5 Outsiders to Win the FA Cup

Leicester City are the favourites to win the FA Cup away from the stereotypical big six and are priced at 18/1.

Brendan Rodgers’ side have had a great start to the Premier League season, earning 29 points from 16 games, seeing the Foxes compete for the Champions League qualification places for a second season running. Leicester have shown that they have got what it takes to compete with the very best results-wise this season, having beaten Manchester City 5-2, Tottenham 2-0 and Arsenal 1-0, as well as drawing 2-2 with Manchester United, these kind of results show that they have what it takes to compete in a competition like the FA Cup, especially due to the fact that they can mix up their game style, as away at the Etihad they showed that they are good at counter-attacking, whilst at Tottenham, they controlled the game well and limited Jose Mourinho’s side to very few chances.

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Nuno Espirito Santo’s Wolverhampton Wanderers come in at 20/1, having had a decent record in the FA Cup since they were promoted back to the Premier League in 2017.

Last season Wolves were knocked out by Manchester United in a third-round replay, but they did defeat Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side in the 2018/19 FA Cup as well as the likes of Liverpool as Wanderers went to the semi-finals where they were beaten by Watford 3-2 at Wembley.

Wolves have struggled of late without Mexican striker Raul Jimenez, due to the former Benfica man fracturing his skull in a collision with David Luiz in his side’s 2-1 win against Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium in late November. This could significantly hamper the Midlands side, however, if they sign someone alike Luka Jovic who has been heavily linked to Molineux to fill the void of Jimenez, then this will increase their chances of winning the FA Cup for the first time since 1960. Espirito Santo side’s style of play is in the ilk of that which suits a knockout competition, as Wolves tend to be very solid at the back, playing with five defenders, as well as being quick counter-attackers, as shown in their most recent win against Chelsea on 15th December, when Pedro Neto scored a stoppage-time winner.

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The FA Cup is the last trophy that Everton won, all the way back in 1995, following a 1-0 win against Manchester United at the old Wembley Stadium, with the Toffees looking to break their trophy duck.

Everton’s last appearance in an FA Cup final came against Chelsea in 2009 where they scored the quickest goal in the cup final’s history, with Louis Saha putting the Merseyside club ahead in 25 seconds before goals by Didier Drogba and Frank Lampard took the famous old cup back to Stamford Bridge.

If Everton are to stand a chance of winning the FA Cup then ideally, they must avoid tough away draws against the stereotypical big six in the competition, as their win away at Tottenham Hotspur on the opening day of the Premier League season was their first away win at a big six side in 41 attempts. Carlo Ancelotti is the ideal man to lead the Blues through the competition, having won it in 2010 with Chelsea, as well as the fact that the experienced Italian has excellent game management skills. With Everton coming into the new year in the top four of the Premier League having shown good attacking displays early on in the season, as well as some resilient defensive displays in recent wins against Chelsea, Leicester City, Arsenal and Sheffield United they have shown characteristics which are important if they are to beat their 20/1 odds to go on and win their first trophy since 1995.

Newly promoted Leeds United under the stewardship of Marco Bielsa are the next outsiders to win the FA Cup at 28/1.

Leeds’s style of play has been a fascinating watch this season, as they look to outscore their opposition with an aggressive style of play, regardless of who they come up against. Bielsa’s side averages the fourth-highest amount of possession in the Premier League with 57% of the ball, as well as averaging 15.1 shots per game which is less than half a shot per game less than the likes of Liverpool and Manchester City.

The Yorkshire side haven’t won the FA Cup since 1972, but are known for shocking teams in the competition, such as in 2010 when they beat Manchester United at Old Trafford 1-0 despite being a League One side at the time, and are not the type of side which you would fancy going a goal behind to, due to their relentless attacking displays, although the fact they do have the worst defence in the Premier League, conceding 30 times in 15 matches does mean that they are priced at 28/1. Click here to claim this bet in your bet slip!<br/>

Ralph Hasenhüttl’s Southampton are another team that will pose a threat to anyone who is looking to win the FA Cup.

Saints were last winners of the competition in 1976 against Manchester United thanks to a late Bobby Stokes winner, and their most recent appearance in the final was in 2003 at the Millennium Stadium where they were beaten 1-0 by Arsenal. Southampton have shown signs in recent years that they are capable in cup competitions, as in 2017 they managed to reach the EFL Cup Final, only losing to Manchester United via a late Zlatan Ibrahimovic goal at Wembley, as well as beating the likes of Liverpool on their way to the final.

This season Hassenhuttl’s side have the fourth-best defence in the Premier League, and are just four points off second-placed Leicester City with a game in hand, meaning that they are in contention for a European qualification place if they keep up their good form this campaign. Southampton are a match for anyone on their day, as they play high energy football and have made life awkward for every team that they have faced this season. The Saints are priced at 33/1 to win the FA Cup in May.