Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez is worried relegation-threatened Wigan may try rough-house tactics against his Premier League top-four chasers at the DW Stadium on Monday (Wigan 9/2 draw 11/4 Liverpool 8/13 match betting).

The Spaniard is convinced the number of injuries picked up by players in the Premier League is proof that the English game is the most physical and is worried referees are under too much pressure to make the right decisions.

Latics are just three points above third-from-bottom Hull and in danger of being sucked into the relegation zone (Wigan 7/2 To Be Relegated).

Liverpool will take fourth spot if they come away with victory but Benitez has warned his players to expect a difficult night.

“The Premier League is always physical and they will want to keep going in this way,” he said. “It depends on the referees in the end. We have to analyse this carefully because it’s true we have too many serious injuries.”

He added: “I am a little bit worried about this, but there are people at the top who have to decide and to analyse what is best for the game.”

England right-back Glen Johnson, who has been out since the end of December because of a knee injury, could make his return.

Don’t miss your chance to check out Premier League match betting opportunities and ante-post football bets on totesport.com.

We’re at the quarter finals stage of the FA Cup and with three of the ‘Big 4′ looming large we could be set for a high profile final in May. First and foremost lets look at the betting opportunities of the quarter finals and one 5th round match taking place this weekend.

First off is Coventry versus Chelsea at the Ricoh Stadium at 12.30 on Saturday lunchtime. Currently sitting in thirteenth position in the Championship the 1987 winners of the FA Cup beat Blackburn 1-0 in a replay to secure their quarter final berth against Chelsea. A home defeat last time out against Sheffield United spoiled a good four match unbeaten run and they look up against here versus a Chelsea team with five wins on the bounce in all competitions. Chelsea are a very short 4/9 here with Coventry an 11/2 chance to spring an upset. It’s an 11/4 chance that the game will go to a replay.

In the Saturday evening kick-off Manchester United look to continue their remarkable winning streak away at Fulham at Craven Cottage. United are now 16 unbeaten in the league and are looking to add the FA Cup to their Carling Cup win last week. Fulham lost only their second game at home on Wednesday against Hull, and look a long shot to progress to the semi-finals here. In fact, United look a huge price at 4/5 to win in 90 minutes with totesport. Fulham are a 3/1 shot with the draw 9/4.

On Sunday lunchtime Arsenal and Burnley are playing catch up as they look to finish their 5th round match. The winner face Hull at home in the quarter finals and that looks quite an incentive. Arsenal at least broke their duck in front to goal on Tuesday night bagging three away West Brom, after previously having four consecutive 0-0 draws. Burnley have one defeat in four and have already shown their cup credentials by beating Chelsea and Arsenal in their Carling Cup semi-final run. On paper the home team should win though and at 1/3 the odds suggest so too. Burnely are 13/2 to spring a surprise whilst the draw is 10/3 with totesport.

The 4pm kick-0ff on Sunday sees Everton play Middlesbrough at Goodison. Everton are unbeaten in six at home and unbeaten in four at home to Boro in the Premier League. Boro have had a wretched season and suffered a heavy defeat at Spurs midweek. Gareth Southgate’s men have lost their last eight consecutive away matches in the Premier league but their cup form has been good. Boro beat Everton at the quarter final stage 3-0 back in 2002, albeit at the Riverside. As the injury problems mount for David Moyes side they could be vulnerable and at 10/3 Boro could be a dark horse. The draw also looks a decent bet at 9/4. Everton are 8/11 with totesport.

Totesport will be betting live in-running on all of the weekend’s FA Cup matches.

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There are four games each day split across this weekend in the Premier League and with Manchester United playing in the Carling Cup versus Tottenham Sunday it gives the likes of Liverpool, Chelsea and Villa the chance to close the gap.

First off on Saturday sees Everton host West Brom at Goodison Park. The injuries are wracking up for David Moyes men and after losing Mikel Arteta last weekend he’s really down to the bare bones for the visit of West Brom. Fortunately for him, West Brom have only one away win all season and that was way back in September versus Boro. Everton are five unbeaten at home and won the return fixture 3-1 at the Hawthorns earlier in the season. It looks like a home banker to us and you can scoop up the 4/9 available at totesport. West Brom are an 11/2 shot to pull off an unlikely win and the draw is 11/4. You can bet on the this game live in-running at totesport.

