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Cream expected to rise to the top in FA Cup

THERE have been plenty of FA Cup shocks this season but bookmakers are still expecting the big boys to play out the final at Wembley on May 30.

A showdown between Manchester United and Liverpool is the 5-2 favourite in Hills’s name the finalists betting, with a final between Arsenal and Liverpool next on the list at 11-4.

It’s 10-1 bar the two most likely outcomes as England’s elite dominate the outright market too. Liverpool are 2-1 favourites, United are 11-4 with Arsenal at 100-30 and next best come West Brom at 12-1.

Bet365 go 3-1 that a team from outside the Premier League reaches the final and a run for Bradford would be as remarkable as their League Cup final appearance of 2013.

The Bantams, who host Reading in the quarter-finals started the competition at 1,000-1 with Hills to lift the Cup and are now 33-1.

While both those Football League clubs will firmly believe a semi-final spot is within their grasp, Blackburn have it all to do at Anfield on Sunday.

Liverpool skipper Steven Gerrard has returned to training and needs to be assessed, while Mamadou Sakho is also closing in on a return to first-team action.

Rovers are without defenders Shane Duffy, Jason Lowe and Alex Baptiste, while Grant Hanley is also a major doubt. Josh King is also unlikely to feature.

Former Arsenal skipper Robin van Persie won’t be able to take on the Gunners on Monday as the Manchester United hitmam remains sidelined, although Michael Carrick could return for the Red Devils.

Arsenal are missing recent signing Gabriel because of a hamstring complaint and there are doubts over Nacho Monreal, Mathieu Flamini and Wojciech Szczesny.

Jack Wilshere, Mikel Arteta, Abou Diaby and Mathieu Debuchy  are ruled out for the Gunners.

All four FA Cup quarter-finals are being streamed by bet365.

Match in Focus

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Bradford v Notts Co

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