Right Said Fred: Talking Betting With BetFred Boss Fred Done

Who’s ready to do it all again? United and Liverpool go head-to-head in the fourth round of the FA Cup on Sunday, exactly a week after the Premier League goalless draw at Anfield.

This time it’s at Old Trafford, and I’m hoping, being a cup game and all, it will be a lot more exciting than what was, if we’re being honest, a pretty dull affair in Liverpool.

I’ve read a lot of different opinions about that game, and it’s evident there’s a percentage of fellow Reds who are disappointed with the result.

I understand, given we had the best chances and Liverpool were far from their brilliant best, that it felt like a bit of a missed opportunity, but I’ve followed this club for a long time and a point at Anfield has never been a bad result.

It’s worth remembering that they haven’t lost at home for well over three years, and our record there in recent times hasn’t been great.

I think, overall, that the draw was a fair result.

There were plenty of positives to take from the game, too – mainly the performance of Luke Shaw, who looks back to his best, and Harry Maguire, who actually I think has been quietly brilliant for weeks now.

I read in the aftermath of Anfield that we haven’t lost a league game since that defeat to Arsenal on November 1 – winning nine, and drawing three.

Those three draws came against Manchester City, Leicester, and Liverpool - no slouches.

For me, that’s yet another reminder of the progress we’re making under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, and why we have reason to be quietly confident at the minute.

We’re certainly not the finished article just yet, but it’s hard to be too disheartened when we’re top of the table – for now, as I’m writing this just ahead of our visit to Fulham on Wednesday evening.

If we do win on Wednesday, we will be top of the table at the halfway stage of the season, which I would have absolutely laughed off if I was told a couple of months ago.

Anyway - our attention switches quickly now to the rematch in the FA Cup on Sunday.

Betfred can’t split the two sides for this one, with United and Liverpool both 8/5 to win in normal time – while the draw is 5/2.

I hope that both teams field a strong side, as after all the FA Cup is a prestigious competition and a derby is a derby – and wouldn’t it be great to enjoy an entertaining game with some goals this time?