It’s a bit early to talk about the 128th FA Cup Final between Everton and Chelsea, but there is no better time to find a value bet.

I’m not referring the the FA Cup Winner market, which is unattractive from a betting point of view. If you had a wager before Manchester United were knocked out, then hats off.

Everton were 33/1 shots at the beginning of the year to crash the Big Four party, but are now generally available at 7/4 to lift the trophy on 30 May.

Toffees supporters would probably get a better run for their money with 4/1 in the 90 minutes betting, but 17/2 for Everton/Everton in the HT/FT market is a good trade if Everton open the scoring – a 7/4 chance.

Chelsea are a stand-out 10/11 to win in 90 minutes with Sky Bet, but the treble could be a better value bet at 66/1 with William Hill. 

At this early stage, the betting value lies with the 0-0 scoreline. The bore draw is 17/2 with Victor Chandler, which simply must be backed.

The last two Wembley finals have finished 1-0, but the surface has been criticised for being ‘spongy and dead’. The surface and the pressure of the occasion make the 0-0 quite a likely result.

Sir Alex Ferguson wants the FA to improve the surface, but thankfully we won’t have to put up with his ranting before the Final. In the week preceding the FA Cup Final there are three Play-Off Finals.

We recommended the bore draw in the Carling Cup Final at 10/1, as it tends to be under-bet.

I’d still consider the scoreline if the best price available was 5/1, but when you compare odds online, the punter can find better value.

Following Man U’s exit from the competition, they are now 5/2 to win a quadruple.

bookies.com is the best place to go to compare FA Cup odds:

FA Cup Winner 2009 Betting

FA Cup Final 2009: Chelsea v Everton Match Betting

FA Cup Final 2009: Chelsea v Everton Over/Under Betting

FA Cup Final 2009: Chelsea v Everton HT/FT Betting

FA Cup Final 2009: Chelsea v Everton Correct Score Betting

Liverpool v Chelsea. Champions League. Again. 

Should be an easy one betting-wise; they met in the semis last year and both play in the Premier League.

A handful of bookies are undecided as to who’ll progress through this tie, offering 5/6 about both teams.

Corals report that they’ve seen equal amounts of money for both sides, although Chelsea are odds-against to qualify on Betfair.

Backing a team at 5/6 isn’t going to make you rich, and Wednesday’s match betting doesn’t look particularly rewarding. Liverpool are best priced at 11/8 with Paddy Power to beat Chelsea at Anfield, the draw is available at 11/5 and an away victory at 11/4.

Liverpool are 11/4 with Skybet to make the final and 11/5 to get knocked out in the semis like last year.

The sides last met at the same venue in February, with Liverpool winning in the last few minutes thanks to a Torres double. Florent Malouda thinks Chelsea are better, but the same correct score can be backed at 9/1. 

Torres is 10/1 with Paddy Power to score 2 goals or more.

In such a tight encounter, my preference is with the 0-0 scoreline, which usually offers cracking value. Boylesports are the only firm going 7/1 about No Goalscorer, which gives you room for the own goal nightmare.

Remember that Riise scored one in the 94th minute last year. He is no longer with the Reds.

I fancy under 2.5 goals, but 8/15 is a shocking price. Liverpool have scored in each of their last 18 CL matches, so preference would be for the 1-0 home win at 6/1 with Blue Square.

Another juicy price is 4/1 for the draw/draw outcome in the half-time/full-time market.

bookies.com conveniently compares all football odds in one place – so make sure you always get the best available price!

Liverpool v Chelsea Match Betting 

Liverpool v Chelsea Asian Handicap Betting

Liverpool v Chelsea Correct Score Betting

Liverpool v Chelsea First Goalscorer Betting

Liverpool v Chelsea Half-time/Full-time Betting

Coral go 8/11 that Ronaldo is still a Manchester United player next year, despite the reports that he has reached a verbal agreement to join Real Madrid this summer. Skybet clearly aren’t worried that he’s taking Spanish lessons, as they quote 4/7 that he plays for United next year. They are best-priced that he leaves this summer at 5/4, a price that may appeal to some.

