Betting Update; Manchester United v Everton with the bookmakers making Man Utd their 4/5 favourites

Added: (Fri Apr 17 2009)

Pressbox (Press Release) - If recent history is anything to go by, Manchester United should have absolutely no problem getting past Everton in the FA Cup semi-final at Wembley on Sunday.

A Paul Rideout goal gave the Toffees a famous 1-0 victory over United in the 1995 FA Cup final � but in the 14 years and 29 games since, United have lost just once, getting the better of the Merseyside outfit in normal time no fewer than 23 times. Five head-to-head clashes have ended in draws.

Those stats make compelling reading, and United�s recent upturn in form will also have discouraged Everton: Sir Alex Ferguson�s side have won consecutive league games against Aston Villa (3-2) and Sunderland (2-1) thanks to boy wonder Federico Macheda (he�s 5/2 with Bet365 to score anytime) and rediscovered their defensive resilience in their impressive 1-0 win in Porto on Wednesday night.

It�s surprising to find United as big as 4/5 (generally available) to win in 90 minutes, although Everton�s decent record against the Big Four this season probably explains those odds: the Toffees have drawn four of six such games. And don�t forget how impressively they overcame Liverpool in the fifth round of this competition: they finally clinched a place in the quarter-finals thanks to an extra-time Dan Gosling winner after two 90-minute draws. Those titanic struggles show Everton will be no pushovers.

The underdogs are 9/2 (general) to cause an upset, with a 90-minute stalemate a best-priced 5/2 (general) . If you think Everton can take the game to extra-time the prices are 15/2 for United to win during the additional 30 minutes, with David Moyes� side 25/1 to do likewise.

There appears no value in the �who will win?� markets, so instead I prefer looking at the prices on a half-time draw. Everton are a difficult side to break down and they will be content to contain United in the early stages in the hope that the favourites will tire late on following their midweek exertions in Portugal. The price of 5/4 (Blue Square) on a HT draw is worth considering, but even better value is the HT 0-0 correct scoreline at 13/8 (Paddy Power).

The usual suspects head up the anytime goalscorer market � United�s big four of Cristiano Ronaldo (6/4), Wayne Rooney (10/6), Carlos Tevez (15/8) and Dimitar Berbatov (2/1) lead the way, followed by that man (sorry, boy) Macheda (5/2) and Danny Wellbeck (11/4). The shortest-priced contender in the Everton ranks is former United striker Louis Saha (7/2) � but, although he�d love to find the target against his former club, Everton�s prolific midfielders offer better betting opportunities.

Tim Cahill (4/1) and Marouane Fellaini (9/2) will surely have a key role in the game, particularly since Everton will fancy their chances of causing United problems in the air. Few midfielders attack the ball as well from set-pieces as the aforementioned pair � so back the dangerous duo to get on the scoresheet.


Recommended Bets - 1pt HT correct score 0-0 (13/8)
Recommended Bets - 0.5pt Tim Cahill (Everton) to score anytime (4/1)
Recommended Bets - 0.5pt Marouane Fellaini (Everton) to score anytime 9/2




� All prices correct at time of writing.

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