FA Cup betting tips: Third round preview

The third round of the FA Cup is one of the great weekends of the English football season. It is the point at which teams from the top two divisions enter the competition, meaning there is the possibility for a relative minnow to draw one of the big boys.

Two non-League clubs have made it to this stage, with Tamworth hosting Tottenham in one of the ties of the round. Meanwhile, League Two sides Accrington, Morecambe and Salford City travel to Liverpool, Chelsea and Manchester City respectively. Their chances are slimmer than slim but it will be a fantastic day out for their supporters. 

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And you just know there’ll be a shock result somewhere this weekend. 

Aston Villa vs West Ham betting tips

This will be Graham Potter’s first match in charge of West Ham. The former Brighton and Chelsea boss has a big job on his hands, with the Hammers yet to string together consecutive wins in the Premier League this season.

Potter’s predecessor Julen Lopetegui’s brief reign began with a 2-1 home loss to Aston Villa in August. The Villans are unbeaten in the last four meetings, delivering a crushing 4-1 victory in the previous clash at Villa Park.

While it might be closer than that on Friday evening, the Hammers have shipped nine goals across their last two games. Eight of Villa’s nine league wins have seen three-or-more goals this season and this should too. 

Scoreline prediction

Aston Villa 3-1 West Ham (97/10 with Bet442)

FIRST’s top tip:

Aston Villa win and over 2.5 goals (63/50 with Zetbet)

Liverpool vs Accrington betting tips

For people of a certain age, a match between Liverpool and Accrington conjures memories of a famous advert for milk and little else. As the only previous meeting occurred in 1956, there’s precious other history to recall.

Accrington reached the fourth round two years ago, putting up a credible display in a 3-1 loss to Premier League Leeds. However, that was at home and both they and Leeds ended their respective campaigns by being relegated.

Their only hope of avoiding a thumping at Anfield is if Liverpool take it easy. Arne Slot will bring in players who haven’t played much, though, so they will be keen to impress.

The Reds’ closest comparable tie from recent years occurred when a weakened side beat League One Shrewsbury, 4-1 in 2022. League Two strugglers Accrington should suffer a similar fate. 

Scoreline prediction

Liverpool 5-0 Accrington (8/1 with Spreadex)

FIRST’s top tip:

Liverpool win and over 4.5 goals (6/5 with Luckster)

Tamworth vs Tottenham betting tips

Tamworth last made it to this stage of the FA Cup in 2012, going down 2-0 at Everton. They will be lucky if this tie is as close as that, even with home advantage.

While they are three divisions higher than Marine were in 2021, Tottenham’s previous FA Cup tie against non-league opposition saw them beat the Merseyside outfit 5-0 away from home.

Spurs are having an erratic campaign with a squad that is currently riddled with injuries. Nonetheless, they are the second-highest scoring team in the Premier League this season. They enjoyed a morale boosting win over Liverpool in the Carabao Cup on Wednesday too. 

Against a team with only two clean sheets in the National League, any side Ange Postecoglou selects should score several. 

Scoreline prediction

Tamworth 0-4 Tottenham (161/20 with Vegasland)

FIRST’s top tip:

Tottenham win and over 3.5 goals (53/50 with Mr.Play)

Arsenal vs Manchester United betting tips

This fixture was held in the Premier League last month, with Arsenal running out 2-0 winners. While they have been in the better form since then, it is Manchester United who had the better last result.

They drew 2-2 at Liverpool, after which Arsenal lost 2-0 at home to Newcastle in the first leg of their Carabao Cup semi-final. It’s worth taking a much closer look at that game before making a prediction here though.

Arsenal had 23 shots worth a combined 3.1 expected goals against the Magpies. They somehow squandered six big chances in that match. Similarly, if xG decided results then United would’ve lost 3-1 at Anfield.

Before that recent clash at the Emirates Stadium, Arsenal had won the preceding three meetings in north London without keeping a clean sheet. With United having received a confidence boost last weekend, they could make this more of a game than they did in December. 

Scoreline prediction

Arsenal 2-1 Manchester United (7/1 with Spreadex)

FIRST’s top tip:

Arsenal win and both teams to score (5/2 with BetMGM)

Quick scoreline predictions:

Middlesbrough 2-0 Blackburn (8/1 with BetMGM)

Leicester 2-1 Queens Park Rangers (7/1 with Spreadex)

Chelsea 5-0 Morecambe (6/1 with BetMGM)

Manchester City 6-0 Salford City (13/1 with Spreadex)

Leeds 3-0 Harrogate Town (6/1 with Matchbook)

Coventry 2-1 Sheffield Wednesday (33/5 with Mr.Play)

Newcastle 4-0 Bromley (8/1 with Spreadex)

Millwall 1-1 Dagenham and Redbridge (33/4 with Vegasland)

Odds correct at the time of writing.