The first of the 3pm kick-offs see Arsenal try to break their goalscoring duck against London neighbours Fulham at the Emirates. Arsenal have drawn their last two at home and are winless in four now, with three no less ending goaless. Robin Van Persie scored the only goal in the Champions League versus Roma midweek, although the young gunners still missed a host of chances. Fulham have no away wins to their name in the Premier League this season but have drawn six times, including good results away to Liverpool and Villa. Arsenal should win and the 2/5 at totesport re-iterates this fact. Fulham are 13/2 with another yet another draw for the gunners available at 11/4.

Chelsea look for back to back wins at home against Wigan at 3pm on Saturday. It’s actually been the home form that has hindered Chelsea’s title challenge this season and they drew here versus Hull last time out in the Premier League. Two wins from two from new Manager Guus Hiddink suggests brighter times are ahead and in visitors Wigan they are playing a team who they’ve beaten in every Premier League encounter between the two clubs. Wigan are struggling for form with only four points from a possible eighteen but have drawn their last four on the road. Goals seem to be the problem with only one goal in eight Premier League matches and that was a Mido penalty. Chelsea should continue their winning record against wigan and are 1/4 to do so with totesport. Wigan are a 10/1 shot with the draw available at 7/2.

In the last of Saturday’s games, Liverpool look to close the gap on Man United with a trip to Middlesborough. Liverpool won rather fortuitously in the return fixture back in August with two goals in the last five minutes snatching a 2-1 win. The Reds have only won two of their last six matches in the league and this won’t be plain sailing. Boro sit second bottom and have only three home wins to their name this season. Gareth Southgate’s men haven’t scored in five Premier League matches and only have one goal in nine in the league. They have drawn their last two at home though versus two other north-west teams in the shape of Wigan and Blackburn and the midweek win over West Ham in the FA Cup will have given them encouragement. Boro are a lively 7/2 to upset the form here with Liverpool 4/6 with totesport. The draw could be the pick at 12/5 though if Rafa Benitez’s team fail to shake off the exploits of their midweek trip to Madrid.

The first of two 12.30pm kick offs on Sunday sees Hull looking to bounce back from their league defeat on Monday against Spurs as they welcome Blackburn Rovers to the KC Stadium. Hull are in freefall having not won in their last ten Premier League games, five of which were at home. That’s left them with only two points from a possible eighteen, but Phil Brown will be hopeful of getting something out of his former boss Sam Allardyce on Sunday. Rovers have not won in four and lost midweek against Coventry in the FA Cup. Being two points from safety might not make the FA Cup a priority for Big Sam but the loss will have done nothing to help the confidence of the team. Hull are made slight favourites with totesport at 11/8 with Blackburn a 13/8 shot. The draw looks the pick to me though at 11/5 offers the best value.

West Ham host a Manchester City side with only one away win to their name in the league this season. City did draw last time out away against Liverpool last weekend but after their UEFA Cup exploits on Thursday they’re easy to oppose here. West Ham aren’t withoput their troubles either, 9th in the league but have no win in three in the league, four including Wednesday’s dissapointing loss to Boro in the FA Cup. West Ham lost 3-0 to City in the the return fixture at Eastlands but go into this match slight favourites at 11/8, opposed to the 13/8 about City’s chances. The draw is a 11/5 shot with totesport.

Sunday’s live match sees Bolton host Newcastle at 1pm. It’s 12th against 15th with only two points seperating the teams so there’s all to play for in escaping the relegation zone. Bolton have won their last two games at home and Newcastle only have two away wins all season, coming against Portsmouth and West Brom. Continuing the theme of ‘two’, that’s the number of Newcastle wins at the Reebok in the last eight attempts. The Geordies are a 9/4 chance here to get a rare win, with Bolton evens with totesport. There hasn’t been a draw between these two in the north west during the last ten years so it might be one to avoid, currently priced at 9/4. You can bet on the this game live in-running at totesport.

