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Reds bid to keep season alive

Author: John Harris
Date: 13/01/2010
Football betting

Even though Liverpool have endured a dismal season so far they should have more than enough quality to win through to the last 16 of the FA Cup by the end of this month.

Rafa Benitez's side face Championship strugglers Reading in an FA Cup third round replay at Anfield and know that they will have a home clash with Burnley in the fourth round to look forward to if they win on Wednesday.

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Given that the Clarets have a dreadful record away from Turf Moor this season and as they are still reeling from Owen Coyle's shock decision to leave the club to take up the managerial role at Bolton Wanderers, even a below-par Reds side should have little trouble progressing to the fifth round.

Liverpool, currently the third sportsbook favourites to win the FA Cup, produced a very poor display at the Madejski Stadium but since then Manchester United have crashed out of the competition while Benitez has managed to offload Andriy Voronin and Andrea Dossena.

Liverpool's Premier League clash against Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday was a victim of the freezing conditions that enveloped the country while Reading's home game with Newcastle United 24 hours earlier was also postponed.

Four of the Royals' five Championship victories so far this season have come away from home but they remain just one place above the relegation zone and in danger of slipping into League One just two years after being a Premier League team.

In the evening's other replay, Plymouth Argyle face the prospect of making the massive trip to Newcastle United on what is likely to be one of the coldest days of the year.

In the initial game between the two teams at Home Park, only fine late saves by Pilgrims goalkeeper Romain Larrieu from Andy Carroll and Nicky Butt ensured the match ended goalless and preserved their upturn in form since Paul Mariner replaced Paul Sturrock as manager.

Mariner has presided over victories against Cardiff City and Reading to raise hopes that the club may be able to cling on to their Championship status for another season.

Newcastle's priority this season is to make an immediate return to the Premier League and they are unbeaten in their last 12 matches in all competitions to build up a five-point lead at the top of the table.

They have not lost any of their 12 Championship games at St James' Park this term and cruised to a 3-1 victory against Argyle in September when Steven Taylor, Kevin Nolan and Carroll were all on the scoresheet.

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