Sir Alex Ferguson will be keen to kick Liverpool when they are down by knocking them out of the FA Cup
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The third round of the FA Cup is the time for dreamers to dream and for the top-flight sides to fear for their lives, knowing that if they don't get things right, then they could easily suffer an early exit.
The likes of Liverpool, West Ham, Aston Villa and even Chelsea have been struggling in the Premier League of late and while Liverpool, who play at Manchester United, would have had their hands full even if they had been on top form and high in confidence, the others will all be going all out to avoid an embarrassing early defeat.
It's quite possible, of course, that Liverpool will raise their game for the trip to Manchester United on Sunday, so significant could it prove to be in their season. Hovering just four points above the relegation zone and hopeless away from home, Roy Hodgson is seemingly on the way out as manager and it's hard to see them winning, even if the likes of Steven Gerrard and Fernando Torres will surely be up for the game. United are unbeaten in the league and won't want to risk going out early from the competition in a year when it looks like all of the major trophies are very much there for the taking.
Cambers' Calls
- Bet of the weekend: Manchester United to beat Liverpool - 4/7 bet365
- Weekend punt: Leicester City to beat Man City - 9/2 bet365
- Weekend treble: Everton, Blackburn and Fulham to win - 4/1bet365
Considering the relative confidence of the two sides, it's quite strange to see that United are as big as 4/7 with bet365 to win the match. I don't usually like to go for odds-on matches as the bet of the weekend but it simply has to be done this weekend.
Alex Ferguson would like nothing more, you sense, than to kick Liverpool when they are down and if Liverpool lose, Hodgson's time is likely to be up. United will put out a full strength side and that should be enough, so take the 4/7 as it's likely to disappear quite soon.
Of the other three teams in trouble, I don't see Villa losing at a struggling Sheffield United side and Barnsley would do well to win at West Ham. Manchester City are having a good season but they could find it tough at a Leicester City side who have played their best football at home this season. City manager Roberto Mancini will probably not risk playing a weakened side but if he does, then I would be more than tempted to back Leicester to cause an upset. At 9/2, they look a big price to be the weekend punt.
And so to the weekend treble. Everton are completely unreliable but should get up for the cup this year as their league form has been so inconsistent. At 8/13 they should be far too strong and can win at Scunthorpe. Likewise Blackburn have done nothing since the departure of Sam Allardyce but should be able to take care of QPR on their own patch, at 10/11. Throw in Fulham at 4/9 to beat Peterborough and you have a treble that works out at a profit of 4/1.
Please note that odds are correct at time of publication and are subject to change.
Simon Cambers is ESPN.co.uk's betting correspondent
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Simon Cambers
Simon Cambers is ESPN.co.uk's betting correspondant Simon Cambers is ESPN.co.uk's betting correspondant
