Betting tips / Paul Bugeja / 05 May 2012 / Leave a comment Bet Now View Market

Going by the Opta Stats, Chelsea's FA Cup record makes them the likely winner in this weekend's FA Cup final.

Chelsea have only lost one of their last 33 FA Cup matches (excluding penalty shootout defeats)
And with the exception of shootouts, Chelsea are unbeaten in 22 FA Cup games, a record only bettered by Blackburn Rovers over a century ago. In addition, the Blues have won five of their last six FA Cup final appearances, including each of the last three. Meanwhile, the omens are not nearly as good for Liverpool. On the three previous occasions Liverpool had beaten Everton in an FA Cup semi-final, they went on to lose the final. And the cup double is a rare feat, with only three sides having ever managed to win both, namely Arsenal in 92/93, Liverpool in 00/01 and Chelsea in 06/07.

In only one of the last six clashes between these two teams have both sides managed to get on the scoresheet
Chelsea have already kept three clean sheets in this season's tournament, and only once in their last 29 FA Cup games have they conceded more than once in a tie, boasting 12 shutouts in that period. What's more, the Blues have prevented the opposition from scoring in four of their previous six FA cup final appearances. Liverpool, however, conceded three against West Ham in 2006, and have kept just one clean sheet in the last eight finals they have contested in this competition. Chelsea can currently be backed at 4.0 to win to nil.

Excluding the Community Shield, Didier Drogba has scored in all seven of his matches at Wembley
And more to the point, Chelsea have won all but one of those clashes, three of which were FA Cup finals. Drogba might have only netted 11 times for the Blues this term, but his goal against Barcelona was a timely reminder of his penchant for scoring when it matters most. Moreover, he's not the only cup specialist in Roberto Di Matteo's ranks. Since the start of the 2006/07 competition, Frank Lampard has scored more goals than any other player in the FA Cup proper (19). Lampard will be available at around 4.7 to add to his impressive tally on Saturday.

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