I don’t have enough information on my side for any of those prices to be worthwhile, but I would think differently perhaps if I was Ronaldo’s Spanish teacher.

The Spanish paper, As, believe that President Ramon Calderon has signed a secret agreement with the player and his agent, Jorge Mendes. The transfer fee has been estimated at £90m, which would break the previous record set by Zidane.

The Portuguese winger was recently named the FIFA Player of the Year to add to his Ballon d’Or. SkyBet go 3/1 about him picking up the FIFA award next year, although I’d rather have my money with the 13/8 favourite, Leo Messi.

For a player to shine throughout the year, you ideally want his club to be performing well at the highest level. There aren’t any major international tournaments this year, so the Champions League will be crucial. 6/1 Torres or 16/1 Gerrard would be cut if Liverpool perform beyond expectations, but I have a feeling that this could be Barcelona’s year.

Fans may be ambitious in expecting their side to deliver a treble, but La Liga (1/20) looks sealed up. They are 7/2 favourites to win the Champions League – the best chance of the non-English clubs. If things get better for Thierry Henry, 50/1 for World Player of the Year could look like a huge price. His problem is the competition up front, such as 33/1 Eto’o.

bookies.com conveniently compares all football odds in one place – so make sure you always get the best available price!

Next Norwich Manager Betting

January Transfer Window Betting

Next Manager to Go Betting

Premier Leage Winner Betting

Man U host Chelsea on Sunday, in a match which could have a massive impact on the title race. The Red Devils are the favourites to win the Premier League at this stage, generally available at 11/8. Having traded at odds-on in November, Chelsea have drifted out to 9/4. I’m not interested in any of those prices, because of the low return and time period. Liverpool are 13/5, from a massive 8/1 before the season started.

Will it finally be Liverpool’s year? I expect them to win at Stoke (4/9) today, probably by a comfortable margin. If Chelsea lose at Old Trafford, the betting will get turned on its head. Liverpool ought to then be the 2nd favourites, whilst Man U could well go odds-on.

I reckon that Sunday’s clash will be a close encounter, which is supported by the prices. Both teams are odds-against, but the draw looks short at 9/4. The draw is a strong possibility, but I’d prefer taking 8/1 on a 0-0 scoreline, or 11/2 for the 1-1 which we successfully backed in the reverse fixture.

Man U have made a habit of winning regularly, despite not reaching top gear. 13/10 looks a bit short in a match that could go either way, but they do have the best current home form – 6 wins on the trot. Worryingly, they haven’t beaten another member of the Big 4 this season, although all of those fixtures have been away from home.

They scored a goal in all 3 of those matches, but 27/25 looks short in the Over 2.5 goals market. Chelsea must surely be the value bet in this match at 13/5, as they are unbeaten away from home. It would be fantastic if Phil Scolari started both Drogba and Anelka up front, who are both 8/1 to open the scoring.

However I’d like the draw on my side as well, which is why I’m recommending a small lay of Man U on Betfair. They are trading at 2.30 (5/4), so a Man U victory won’t break the bank.

Recommendation:

LAY Man U vs Chelsea @ 2.3 to win 3pts (Risk losing 3.9pts)

bookies.com is fantastic for comparing football odds between the UK bookmakers:

Man U v Chelsea Match Betting

Man U v Chelsea Over/Under 2.5 Goals Betting

Man U v Chelsea Asian Handicap Betting

Man U v Chelsea First Goalscorer Betting

Man U v Chelsea Correct Score Betting

Today’s Premier League action looks difficult from a punting point of view, as I think several matches could end up as draws. Punters are happy to smash into 4/5 Liverpool at Newcastle, because the home team have a number of injury problems. Beye, Viduka and Bassong will all be missing but the 9/2 home side have been on a good run of form recently. Newcastle are now out to 8/1 to be relegated, but won’t appreciate the returns of Mascherano and Torres.

