FA Cup 2020: who will lift the trophy? Betting preview, free tips and analysis

Free football tips and tournament predictions for the FA Cup.

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Leicester
2pts each-way 14-1 BoyleSports
Back this tip with William Hill

Brighton
1pt each-way 66-1 general
Back this tip with Coral

Tournament preview

Leicester have competed impressively on two fronts this season – establishing themselves in the Premier League's top four and reaching the EFL Cup semi-finals – and they may still have the capacity to mount a challenge for FA Cup glory.

The Foxes upset the established order of the Premier League big six by winning the title as 5,000-1 shots in 2015-16 and they have returned to prominence under Brendan Rodgers.

But the markets have not fully caught up and Leicester look overpriced to win the FA Cup for the first time.

Rodgers has tapped into a high-quality squad who are very different to the group who won the title under Claudio Ranieri.

Of the regulars in the history-making team only two players – goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel and striker Jamie Vardy – are key performers in Rodgers' side.

But Leicester are arguably a better team than they were four years ago and their manager does not want to put a limit on their ambition.

He consistently selected strong teams in the EFL Cup and has been rewarded with the Foxes just one step from a Wembley final.

They are warm favourites to overcome Aston Villa in their semi-final but that doesn't mean they will disregard the FA Cup.

Rodgers is used to competing on a variety on fronts and has a taste for winning trophies.

In less than three full seasons with Celtic he won two Ladbrokes Premiership titles, two William Hill Scottish Cups and three Betfred League Cups.

Winning trophies south of the border is more difficult, but Rodgers has a squad capable of competing with the elite and they are capable of embarking on a long run in the FA Cup, starting with a third-round tie at home to Wigan.

Holders Manchester City are favourites to retain the trophy and have a strong chance of succeeding due to the depth and quality of their squad.

However, they look a short enough price bearing in mind they failed to reach any of the five finals between 2014 and 2018.

Top-level European competitions are the priority for the biggest clubs and City's quest for Champions League glory could have an impact on their FA Cup hopes.

The Citizens' last-16 second leg at home to Real Madrid takes place in the same week as the FA Cup quarter-finals.

And if they advance in Europe they would have to play a quarter-final second leg in the same week as the FA Cup semi-finals.

Even for a club of City's resources, it looks a tough schedule and one which diminishes their chances of keeping the trophy.

Champions League involvement could also hamper the challenges of Liverpool, Chelsea and Tottenham.

The runaway league leaders have grown accustomed to targeting the biggest competitions and their FA Cup results have suffered.

They have not got past the fourth round in the last four seasons and another early exit is possible when they host derby rivals Everton in the third round.

An early departure is less likely for Chelsea, who have been drawn at home to Nottingham Forest.

The Blues have contested two of the last three FA Cup finals, finishing runners-up in 2017 and lifting the trophy in 2018. And their manager, Frank Lampard, has an affinity for the competition, having won it as a player in 2007, 2009, 2010 and 2012.

However, Lampard and his club are not insulated from the financial realities of modern football which demand that greater priority is given to Premier League and Champions League games.

Chelsea's Champions League last tie against Bayern Munich will be a priority and the second leg in Bavaria takes place the Wednesday before quarter-final weekend.

The dates for Tottenham's Champions League tie against RB Leipzig have fallen more kindly.

Jose Mourinho is renowned for winning trophies and would love to pick up a pot in his first season with Spurs.

They have a decent chance but are priced up accordingly and fail to appeal as third favourites in the betting.

It is hard to have a strong fancy for Wolves or Manchester United because one of them will be out after their third-round clash at Molineux.

And Arsenal are also at risk of an early exit when they take on dangerous Sky Bet highflyers Leeds at the Emirates.

Five of the last seven finals have featured a team who finished in the bottom half of the Premier League, so there is scope for one of the less established clubs to go well at a big price.

Watford reached the final last term and it could be Brighton's turn to reach the showpiece in 2020.

The Seagulls have had some difficult times since reaching the final in 1983 (drawing 2-2 with Manchester United before losing the replay 4-0) but are on the up under progressive manager Graham Potter.

Their top priority will be Premier League points but, if they can come through a tricky third-round tie at home to Sheffield Wednesday, they may grow into the competition.

Brighton have shown they can beat big clubs, posting league wins at home to Tottenham (3-0) and away to Arsenal (2-1), and look each-way value at a big price.

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