The final of England’s most important cup competition has arrived at long last. The Blues’ path to this match has been relatively easy, even the team’s most ardent supporters would admit, having faced only one Premier League side during their entire run. Regardless, Chelsea is deservedly back in the FA Cup final for the third consecutive season with the burden of potentially halting Liverpool’s quest for the quadruple before it really begins. Speaking on behalf of all non-Reds supporters, I hope it doesn’t get any further than this.
Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool has been a particularly difficult opponent for the European Champions, with the Merseyside club going unbeaten in all but two of these teams’ past 11 matchups. All of this season’s preceding clashes have been relatively even affairs that ended in draws after 90’ though, including the memorable League Cup final that was decided by a missed Kepa Arrizabalaga penalty kick back in February. Judging by the odds on many FA Cup final bets, the bookmakers are clearly envisioning another close contest, which is great news for us gamblers. Winning big on a cup final weekend is one of the best feelings for a football fan.
Here is the gambling guide for the FA Cup final between Chelsea and Liverpool
It should be pretty easy to predict the result of this match after 90’, right? Three consecutive draws point to a genuine levity between the two teams that will likely carry over into this weekend, as well. I assume that Chelsea and Liverpool’s equality can be at least partially attributed to Thomas Tuchel’s familiarity with his German counterpart, as both managers rose to prominence during the beginning of the gegenpress era in the Bundesliga. Their tactical similarities, despite the differences in formation, are pushing me toward betting the draw at +245 odds. The definition of madness is doing the same thing over and over again while expecting a different result, and I don’t want to be called crazy at the end of regular time.
I’ve been very curious about what number the oddsmakers would decide on for the over/under, as this season’s three previous contests between the Blues and the Reds have all been very different. The first was a relatively boring affair that saw 20 minutes of madness decide the final result, the second was a high-scoring, energetic clash that required a furious two-goal Chelsea comeback at the end of the first half and the third was a cagey, careful, scoreless cup final. I’m leaning toward the fourth installment strongly resembling the third, so under 2.5 total goals at -110 seems to be a strong play.
Official odds (via WynnBet as of May 14)
Chelsea ML: +265
Liverpool ML: +105
Draw: +245
Over/Under: 2.5 (-115/-110)
My picks:
It felt good to go two-for-three in the Leeds match after missing on so many bets over the past few weeks, so the confidence is back up for the FA Cup. I have to be honest though, I would happily trade all my picks being wrong for Chelsea to lift the trophy at the end of the day. With that being said, I’ll be taking the under at -110 odds and the draw after 90’ at +250 odds. For my final pick, I’ll play it very safe and take over 0.5 goals scored in the first half at -260. The outcome of this match will play a huge part in determining the ultimate success of the Blues’ season, so let’s hope for an ending on a high note.
What picks are you going to lock in ahead of the FA Cup final? Let us know your thoughts in the comments or on Twitter!