Manchester City are looking to bid for Michael Owen, who is rated as £4-6 million even though his contract is running out at the end of the season. The 29 year old recently said that he wouldn’t leave this January, meaning that punters who took Hill’s generous 13/8 about him still being at Newcastle in February should be chuffed. Owen is best priced at 15/2 to open the scoring against his former club today with Sportingbet.

Other ‘bankers’ today are 2/5 Arsenal against Pompey and 8/13 Chelsea to continue their good away form at Fulham. Elsewhere, 11/10 Villa have been supported for their trip to Hull, and they are 66/1 to win the Premiership.

From a betting point of view, I’d be looking to avoid the clash between 13/8 Blackburn and 15/8 Manchester City. With question marks over both sides, the draw at 12/5 is probably the best bet. Everton v Sunderland also looks difficult, but 4/1 for Ricky Sbragia‘s side looks generous.

bookies.com is your best bet for comparing football odds between the top UK bookmakers:

Newcastle v Liverpool Match Betting

Newcastle v Liverpool First Goalscorer Betting

Arsenal v Portsmouth Match Betting

Fulham v Chelsea Match Betting

Blackburn v Man City Match Betting

Everton v Sunderland Match Betting

Next Manager to go Betting

Premier League Winner Betting

For my long-term weather forecasts, I like to use AccuWeather which offers 15 day forecasts. It hasn’t let me down in the past, and is forecasting a high of 7C without any precipitation on the 25th. Betfred offer odds of 1/16 that it doesn’t snow on Christmas Day in London.

Bet365 have also priced up a number of Scandinavian cities, including 11/2 Copenhagen, 11/4 Gothenburg, 9/2 Malmo, 11/10 Oslo and 2/1 Stockholm. Readers who live in other UK cities should find a market that’s tailored for them.

Snow in Manchester is a 6/1 chance, but it looks more likely in Glasgow, where it’s a 7/2 shot. Birmingham is also 6/1, Cardiff 11/2 and Belfast is priced at 5/1 with Irish bookmaker Boylesports.

As a great follower of the money myself, it is not encouraging to see the odds on a White Christmas lengthening with most bookies. Betting on the White Christmas is unlikely to make you rich this year, as early forecasts suggest that it’ll be a cloudy, if not wet UK Christmas.

Instead, I’d advocate having a bet in the King George which take place on Boxing Day. Kauto Star may be short at 6/4, but 10/1 Our Vic should at least run into the places.

Snow on Xmas Day in Birmingham
Snow on Xmas Day in Cardiff
Snow on Xmas Eve in Copenhagen
Snow in Dublin on Xmas Day
Snow on Xmas Day in Glasgow
Snow on Xmas Eve in Gothenburg
Snow on Xmas Day in London
Snow on Xmas Eve in Malmo
Snow on Xmas Day in Manchester
Snow on Xmas Eve in Oslo
Snow on Xmas Eve in Stockholm
Snow on Xmas Day in Belfast

Top Christmas Film Betting

Ladbrokes are the only firm with a market on the congestion charge, but could face a hefty pay out. They have reported that over 90% of bets have been on NO, which has recently been eased from 1/4 to 1/3. The YES vote has shortened to 9/4.

The votes are already in and we should know the result at mid-day. The YES campaign are hoping that the incentive of a £3billion boost to public transport should clinch the deal. Alex Ferguson has even lent his support, as he wants football fans to have a better matchday experience.

The voting looks pretty tight from early forecasts, so punters may feel that the YES vote could still have value, as yesterday’s 3/1 has disappeared.  William Hill offered 1/5 that Leeds and Bristol don’t introduce a congestion charge, but that could all change if Manchester’s scheme gets the nod today.

Manchester Congestion Charge Betting