Finally, Villa host Stoke at 3pm on Sunday afternoon. Villa can now concentrate all efforts into qualifying for the Champions League after being knocked out of the UEFA Cup on Thursday. The loss to Chelsea last weekend ended a thirteen match unbeaten run, but at home they only have five wins from thirteen all season. They’ve not won at Villa Park since the 10th Jan versus West Brom so it’ll be squeaky bum time for the fans as Stoke make the short trip down the M6. Stoke haven’t got an away win to their name all season but with seven stalemates shows their no mugs, a 0-0 at Anfield included. With this in mind, the 2/5 available with totesport looks a little skinny, with the 11/4 for the draw making most appeal. Stoke are a 13/2 shot to break their duck away from the Britannia. Totesport will be betting live in-running on all of the weekend’s live matches.

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Plenty of Premier League teams will have had a little holiday while the FA Cup took priority last weekend.  There’s some intriguing contests over the next few days and plenty of football betting opportunities to get stuck into.

Possibly the tie of the weekend is up first at Villa Park on Saturday lunchtime with Chelsea the visitors.  Not only is this new Chelsea boss Guss Hiddink’s first game in charge in the league, but it’s also versus a Villa side who have currently ousted them from third place!  Aston Villa are second only behind Manchester United in the form books having taken sixteen points from their last possible eighteen.  However, a blip in the Cup last weekend which saw them lose convincingly to Everton at Goodison and only a hard fought home draw in the UEFA Cup midweek suggests they may have finally hit a rocky patch.  Regular readers will know I’ve been predicting the wheels to come off Villa’s season for a good few weeks now and they’ll definitely be feeling the pressure ahead of this match with Chelsea who have only lost twice away this season.  Add this to the ‘Guus’ factor and I can see another defeat on the cards for Martin O’Neill’s troops.  You can back Chelsea with totesport at 13/10, with the draw a 9/4 shot.  Villa backers can pile into the 17/10 available if they wish!

It’s another game at the Emirates on Saturday where the home team should win.  However they have drawn far too many games this season (8) and they host a Sunderland team on a run of three games without defeat.  In that same period Arsenal have churned out three draws, two of which were goalless and the other reliant on a 90th minute equaliser from Robin Van Persie.  Goals have been hard to come by for the Gunners but with Eduardo’s cameo on Monday night against Cardiff they should have enough fire power here.  The odds suggest this as well with Arsenal a home banker at 4/11 with totesport.  You can back Sunderland or the draw at 13/2 and 3/1 respectively.

West Ham look to get back on track after defeat at home to Manchester United last time somewhat spoiled their unbeaten run.  This run has seen them not lose on the road in their last six and won’t hold any fear travelling to the Reebok Stadium on Saturday.  Bolton on the other hand only have one win to their name in their last six outings, albeit their last game at home versus a Spurs team with a bad away record.  So all going well, West Ham could continue this run here and continue what has turned out to be an excellent season.  The Hammers are a rather generous 17/10 with totesport, with Bolton deemed favourites at 13/10 and the draw a 9/4 chance.

Middlesbrough are currently struggling in the Premier League and it’s no surprise to see why.  Win-less now in thirteen matches now you have to go all the way back to their last win away at Aston Villa of all places!  They only have three home wins all season, against Spurs, Stoke and Manchester City and there’s no coincidence that all three teamsn have a woeful record on the road.  They’ve gone four games without scoring in the league but if they do have one glimmer of hope it’s the fact that they could do the double over Saturday’s opponents Wigan.  Boro won the reverse fixture at the JJB after nicking it late on through Jerome Aliadiere and are a 7/5 shot here, opposed to the 8/5 you can get on the away side at totesport.  The draw is 11/5 and might just be the pick, after all Wigan have drawn their last three matches.

