool entertain Stoke at Anfield. Both ties are likely to be tight affairs but home advantage is set to prove crucial in the battle for a place in the last four.
Chelsea v Leicester (2:05)
The only Football League team left in the competition face a tall order (Match Betting – Chelsea 2/7, draw 9/2, Leicester 10/1), with Leicester looking to produce a cup shock at Chelsea – but don’t rule it out!
The Foxes have already upset the odds by beating Norwich at Carrow Road in the last round and have a squad that should be doing better than they are in the Championship. In Nigel Pearson, Leicester also have a shrewd manager who will make his team hard to break down.
Strike duo Jermaine Beckford (10/3 – Anytime Goalscorer) and David Nugent both have top-flight experience and Beckford, who is the FA Cup’s joint top scorer with five goals, has the pace to cause the Blues backline real problems.
A lot will be asked of Leicester’s defence and the likes of Wes Morgan and Sean St Ledger will have to be on top form if they are to snub out the considerable threat of Didier Drogba and Daniel Sturridge.
Leicester will be hoping that they encounter a tired Chelsea team, following their extra-time Champions League exploits against Napoli in midweek. The home side may also be without key defenders David Luiz and John Terry, who both picked up knocks in Europe.
On the other hand, that outstanding comeback success will further boost confidence in a squad that looks to have found a fresh impetus since the sacking of Andre Villas-Boas.
Chelsea (3/1 – FA Cup Outright) have won three successive games in all competitions since Roberto Di Matteo took charge and predictably will start strong favourites – especially having progressed on each of the four previous occasions they have been drawn against Leicester in the FA Cup.
All in all, Chelsea look too strong for their Championship opponents, but Leicester will make it tough for Premier League side if they are at their best.
Liverpool v Stoke (4:00)
These two teams know each other inside out, having already played three times this season. All the previous games have been tight affairs and expect more of the same this time (Match Betting – Liverpool 2/5, draw 10/3, Stoke 8/1).
Stoke defeated Liverpool 1-0 in the Premier League back in September before the Reds knocked the Potters out of the Carling Cup at the Britannia Stadium in October. The two teams then played out a 0-0 draw at Anfield in the league in January.
Stoke (5/1 to keep a clean sheet) have not won at Anfield in 53 years and will feel that run has to come to an end at some stage, but Liverpool’s cup form has been outstanding and they appeared determined to reach another Wembley final.
The Carling Cup winners will be buoyed by their Merseyside derby win in midweek and the expected return from injury of Craig Bellamy (9/2 – First Goalscorer) will give them another lift.
Kenny Dalglish, who has defended Stoke’s style of play this week, is likely to stick with much the same side that disposed of Everton on Tuesday and will hope home advantage will pay dividends.
Tony Pulis’ men tasted cup fever last season, reaching the final before losing to Manchester City, but will go into this match with no fear having now firmly established themselves as a Premier League side.
Stoke’s lack of goals is the major concern for those looking to back a cup upset, with the Potters unable to score more than one goal on their travels in the Premier League since January 2 – although they have scored seven goals in three away cup ties at Crawley, Derby and Gillingham.
With Dalglish hungry for more silverware and with an expectant home crowd, Liverpool (5/2 – FA Cup Outright) could just edge another tight tussle between these two clubs.
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