Merseyside semi-final 5-2 to see a red card
IT was once tagged as the friendly derby but there has been nothing pleasant about recent matches between Merseyside rivals Liverpool and Everton and referee Howard Webb could be in for a difficult match in Saturday’s FA Cup semi-final at Wembley.
There has been at least one red card in eight of the last 17 meetings between the teams, including five of the last seven, and World Cup final referee Webb is 5-2 with Boylesports not to finish the tie with 22 men.
Webb started the campaign with four dismissals in eight games but he has dished out just one red card in his last 34 matches at club and international level.
It’s 4-1 with Hills that the two FA Cup semis – Tottenham face Chelsea at Wembley on Sunday – witness at least two red cards, while the London derby is 11-8 favourite to produce more goals than the all-Mersey affair.
Bet365 have set total goals for the two semis at over/under 5.5 and history would suggest the 8-13 about five or fewer goals is the way to go. Seven of the last ten years wouldhave seen under 5.5-goal backers collect on semi-final weekend.
Tottenham are favourites with BetVictor to score the most goals over the weekend at 23-10 and Paddy Power make it 4-6 that a London side celebrate winning the trophy witha Merseyside club 11-10 to lift the cup.
Liverpool are expected by bookmakers to edge Saturday’s semi-final but Ladbrokes have Kenny Dalglish at 1-2 to leave his position before opposite number David Moyes, who can be backedat 6-4.
Moyes will target third-choice Liverpool keeper Brad Jones, who is 20-1 with Boylesports to save a penalty in 90 minutes, and Ladbrokes rate the Australian 2-1 to keep a clean sheet.