There will be six-pointers a plenty as we gain pace towards the end of the season, but the three points up for grabs for Stoke at home to Portsmouth should be the dangled carrot they need as a home win will see them go level on points with Saturday’s opponents.  Stoke owe their league position to their home form, with 21 of their 24 points all earned at the Britannia.  On the flip-side, Pompey have only two away wins to their name all season and you have to go all the way back to November for that against Sunderland.  Stoke are a 13/10 favourite with totesport for another home three points here, whereas Pompey are a 17/10 shot.  The draw is available at 9/4.

Saturday’s live evening kick-off sees Manchester United host Blackburn Rovers at Old Trafford.  There’s not really much we can say about United, other than it looks as if they will be very difficult to be caught now they’ve gone five points clear at the top of the Premier League.  Sam Allardyce comes here after his first league defeat since arriving at Ewood and he actually has a couple of Premier league wins at Old Trafford from his days at Bolton.  It’s going to be a big ask though as the betting reflects, United at 2/9 shot and Blackburn as big as 9/1 with totesport.  The draw is 4/1.

There’s a live double header on the Sunday and first up it’s Fulham versus West Brom at Craven Cottage.  Fulham have slipped slightly after their great start to the season but could be excused with a recent run of tough fixtures.  As always Fulham are a tough proposition at Home, with fourteen points taken from a possible eighteen in their last six matches at the Cottage.  Compare that to West Brom’s away record which is hopeless at best you have yourself another home banker.  Fulham are a very generous 8/11 with totesport, with West Brom 10/3 and the draw 9/4.

Sandwiched in between the two live games sees Liverpool desperately try to hang onto the tailcoats of Manchester United as they host Man City at 3pm.  This should be another home win as City have one of the worst away records in the division, just won win way back in September versus Sunderland.  They do however have match winners in abundance and they could just rise to the occasion at Anfield, where Liverpool have been struggling to put teams away.  Just two wins at home in their last six suggests that there will be some tension in the air on Sunday and you can capitalise by backing the draw at 12/5 with totesport.  If you don’t want to sit on the fence, you can back Liverpool or Man City at 4/7 and 9/2 respectively.

The second live game on Sunday sees Newcastle host Everton at St James’s Park.  With Joe Kinnear in a hospital bed, it’s coaches Chris Hughton and Colin Calderwood’s job to get Newcastle out of the mire.  Newcastle currently sit thirteenth in the league but just three points from the relegation zone.  A win away at West Brom last time out gave them a much needed boost but it won’t be as easy this weekend versus Everton.   That saying you have to go all the way back to October 2000 for the last away win for Everton over the Geordies.  Everton are slight favourites with totesport at 7/5 whilst you can back Newcastle at 8/5 with totesport.  The draw is 11/5.

The Monday night game sees Spurs (13/10) travel to Hull (17/10).  Spurs rested their whole team thereabouts for the game in the Ukraine on Thursday night so shouldn’t really be using that as an excuse.  In theory Harry Redknapp’s team will be playing their hearts out for a place in next Sunday’s Carling Cup Final.  However, theory tells us that Spurs should be about ten places higher in the league and Hull have a team spirit that will make it difficult for these southern fancy dans.  Hull are struggling though in the league and at home, now winless in four.  Spurs have lost their last four games on the road so the draw looks the best bet, at 9/4 with totesport.

Totesport will be betting live in-running on all of the weekend’s live matches.

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There’s been much debate since the inception of the Premier League and the recent domination of English clubs in the Champions League that the FA Cup has lost its ‘magic’. Looking at the fixture list at the FA Cup 5th round stage this weekend you can see why. Okay, the draw didn’t do the competition any favours but even the ‘all Premiership’ affairs will see teams have other things on their mind, whether it be title or champions league aspirations or simply avoiding the drop. That saying, there’s plenty of competitive matches from a betting perspective and we’ve put together some pointers on this weekend’s live games, all of which you can bet in-play with totesport.

There’s no real surprise that the TV cameras have rocked up at Swansea for their home tie with Fulham on Saturday lunchtime. The Swans are having a splendid season in the Championship, currently sitting seventh, just two points out of the play-offs but with a game in hand.

