Man United’s cup-game goal machine to continue scoring rate? FA Cup quarter-final habits to inspire your in-game betting
We are entering the final stages of this season’s FA Cup with the quarter-final stage being placed this weekend.
Manchester City and their neighbours Manchester United are the favourites to go all the way. City host Burnley while the Red Devils welcome Fulham to Old Trafford.
Elsewhere we are guaranteed a Championship representation in the semi-finals with Sheffield United and Blackburn Rovers going head-to-head. The final last-eight contest sees high-flying Brighton take on the lowest-ranking team left in the competition Grimsby Town.
With four games taking place over the span of two days. The question is, how does one follow all the action?
Squawka Live not only allows you to keep track of the latest scores and your favourite teams but also brings stats to the small screen, providing real-time updates so you never miss a beat.
With the Alerts feature you can also preset triggers that will notify you if specific in-play events such as match time, odds changes and goals/points happen. So we’ve come up with five matches for you to follow with predictions and which triggers will come in useful to track your options.
How to use Squawka Live's Alert triggers
With Squawka Live's Alert triggers, you can preset triggers that will notify you if specific in-play events occur. To set up your own triggers, follow the steps below.
- Download the Squawka Live app on the App Store or Google Play (here's the link). Currently, the app is available in the UK only.
- Find your selected live event and navigate to the Alerts tab.
- Click on create your first Alert and select a specific trigger.
- Select the event detail you want to receive a notification for.
- The Alert will be added to your home screen and you will be notified when your chosen event has occurred.
Man City vs Burnley
The trigger: Over 1.5 goals hits preferred odds
The prediction: Over 1.5 goals
This will be a special occasion when ex-Manchester City skipper Vincent Kompany brings his Premier League-bound Burnley to his former stomping ground. Very few are backing the Clarets to cause an upset. For one, City has won 12 of their previous 13 home FA Cup matches, including a 5-0 win over Burnley in January 2019, in fact those aforementioned fixtures have seen 4.3 goals scored per game. City’s recent home record is also ominous; earlier this week they put seven unanswered goals past RB Leipzig, and six of their last seven contests saw over 1.5 goals.
Sheffield United vs Blackburn Rovers
The trigger: Exact score: Sheffield United 0-1 Blackburn Rovers
The prediction: Sheffield United to win
Sheffield United will now make a third quarter-final match in the past four seasons. However, their most recent semi-final appearance came in 2014 when they couldn’t get past Hull City, they’ll fancy their chances of correcting that on Saturday considering their recent home record. The Blades have won eight of their last 10 matches at Bramall Lane though most recently they suffered a 0-1 loss to Luton Town which came on the heels of their big win over Tottenham in the previous round. As for Blackburn, they lost on their most recent travels, but that 1-2 win over former holders Leicester still resonates.
Brighton vs Grimsby Town
The trigger: Match time: More than 15 minutes
The prediction: Goal to be scored 16-30
Since the fourth tier of English league football was created in the 1958/59 season, Grimsby is only the fifth side from that division to feature in an FA Cup quarter-final. The four previous sides have all been knocked out and their appearance in this round is the first time in 33 years, following Oxford United (1964), Colchester United (1971), Bradford City (1976) and Cambridge United (1990. The visitors must beware of a fast Brighton start. Roberto De Zerbi’s men opened the scoring before 20 minutes had been played in their last two home matches.
Man Utd vs Fulham
The trigger: Match Time: Between 45 – HT
The prediction: Man Utd to score next
Each of Manchester United’s three previous FA Cup matches this season has come at home. Erik ten Hag’s side, though, had to wait until after half-time to open the scoring in their last two outings against West Ham and Reading. Both of those games saw Fred score while leading marksman Marcus Rashford finished scoreless.
Even so, the England international should feature against Fulham, since returning from the World Cup he’s been on another level. Rashford has played 23 times for his boyhood club subsequently registering 18 goals. He’s also become the second player to win the Premier League Player of the Month award three times in a single season after Mohamed Salah (2017/18). Rashford attributed this newfound steak to Man Utd’s strikers’ coach Benni McCarthy.
“I think he has done a good job. It’s always good for us to have a particular coach that concentrates on us as a forwards group,” he told SuperSport.
“We have worked more as a team going forward which has led us to creating more chances and scoring more goals.
“It’s still early days and Benni will tell you himself his aspirations are much bigger than what we’ve done so far. He keeps on pushing us, keeps to try and get us to improve.
“Benni has been great with me. Like I said before, with all the forward lads and you have to remember that Benni is part of a full coaching system so everyone plays their roles… so Benni is actually on top of what we need.
“Yes, his relationship with me is very good. We speak a lot, we are always analysing games and showing me ways to improve.
“You know, small things that can help me make more chances, more goals, maybe create space for other players as well. We are doing a lot of work.”
