Manchester City are still favourites to lift the trophy after being drawn at home to the Blues and punters should jump at the chance to back Jose Mourinho’s men as underdogs

There were plenty of gasps when the balls were drawn for the last 16 of the FA Cup, pairing heavyweights with heavyweights to blow the competition wide open.

Manchester City saw their odds drop to 10/3 (4.33) after being drawn at home to Chelsea, although Manuel Pellegrini’s men are still favourites to go all the way after so narrowly missing out in the final last season.

However, having recently become the first Premier League team to take anything away from the Etihad this season with their 1-0 win, the Blues will have nothing to fear when they revisit the ground less than a fortnight later, particularly given their strong FA Cup record.

Jose Mourinho was the first manager to lift the trophy at the new Wembley back in 2007 and offers excellent value at 11/2 (6.50) to bring the cup back to Stamford Bridge for the fourth time in six seasons, with those odds sure to tumble dramatically should they get past City.

Arsenal’s excitement at seeing two of the favourites paired together was short-lived after they drew Liverpool, although Arsene Wenger’s team are still priced behind only Manchester City at 9/2 (5.50) to end their trophy drought by reclaiming the FA Cup eight years after their previous triumph.

Having won just one of their last 16 away matches against the Gunners, that draw has seen Brendan Rodgers’ men drop to 8/1 (9.00) to win the competition for the eighth time in their illustrious history.

All of this is good news for Merseyside neighbours Everton, where manager Roberto Martinez is on offer at 5/1 (6.00) to collect the trophy he won with Wigan last season after a comparatively kind draw sees them take on currently managerless Swansea City 33/1 (34.00).

Capital One Cup finalists Sunderland are available at 25/1 (26.00) to come out on top in another all Premier League tie against Southampton 12/1 (13.00) and emerge victorious in a second trip to Wembley this season.

Holders Wigan are 100/1 (101.00) outsiders to retain their trophy after being drawn away to Cardiff 25/1 (26.00), whose fellow Premier League outfit Hull are on offer at 33/1 (34.00) after a tricky away draw at Championship Brighton 50/1 (51.00).

After their shock win over Fulham, League One Sheffield United are available at 200/1 (201.00) to make it past Nottingham Forest 66/1 (67.00) and go all the way, while neighbours Sheffield Wednesday are rated at 100/1 (101.00) after being drawn against Charlton 200/1 (201.00).

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Al Hain-Cole is an experienced tipster and avid follower of European football. He specialises in accumulators and if you would like to read more from Al you can follow him on Twitter here.

Brendan Rodgers’s side welcoming the Gunners to Anfield and our tipster is backing the Reds’ star striker to net any time

Top of the table Arsenal travel to Merseyside this weekend looking to increase their lead at the top of the Premier League before Chelsea and Manchester City play.

Brendan Rodgers’s side are currently unbeaten in their last seven matches, winning five of those games.

Liverpool haven’t beaten Arsenal in the league at home since 2007, but a victory on Saturday will see them cut the gap between the sides to just five points. Paddy Power price them at 11/10 (2.10) – or new account users can grab them at 5/2 (3.50) to take all three points.

Arsenal are currently on a fantastic run of form, winning eight of their last nine matches. Arsene Wenger’s side are still the side to catch in the league, with a solid 2-0 win against Crystal Palace on Sunday securing their spot at the top.

Despite not spending money in the transfer window, many are still tipping the Gunners to be there or thereabouts come the end of the campaign. Paddy Power price them at 12/5 (3.40) – or 11/2 (6.50) for new punters – to win the match. The same firm price the draw at 5/2 (3.50).

With both sides in sensational goalscoring form, you’d expect goals at either end in this encounter. However, the odds of 1/2 (1.50) are far too short to back. The same can be said for over 2.5 goals at 4/7 (1.57) .

With the outright result also tough to call with both sides in fine form, it’s worth looking at the goalscorer market to find a bet that stands out. Since returning from his suspension, Luis Suarez has played in nine league matches at Anfield. The Uruguayan has netted 16 goals in those games, only failing to score in one of the matches. The price of 10/11 (1.91) for him to net any time seems like a fantastic price.

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Arsenal got the better of the Merseyside club at the Emirates Stadium earlier this season but the left-back is keen to start a difficult run of fixtures with a defining victory

Kieran Gibbs is eager for Arsenal to send their Premier League title rivals a message against Liverpool on Saturday.

The Gunners got the better of Brendan Rodgers’s side at the Emirates Stadium in a 2-0 win in October thanks to goals from Santi Cazorla and Aaron Ramsey.

But the left-back believes that victory at Anfield would be a statement of authority for the league leaders.

“I think it would make a big statement if we won there – just like it did when we played Liverpool at home,” Gibbs told the Daily Mirror.

“Before that game, we had not played any big games and, although we were sitting at the top of the league, people were saying: ‘There’s a big game coming now, that will put it into perspective.’

“It will be like that again because we have got a lot of big games coming up so it will be another test. As the weeks go on, we are just going to be put under a bigger and bigger test.

“It is not often you get to play Manchester United, Liverpool and Bayern Munich, twice, in less than two weeks so it will be great to be a part of it – playing against the best teams in the world.

“Everyone enjoys the big games and this is just another big game to show what we can go and do.”

Arsenal go into Saturday’s clash two points clear of Manchester City and Chelsea but face a league game against Manchester United before hosting the Merseyside club in the FA Cup and taking on Bayern in February.