Robert Martinez has got his team playing some attractive stuff and although constantly criticised for having more style than substance they’re currently unbeaten in their last fifteen matches, including their away day win at Portsmouth in the last round.

This unbeaten run began with a staggering eight consecutive draws and with only one home defeat in the league this season they definitely offer a threat to a Fulham side without an away win in the Premiership. Their form in the cup away from Craven Cottage fairs slightly better having knocked out Sheffield Wednesday at Hillsborough in the 3rd round and came through 4-2 away at Kettering in round three.

There’s no recent form between the two teams to take into account but I’ve talked myself into siding with the Championship team at 7/5, with the draw next best at 23/10. Fulham backers can get 15/8 with totesport. Kick off is 12.45pm live on ITV1.

Saturday’s evening kick off will give Guus Hiddink his first taste of English football as he takes his new Chelsea side around London on the M25 to play Watford at Vicarage Road. Unlike the compelling form line that made Swansea an appealing bet versus Premiership opposition the same can’t be said of Watford, languishing third bottom in the Championship and with league survival definitely in the forefront of their minds.

That saying, their home for isn’t that bad, only five defeats and in manager Brendan Rogers, they have some insider knowledge of their Premier league opponents, having currently been the Blues youth team coach under Jose Mourinho and Avram Grant.

These factors aside, there’ll be plenty of the Chelsea players with a point to prove to the new manager and they should be strong enough here. Chelsea are 4/11 with Watford an 8/1 chance and the draw 7/2, all with totesport. You can bet live in-running with totesport on this televised match, kick-off is 17.30 and it’s live on Setanta Sports.

Sunday’s 14.30 offering is the only all Premiership tie this weekend, with Everton hosting Aston Villa at Goodison Park. After David Moyes eventually won their war of attrition against Merseyside rivals Liverpool in round four, they now face another tough tie in the shape of a Villa side that have won ten of their thirteen away matches this season, including their last seven on the trot.

The two sides met at Goodison right back near the beginning of this astonishing run and Villa prevailed 3-2 that day due to a last gasp Ashley Young winner.

Neither of these teams have the biggest squad in the division and even if they wanted to rest players they probably couldn’t make wholesale changes. With this in mind it’ll be another close game, with totesport making the home team 7/5 slight favourites against Villa’s 15/8. The draw is 23/10 and you can bet live in running throughout. KO is 14.30 and live on Setanta Sports.

In a repeat of the Carling Cup semi-final Derby would snap your hands off to take the 1-0 win at Pride Park again on Sunday afternoon.

Things have brightened up for Derby and their new manager Nigel Clough. After a tough start to his managerial career with the club they’ve now won three on the bounce including an impressive away win against arch-rivals Forest in the last round. This was made even more impressive considering they found themselves two goals down within twenty minutes but a spirited comeback saw them take the tie 3-2. Equally impressive was their 3-0 away win down in Plymouth last weekend, a victory that has propelled them up to the dizzying heights of sixteenth in the Championship!

However good the Derby revival, you simply cannot back against United in current form. Eight wins on the bounce in the Premier League and thirteen without conceding means the team for the east-midlands have it all do to here.

United are a short priced favourite for this one at 2/5 with totesport and you can back Derby and tor the draw at 15/2 or 10/3 respectively with totesport. KO is at 16.30 on Sunday and it’s live on ITV1.

Finally, a quick mention of the one remaining 4th round tie to be played on Monday night. Arsenal host Cardiff in the fourth round replay after snow prevented the original tie from being played a ten days ago. Arsenal are a 2/5 shot here unsurprisingly but with injury to Emmanuel Adebayor the Gunners have been lacking firepower, so Cardiff, unbeaten since November might be worth a sneaky bet at 15/2. The draw is 10/3 and remember if that’s the outcome there will be extra time and penalties. KO is a 19.45 on Monday night and is live on Setanta Sports.

Totesport will be betting live in-running on all of the weekend’s live matches.

