In The Mixer: Best bets for the FA Cup semi-finals with 2 Bet Builders!
Content Editor at Free Super Tips, Alex was born in the shadow of Old Trafford and is an avid Man Utd fan. After graduating from university he combined his love of football, writing and betting to join FST and now closely follows goings-on in all of the top European leagues.
In The Mixer is FST’s weekly column where we catch up with our team of football betting experts and get their opinion on the hot topic of the week.
Fans from four clubs will flock to Wembley this weekend as the FA Cup semi-finals take place and our experts have been asked to give us their best bet from this exciting double.
All the bets below are priced up with Betfair, where new customers can get up to £30 in free bets to use on this weekend’s FA Cup and Premier League action.
Man City vs Sheff Utd – Alvarez can fire City to final
Aaron Ashley
Sports journalist at Racing Post
Manchester City are understandably a resoundingly short price to overcome Championship outfit Sheffield United in their FA Cup semi-final at Wembley and there is every chance they could run riot.
Pep Guardiola isn’t the sort of manager to take any risks and he’ll be demanding an emphatic victory, which is what makes even-money quotes about them winning by three goals or more totally fair.
The Citizens have won ten straight matches ahead of Wednesday’s trip to Bayern Munich and seven of those wins have been by three goals or more, which includes a 6-0 rout of Burnley, who are 12 points clear of Sheffield United at the top of the Championship.
Best bet – Man City -2 handicap
Jack Ogalbe
Sports journalist at ICS
Manchester City and Erling Haaland look unstoppable and the Norwegian is sure to feature against Sheffield United.
It would be no surprise to see him add to his enviable record but another City star who has shone in recent weeks is Julian Alvarez, both deputising for Haaland and adding something different when the pair have featured together.
The World Cup winner has been a regular in this competition, often alongside Haaland, netting three goals from his four appearances.
While it is uncertain as to whether he will start on Saturday, Alvarez will surely get some minutes and will likely carry some extra value in the Anytime Goalscorer market.
Best bet – Julian Alvarez to score anytime
Brighton vs Man Utd – Seagulls backed to win thriller
Alex Wrigley
Sports editor at Free Super Tips
It is difficult to back against Brighton right now and they are worth a bet even as slight favourites against an injury-hit Manchester United.
The Red Devils will be forced to use a makeshift back line that could include either Luke Shaw or Scott McTominay as Victor Lindelof’s centre-back partner and that duo will face one of the most dynamic attacking sides in the country.
The Seagulls dismantled Chelsea at the weekend and have a full week to prepare for their trip to Wembley. They have beaten Manchester United in their last two meetings and Erik ten Hag’s side have lost seven times against current Premier League top-half sides and could be tired after a midweek trip to Spain.
Best bet – Brighton to win
Aaron Rogan
Sports journalist at Free Super Tips
Brighton took apart Chelsea with ease on Saturday and they’ve got a week to rest ahead of their semi-final clash with Manchester United.
It makes sense that the Seagulls are favourites, given that the Red Devils face a tough test in Seville days after a less than convincing win at Nottingham Forest.
United’s momentum under Erik ten Hag fell away thanks to injuries and they have little room for rotation at Wembley. Signs of fatigue are starting to show for United after a demanding season across four fronts and this could be a game too far for them.
The Red Devils have a horrible record against the league’s top sides away from Old Trafford, while Brighton have put in great performances in the capital in back-to-back weekends. This clash would be competitive with both fully fit, so Brighton should take advantage of United’s issues.
Best bet – Brighton to win
Liam Flin
Sports journalist at Racing Post
A bet on Brighton to beat Manchester United at odds-against makes plenty of appeal. The Seagulls have been among the surprise packages in this season’s Premier League and still have a decent chance of making the top five, but coupling that with an FA Cup triumph would be huge.
They of course beat United away from home back in August when the club were finding their feet under Erik ten Hag and, although the Red Devils have come a long way since then, there are still concerns about them when it comes to big games away from Old Trafford.
United sustained key defeats to Liverpool and Newcastle in the last couple of months and it remains to be seen how much of a role crucial forward Marcus Rashford will play in this crunch semi-final.
Best bet – Brighton to win
Rob Eddy
Sports journalist at ICS
Brighton have been looking good for most of a campaign which might yet finish with a Champions League place, while they are in good enough form to look some value at odds-against when they take on Manchester United, who are continuing to pick up injuries in what remains a busy schedule.
The Seagulls might argue they have been unfortunate in some ways, given they battered another form side in Brentford in what was a 3-3 draw while VAR did for them again in a defeat at Spurs.
They have already knocked Liverpool out of the competition and won at Old Trafford in the league and having eight days to prepare in a period in which the Red Devils will have played twice, Roberto De Zerbi’s men look the side to be on.
United’s defence is badly hit by injury and suspension but they certainly carry a goal threat and a Brighton win with both teams to score offers plenty of juice at 7/2.
Best bet – Brighton to win and both teams to score
Joe Casey
Sports journalist at Racing Post
Over 2.5 goals in Brighton v Manchester United. Six of Brighton’s last eight matches have seen three goals or more and Roberto De Zerbi has helped transform them into one of the most free-flowing sides in the top flight.
The Red Devils have a defensive injury crisis with Raphael Varane and Lisandro Martinez out for this clash and that could leave them vulnerable at the back.
Remarkably, ten of the last 11 meetings between these two have gone over 2.5 goals and looks likely to land again here.
Best bet – Over 2.5 goals
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