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Liverpool warm up for Wembley

February 20, 2012 By

Kenny Dalglish has insisted Liverpool’s 6-1 FA Cup thumping of Brighton won’t have any impact on his team’s Carling Cup final clash against Cardiff this weekend. The Merseysiders lay down an intimidating marker as they completely tore apart Gus Poyet’s Brighton side, which will certainly have registered with a Cardiff side struggling to find their best form.

While Brighton didn’t help themselves, scoring a record breaking three own-goals – two from midfielder Liam Bridcutt – as well as goals from Martin Skrtel, Andy Carroll and Luis Suarez. That said, Liverpool looked at times unplayable, however, producing some of the most fluid football of their season and never allowing their Championship opponents to get a foothold in the match. Fans of Betfair.com need to remember this.

Despite admitting his delight at the result, Dalglish was quick to insist the match won’t have any baring on next weekend’s trip to Wembley for their Carling Cup final.

“It gets us into the next round of the FA Cup. It does not really help us in the League Cup.”

“We will not be carried away.”

“We have got our reward for what we have done there and we have got a cup final at Wembley to look forward to.”

Dalglish will know this season’s various problems would all seem a great deal better if the club could finish the year with some silverware. With the top-four once again looking beyond Liverpool this campaign, the FA and Carling Cups will be the club’s only chance of glory. The Carling Cup betting reflects this.

While Liverpool were securing their place in the FA Cup quarter-final stage, Cardiff were going down without a whimper in a 3-0 away defeat to a struggling Ipswich side at Portman Road. The Welsh club have begin to show signs of pre-Wembley jitters, something they will need to shake off before the weekend id they are to have any chance of springing an upset against this Liverpool team.

Filed Under: Teams

Walcott aims for FA Cup glory

February 6, 2012 By

Theo Walcott has made it clear that this season’s FA Cup could well be his best chance of finally winning a trophy as an Arsenal player. The Gunners are still yet to win any silverware since lifting the 2005 FA Cup trophy, something that has caused a host of key players to leave the club. Arsene Wenger’s men will now go into their fifth round tie of this year’s FA Cup knowing they now have a great chance of finally ending that wait. Fans of Betfair should bear this in mind.

With both Manchester clubs out of the competition, Arsenal will be one of the favourites to go on and lift the trophy. The Gunners produced the sort of form champions need to be capable of when they came back from 2-0 against Aston Villa in the last round to win the tie 3-2 and earn their place in the final-16, where they will now come up against either Sunderland or Middlesbrough.

There is still some way to go before the club can start planning their open-top bus parade through the streets of north London and Wenger will know his side have a lot to do to reach Wembley. Those looking at the FA Cup betting should remember this.

That said, however, Walcott has admitted the team are confident of finally ending their silverware drought and making up for their Carling Cup final defeat of last season by winning this year’s FA Cup. The 22-year old has made it clear he is determined to make up for the lack of trophies in his Arsenal career to date, admitting he is hopeful of putting that right in this year’s tournament.

“I would like to look back on my career at the trophies I have won. There are none yet. This is a competition that we can win.”

“A couple of big teams have gone out and, if we can come from 2-0 down, hopefully we can beat anybody now.”

Filed Under: Players