Liverpool have already reached one cup final at the expense of a Manchester club this week and on Saturday they bid to advance in the FA Cup when they host Manchester United in the pick of the fourth round ties.

Liverpool's 2-2 draw with Manchester City in the second leg of the Carling Cup semi final at Anfield on Wednesday was enough to book a first Wembley final date in 16 years. The 3-2 aggregate win over City means Liverpool will face Cardiff in the final and quotes of 1/6 for Liverpool to lift that trophy are already being chalked up. Ironically Liverpool won the FA Cup in 2006 in Cardiff when Wembley was being re-built. Back to the present day and attention now switches to the FA Cup fourth round where this time its the red half of Manchester which provides the opposition.

The FA Cup draw has once again made life difficult for United. In the third round they were paired with City and they came through with a 3-2 win at The Etihad Stadium. It was hard work in the end considering United were 3-0 up at one stage and City played the vast majority of the game with ten men. United have won both of their Premier League games since then, 3-0 at home to Bolton and more recently 2-1 at Arsenal. They remain in second spot on the log but they are all of 16 points better off than seventh placed Liverpool. You have to go back to 2004 for the last time United won this trophy and they were runners up in 2005 and 2007. As well as the title race, the Europa League is the other competition United are involved in and they will meet with Ajax in mid February, just after Liverpool go to Old Trafford in the Premier League.

Liverpool remain unbeaten at Anfield this season although seven of eleven Premier League matches here have been drawn and just four won. One of those draws came against United when the sides met in October. The game finished 1-1 with Liverpool taking the lead (Gerrard) on 69 minutes and United equalising nine minutes from time through Hernandez. These teams met in the FA Cup third round at Old Trafford last season with United edging it 1-0, Gerrard was sent off on the half hour mark. Liverpool put Oldham away 5-1 in the third round of this competition so after the midweek thriller with City you can say cup games at Anfield have been far more entertaining then some of the league action. Only three of 11 league games at Anfield have delivered three goals or more although both sides have scored in eight of those games.

The Betting - Match Result

Liverpool 16/10 Ladbrokes, Sportsbet, BetXchange

Draw 24/10 BetXchange

Man United 18/10 World Sports Betting, BetXchange

Selected Others

Under 2.5 goals 17/20 Voltbet

Over 2.5 goals even money Sportingbet, World Sports Betting

Both teams to score (yes) 15/20 BetXchange

Liverpool Draw no Bet 0.85 Sportsbet

Man United Draw no Bet 11/10 BetXchange

Odds are correct at the time of publication but are subject to change. Some bookmakers may not have priced up on all markets at the time of publication. Remember you can bet in play where available.

The Verdict

This is always a potentially explosive encounter and even more so now after the Suarez / Evra saga from the first meeting. United have plenty of injury concerns in defence and watch the media for news of Jones and Ferdinand's participation. Liverpool are still without Suarez but otherwise buzzing after reaching one cup final already this week. The draw no bet option comes into play whoever you fancy but I'll go for a Liverpool outright win here.

Bet: Liverpool 16/10 Ladbrokes, Sportsbet, BetXchange

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