FA Cup finals have been cagey affairs over the past few years. Four of the last five FA Cup finals have been settled by a 1-0 scoreline. All of the last five have been settled by a one goal winning margin. So that is a trend which is going to probably be worth tracking for Saturday’s final when we look at Chelsea v Liverpool betting. Earlier in the Premier League season, Liverpool came away from Stamford Bridge with a 2-1 win, and on paper, it doesn’t look as if there is going to be too much to separate the two sides at Wembley. Both head to the FA Cup showcase on the back of league defeats, both have struggled for goals and both have defences which can stand up to a barrage. So who will conquer Wembley?
There may not be the prospect of many goals, and this could make the First Goalscorer market even more valuable to you. Online bookmaker BetFred are running their Hat-trick Heaven promotion for the FA Cup Final. Back a successful First Goalscorer in the FA Cup Final, and if that player then goes on to score a second goal of the game, then BetFred will double the value of your initial odds. If that successful First Goalscorer nets an FA Cup Final hat-trick, then you will be paid out at treble your original odds. So great value and coverage, and both Liverpool’s Luis Suarez and Chelsea’s Fernando Torres have netted a hat-trick for their clubs in the past week or so. Online bookmaker BetFred offer a free £50 bet for new customers registering an account. The bookie will match the value of your first stake on a new account with a free bet, up to the maximum value of £50.
Chelsea v Liverpool FA Cup Final Betting Odds at Bet365
Chelsea 7/5, Liverpool 2/1, Draw 9/4
Chelsea suffered a blow in their league campaign to finish fourth, losing at home to Newcastle in midweek. That was just Roberto Di Matteo’s second defeat since taking over at Chelsea, and now they need another big Wembley showing to try and add some gloss to the season. The Champions League finalists have realistically seen their league challenge come to a premature end, and so cup glory is all that is left for them. The Blues have won three of the last five FA Cup finals, most recently in 2009/10. So they have had a good recent history and their talismanic striker Didier Drogba has netted in each of those Chelsea triumphs. Drogba is the man for Chelsea at Wembley, that is his play-ground as he has proved many times before. So the big Ivorian is likely to get the start on Saturday over former Liverpool player Fernando Torres. There are still defensive doubts over both centre halves Gary Cahill and David Luiz.
>Chelsea have won five and Liverpool four of their FA Cup meetings
This is Chelsea’s fourth FA Cup final in six seasons and so they have become a very good cup side. However, their recent form against Liverpool has not been good at all. They have now lost the last four straight against the Reds, who are starting to become a bit of a bogey side for the Blues. But after performing so well against Spurs in the semi final, and the massive defensive efforts against Barcelona in the Champions League semi final, it is Chelsea who head to Wembley as favourites. Despite failing in the league, Chelsea are on the brink of a cup double, and it could start with a strong performance against Liverpool. Chelsea were very flat and devoid of ideas against Newcastle in the week going forward, but they will get their veteran heads like Lampard, Cole, Essien and Drogba in from the start most likely. They have the cup pedigree, they have experience to pull this off. Will it be the Chelsea old guard lifting the trophy once more for the Blues?
>On the three previous occasions Liverpool have triumphed over rivals Everton in the semi finals, they have gone on to lose the final.
As for Liverpool, much has been made of their very poor 2012 in the Premier League, where they have amassed just four wins. The Reds lost at Anfield ahead of the FA Cup final, going down to Fulham 1-0. Boss Kenny Dalglish admittedly made nine changes to the starting line up, as he clearly had more interest in securing a cup double for the season. Liverpool have failed in many departments this season, creativity through the middle of the park, and especially up front. Expensive under-achiever Andy Carroll may get the chance to upstage former Liverpool striker Fernando Torres, who has been an expensive under-achiever at Chelsea until recent weeks. Liverpool won’t have Charlie Adam, who is out for the rest of the season, but they will look to the massive influence of Steven Gerrard in the middle of the pitch. Up front, the bulk of the responsibility will fall on the shoulders of Luis Suarez, who has the pace and trickery to unlock Chelsea’s back four.
Liverpool have been defensively sound this season, and they have ground out results, and so the FA Cup final could take a long time for someone to make a breakthrough. It all looks too close to call in Chelsea v Liverpool FA Cup final betting, and these are two clubs which are not particularly fond of each other. Luck could also be a huge factor in the outcome of the FA Cup final. Without a shadow of a doubt, Liverpool have been unlucky up front this season, as well as being the creators of their own misfortunes. The Reds have hit the woodwork over 30 times this season, while Chelsea have been saved by the woodwork (most notably Lionel Messi’s penalty in the second leg of the Champions League semi final) and goal line clearances. Chelsea have been riding a big wave of luck, including the phantom goal against Spurs in the FA Cup semi final. Will luck run out on the Blues? Are the Reds together as a team and confident enough of taking down the Blues?
>Chelsea have outscored opponents 18-3 on the road to the final. Liverpool have outscored opponent 17-5 en route to Wembley.