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Everton and Liverpool meet again for the third time in a fortnight in the FA Cup fourth round replay tonight at Goodison Park. Both results in recent weeks have resulted in 1-1 draws, but both matches were played at Anfield, so Everton will feel like they have the edge.

With the sale of Robbie Keane to Spurs, Rafa will be wanting to wrap star striker Fernando Torres up in cotton wool and with his side still fighting on three fronts, with the Premier League presumably the priority he may rest his top scorer for tonight’s match.

Everton on the other hand have a thread bare squad and will have no choice other than select their strongest lineup. The home side are a 2/1 shot with totesport to win in 90 mins, with Liverpool an 11/8 chance. I think whatever the personnel on show it’ll be another tight encounter and the draw at 11/5 looks the bet in 90 mins.

If you fancy a result in extra time, you can back Everton at 11/10 and Liverpool at 4/6, both with totesport.

Elsewhere there are three other football matches for you to bet on in the FA Cup tonight. Aston Villa (1/3) were forced to play a replay and host Championship struggler’s Doncaster Rovers (8/1). Doncaster have only ever lost to Villa once in their history and will be looking to add to this amazing statistic. The draw is 10/3 with totesport.

Forest and Derby do battle again tonight at the City Ground. The home team look a decent prospect at 5/4 as they’ve had a lift in form since former Derby manager Billy Davies took over. Derby on the other hand, an 11/5 shot still show signs of struggling this season, despite the arrival of Nigel Clough and their weekend win against Coventry. The draw is 9/4 with totesport.

The last of the FA Cup replays tonight sees Blackburn against Sunderland. I don’t think either of these teams will be taking this seriously which makes it a very difficult betting proposition. The home side are unbeaten under Sam Allardyce and probably shade it here. You can back them at 4/5 here versus the 13/5 about Sunderland. The draw is 5/2 with totesport.

Totesport will be betting live in-running on tonight’s Merseyside derby.

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There are plenty of betting opportunities this weekend in the FA Cup fourth round so we’ve picked out the live on TV matches and a few others where we might expect an upset or two.

Starting Friday night, Derby County host bitter rivals Nottingham Forest at Pride Park. I don’t really know where to start with this one as all sorts of variables could effect the way this match goes. Nigel Clough for example, a Forest legend versus Billy Davies, former Derby Manager. Clough has yet to get a win to his name whilst Davies has a 100% record for Forest, including two away wins in recent weeks. In fact Forest currently sit top of the tree in the Championship when looking at points generated from their last five away matches, whilst struggling Derby sit 22nd of twenty-four in the last five home matches. All the form seems to be pointing at an away win at 17/10 here, with five of the last nine meetings between the two ending in draws and only a point separating them in the league the draw might be a good bet at 9/4. A home win pays 8/5 with totesport.

Saturday’s early kick off sees West Ham travel to League 1 opponents Hartlepool in what looks like a tricky fixture. The monkey hangers currently lie mid table in the third tier of professional football whilst a good little run has seen West Ham shoot up the Premier league table to eight. On paper, you’d probably back West Ham at 4/5 but the London club have not made it past round four in the last two attempts since losing in the final and Hartlepool have already disposed of Stoke in round three. The TV cameras are sniffing out a shock at Victoria Park and you can back Hartlepool at 10/3 with totesport. The draw is 13/5.

Saturday’s evening kick-off sees an injury ravaged Manchester United host a lack of confidence riddles Spurs at Old Trafford. Despite United’s injury worries, predominantly in defence, they can still field a team including, Tevez, Berbatov, Ronaldo and Carrick, so they should have too much for Spurs and repeat last years victory over Spurs in this competition. After a shambolic display in the north west versus Burnley on Wednesday, Harry Redknapp has suggested he’ll throw in a few peripheral players for this one and this is reflected in the 15/2 price you can get on Spurs. United are a 1/3 chance and the draw is 4/1 with totesport. Although a long shot, it’s also worth mentioning that Harry Redknapp has knocked Manchester United out of the FA Cup for three different teams now. West Ham and Pompey at Old Trafford, plus Bournemouth back in 1984.

