Weekend FA Cup preview - Money back if Gerrard scores at any time

THE MAGIC of the FA Cup is alive and well for football punters according to Ladbrokes.

The bookies are geared up for another record-breaking weekend of Cup turnover with the Liverpool - Manchester United fixture set to generate at least a million pounds worth of bets alone.

One punter will be hoping the Manchester side can do the business after backing them to lift the FA Cup to the tune of £10,000 while the firm report steady support from loyal backers at this stage last time, in anticipation of a win against rivals City in the third round. As a result, United are by far the worst result in the outright book with Sunderland and Newcastle also significant losers at this stage.

The key money back offer of the weekend centres around the choice tie, with losing first goal bets refunded if Steven Gerrard scores at any time against Manchester United.

Of the minnows still in the competition Swindon are the subject of the most inspired money. Crawley Town (to beat Hull) and Brighton (to beat Newcastle) are looking like shaping up as the division-defying gambles of the weekend with money also about for QPR at 5/1 in the West London derby.

Despite some predicting the fall of the Premier League sides the firm still expect exactly nine to progress at evens. It's 66/1 that only six make it through and 3/1 that five ties are settled by a replay.

Alex Donohue of Ladbrokes said: "Punters clearly can't get enough of the Cup - especially when the draw throws up the juicy ties. We expect trade to be particularly brisk across the card with plenty of money around for the upsets as is often the case."

He added: "We've laid Manchester United for bundles. Punters seem to be convinced they've got enough in the locker to do it the hard way."

Ladbrokes latest betting

Weekend specials

Number of Premier League teams to qualify for FA Cup 5th Round

• Exactly 6 66/1
• Exactly 7 12/1
• Exactly 8 5/2
• Exactly 9 Evens
• Exactly 10 9/4

Number of FA Cup 4th Round Ties to go to a Replay

• None 66/1
• Exactly 1 16/1
• Exactly 2 6/1
• Exactly 3 7/2
• Exactly 4 11/4
• Exactly 5 3/1
• Exactly 6 11/2
• Exactly 7 10/1
• Exactly 8 25/1
• 9 or more 40/1

FA Cup winner

• Chelsea 9/2
• Manchester Utd 5/1
• Tottenham 5/1
• Arsenal 7/1
• Liverpool 7/1
• Everton 20/1
• Newcastle20/1
• Sunderland 20/1
• Stoke 25/1
• Fulham 25/1
• Aston Villa 40/1
• Bolton 40/1
• West Brom 40/1
• Norwich 50/1
• Q.P.R 50/1

Friday matches

• Watford 6/1
• Draw 10/3
• Tottenham 4/9

• Everton Evens
• Draw 23/10
• Fulham 14/5