FA Cup predictions: Crystal Palace can beat Everton to semi-final spot

If somebody shows you who they are then believe them.

It's been a long time since Manchester United were the dominant force in English football but after every defeat there is a root-and-branch investigation from their heavy contingent of former players on TV.

The general conclusion is that United are miles off where they used to be and yet it seems there is a serious dose of amnesia sweeping around the studio because by the time the Red Devils have been beaten again the same people who were saying how inept the team were just a few days earlier are then surprised and angered by the next performance, which is generally not much worse or better than the one before.

United lost a tight game to Atletico Madrid on Tuesday but it was interesting what Gary Neville tweeted the day afterwards: "No surprise last night. Any decent team, with organisation and fight are likely to beat this United team. It’s why I couldn’t get excited after Spurs last Saturday because that Spurs performance will get you beat versus a good team."

Working out where teams are ranked in different leagues is never easy but the betting markets are usually a good guide and I spoke to Betfair/Paddy Power trader Jason Murphy regarding Spurs and Atletico as to whether the Spanish side were vastly superior to the team United had beaten only days earlier.

Murphy said: "Spurs were rated slightly better than United last week when you remove home advantage but United had players missing including Bruno Fernandes. The closing prices for United v Atletico shows they are rated pretty similar and that's in line with my views."

United gave two similar performances against two similar teams and the result was just different. That's football.

Meanwhile, in the aftermath of Ajax's surprise Champions League exit to Benfica there was a discussion from pundits on whether the result meant supposed United target Erik ten Hag was the right manager to take over at Old Trafford.

It goes without saying that judging any manager on the basis of one result is absurd but it has been that kind of short-term thinking which has sent United on the path to averageville.

Those who believe you are only as good as your last result won't be rating Pep Guardiola following Monday's 0-0 draw at Crystal Palace, a stalemate which has further encouraged Liverpool in the Premier League title race.

That battle can be put to one side for now with the FA Cup taking centre stage for both those sides and England's other Champions League entrants Chelsea.

Although all three are playing away it would be a real surprise if they failed to make the Wembley semi-finals, while Palace look worth backing to join them by beating Everton at Selhurst Park on Sunday.

Everton earned a massive three points in their battle to avoid the drop on Thursday with a 1-0 win over Newcastle despite Allan's red card. However Palace have been superior in virtually every department this season and odds-against quotes look generous.

Best bet

Crystal Palace
12.30pm Sunday
1pt 11-10 Coral, Ladbrokes

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