Sunday sees Arsenal travel to Cardiff and a quick repeat of Monday’s Merseyside derby. Arsenal (4/7) have now been trophy-less since they won this competition four seasons ago and with their league hopes all but dead and buried this season and injuries undermining their chance in the Champions League, the FA Cup probably underlines their best chance of silverware this term. They face a tricky tie away in the Welsh capital with Cardiff (5/1) not having lost since November and surging into contention for promotion in the Championship. Arsenal have been quietly going about their work but can be vulnerable away from home and an upset could well be on the cards here. The draw is 11/4 with totesport.

The Merseyside duo do battle again on Sunday, six days after their 1-1 draw in the Premier league. No doubt Rafa will change his team around for this fixture and with David Moyes not afforded this luxury, Everton might be a good bet at 9/2 for a rare Anfield win. Everton have not won at Anfield since September 1999 but with Rafa’s eyes firmly set on the Premier League prize this may be their best chance for years. Liverpool are available at 7/10 with totesport and the draw is 12/5.

Totesport will be betting live in-running on all the weekend’s live football

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After Manchester United’s successful passage in tot he final of the Carling Cup, Spurs also look to secure their place in tonight’s Carling Cup semi-final, second leg against Burnley at Turf Moor.

The Championship side have a mountain to climb after going down 4-1 in the first leg at White Hart Lane a fortnight ago, but there are plenty of betting options in the 90 minutes market.

Spurs are a 6/5 shot to win here in 90 mins, but with injury to half a dozen first team regulars plus a fourth round tie versus Man Utd at the weekend on the horizon you could be better placed to put your money on the home team at 21/10.

With seven home wins to their name in the League this season plus wins against Arsenal and Fulham in this competition, add to that some professional pride this certainly won’t be a walkover for Spurs. The draw is 12/5 with totesport.

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The Carling Cup semi-final second leg at Old Trafford tonight sees the home team needing a win after losing 1-0 in the first leg.

We did say on this site a fortnight ago that Derby would be looking for the United to show up who struggled against QPR earlier in the competition to stand any chance at Alex Ferguson’s men obliged that night at Pride Park.

Reports suggest that Alex Ferguson will play a similar line-up here tonight and with injuries to Wayne Rooney and Rio Ferdinand meaning they will be understrength. However, they should have enough here to overturn the Championship sides lead and progress to the Wembley final next month.

If there was some shred of hope for Derby it’s that United have struggled for goals of late. The Chelsea win apart United have failed to score more than one goal in a match in seven of their last eight matches.

Putting that stat into perspective though is the fact that United haven’t conceded in their last ten Premiership games, so Derby will be looking for more inspiration from their first leg scorer Kris Commons.

Manchester United are as short as 1/7 for this one in 90 mins, with Derby a huge 18/1 chance. United are a 2/3 shot to win to nil and 7/1 to win 1-0 in the correct score market, all with totesport. The draw is 13/2 and that will be enough to see Derby go through, but that’s probably wishful thinking!

Totesport will be betting live in-running on tonight’s match.

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After an early scare for Spurs against Burnley last night in the first Carling Cup semi-final, you’d expect Manchester United to ease to a comfortable win away at Derby tonight in the second.

There’s a possibility that ‘new manager syndrome’ could strike but the newly appointed Derby boss Nigel Clough won’t be officially in-charge until after this match. The problem is for Derby is that they don’t have a player of Clough’s quality to lead the line tonight and even if United keep some of the bigger names wrapped up warm on the sidelines it’ll take a gargantuan effort for the home side to take something worth playing for back to Old Trafford in a fortnight.

United disposed of Southampton in the FA Cup at the weekend with a weakened line-up and with the recalled Carlos Tevez having something to prove it could be a long 90 mins for the Derby defense.

Derby will be looking for the United that struggled to a late win versus QPR earlier in the competition to turn up, but the betting reflects very favourably on United’’s chances.

United are a 4/9 chance with Derby as big as 13/2 at totesport. The draw can be backed at 16/5 with the same firm.

Totesport will be betting live in-running on tonight’s match.

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