Liverpool can win both halves to earn another Wembley date
Published:With Liverpool having scored 13 goals in just three FA Cup ties this season, including strikes in both halves of each of these matches, the 10/11 odds for Liverpool to lead at half-time and full-time against Stoke look good.
Each of their FA Cup games this season have taken place at Anfield, and Liverpool have relished playing away from the pressures of the Premier League by disposing of Oldham and Brighton emphatically, as well as conquering Manchester United en route to this quarter-final clash.
Stoke meanwhile, have struggled to juggle their European commitments with domestic competition this season, but were one of the sides who managed to frustrate Liverpool when recording a 0-0 draw at Anfield in the Premier League earlier in the season.
Liverpool have been particularly blunt attack-wise in league competition this season, scoring just 18 times in 14 matches on their own patch.
They have scored only three less in just four domestic cup ties on Merseyside this campaign, and so punters should be encouraged to get behind the Reds to flourish in front of goal in this match, and power ahead in either half.
Kenny Dalglish’s men also have a greater tendency to concede in cup matches, though their defence has been breached on just the one occasion in each of their four Anfield cup matches this season.
With this in mind, punters may wish to invest in the generous 10/1 odds for a 3-1 Reds victory, while braver customers may take advantage of the 20/1 on offer for a 4-1 home win.
It is worth noting that Stoke’s defensive record on their travels this term has been uncharacteristically poor, and although they will be desperate to make a second Wembley appearance in two years, the Carling Cup holders’ big-game experience should see them power past Tony Pulis’ men in emphatic fashion, and they can lead at the end of each half at 10/11.
