English football’s traditional showpiece event may not have the same appeal these days, but the FA Cup final between Chelsea and Liverpool should be a thriller when both sides clash at Wembley tomorrow, Saturday, May 14. Then on Sunday (May 15), AC Milan could wrap up the Serie A title if they can beat Atalanta at the San Siro in a much-anticipated clash.

Event # 1 – FA Cup final, Chelsea vs Liverpool

Not for the first time this season, Chelsea and Liverpool renew hostilities at Wembley Stadium with a trophy on the line, this time doing battle in the final of the 141st FA Cup final. For Chelsea, the FA Cup represents the only piece of domestic silverware left to fight for this season. Liverpool have collected one trophy already this season, defeating Chelsea to lift the League Cup and are still in with a slim chance of winning an unprecedented quadruple, but with Manchester City winning their games and having the luxury to lose one game, it appears as if winning the quadruple will remain but a dream for Liverpool.

Chelsea started the season in great form having won the Club World Cup and looked set to challenge Man City and Liverpool for the league title, but inconsistency and boardroom issues have seen them being blown out of the title race since December. However, they enter this final off the back of a 3-0 beating of Leeds United, making it two wins from their last five overall matches to wrap up a top-four finish, ensuring European football next season. Liverpool know their chances of winning the Premier League title is out of their hands, but the EFL Cup has already been placed in their trophy cabinet, a journey to Paris for another Champions League final with Real Madrid awaits, and now the Red’s, Liverpool are potentially 90 minutes away from ending a 16-year drought in the FA Cup. Indeed, not since the infamous Steven Gerrard slip in 2006 have Liverpool got their hands on the FA Cup — beating West Ham on penalties that year, and they will bring a 15-game unbeaten run in all competitions into the final since that inconsequential Champions League loss to Inter Milan.

KEY STATS

• Chelsea – are the first side to qualify for three consecutive FA Cup finals since Arsenal between 2000-01 and 2002-03. However, after losing in both 2019-20 (v Arsenal) and 2020-21 (v Leicester), they are looking to avoid becoming the first side since Newcastle in 1998-99 to lose three final appearances in a row.

• Liverpool – Sadio Mane has scored six goals against Chelsea since moving to Liverpool in 2016-17, with no other player netting more often vs Chelsea in this time. Following the Senegalese’s brace in the semi-final against Man City, he is looking to become the first Liverpool player to score in consecutive Wembley appearances (when used as a neutral venue) since Phillipe Coutinho in April 2015 & February 2016.

• Both sides – for only the second time, the same two sides (Chelsea and Liverpool) will contest both the League Cup and FA Cup final in the same campaign. The previous occasion was 1992-93, when Arsenal beat Sheffield Wednesday in both final. With this match a repeat of the 2021-22 League Cup final, Liverpool will look to win both of England’s domestic cup competitions in the same season for the first time since 2000-01, while the last team to lose both the League and FA Cup final in the same campaign were Middlesbrough in 1996-97.

The betting tip. Liverpool win.

Event # 2 ITA – AC Milan vs Atalanta

AC Milan could win the Serie A this weekend when they host Atalanta at the San Siro on Sunday. Milan currently sit atop the standing by two points over city rivals Inter Milan and have a glorious opportunity to lift the title they haven’t won in over a decade.

AC Milan enter this clash in excellent form having gone unbeaten in the league since January, they are coming off an impressive 3-1 away win over Verona in their last game on Monday. With that said, a win for AC Milan and a loss for Inter Milan against Cagliari would see AC Milan clinch their first title since 2011 —they are unbeaten in their last seven home league games winning three of the last four. Worryingly for Milan is the fact that they haven’t got the best of records against Atalanta, as they have not beaten Atalanta in none of their last seven home games.

Atalanta need points from this match if they want to play European football next season. They are currently eighth in the table, level on points with Roma and Fiorentina, respectively, and must secure a result against Milan to have any hope of a top six finish. However, it’s head-to-head results and not goal difference that counts in Serie A and Atalanta lose out in that regard to both these teams. With their excellent record against Milan, Atalanta will enter the match unbeaten in their last four league matches, though two of those were draws, they have won both of their last two away matches but those wins came against sides in the bottom five.

KEY STATS

• AC Milan – could finish a Serie A season with more than 80 points for the first time since 2010-11, when they last won the league title.

• Atalanta – are unbeaten in their last seven away Serie A games against AC Milan (W3 D4), keeping a clean sheet five times. AC Milan’s last home win against Atalanta was back in January 2014, a 3-0 victory under Massimiliano Allegri.

• Both sides – AC Milan have won their last two Serie A meetings against Atalanta, after winning only once in their previous 11 (D6 L4); the last time that AC Milan won three consecutive games against Atalanta in the top-flight under the same manager was between 1993 and 1996 under Fabio Capello.

The betting tip. Draw.

JUSTBET ODDS – Chelsea vs Liverpool, Saturday, May 14, 2022

PredictionOdds on PredictionOdds Calculation

CHELSEA TO WIN$3.40which means a $1000 bet would pay $3,400

LIVERPOOL TO WIN$2.00which means a $1000 bet would pay $2,000

MATCH TO DRAW$3.40which means a $1000 bet would pay $3,400

Odds on the Home Team (Chelsea) winning the game 2-0 at full time$19.00which means that a $1,000 bet would pay $19,000

Odds on the Away Team (L/pool) winning the game 1-2 at full time$9.00which means that a $1,000 bet would pay $9,000

Odds on the game drawing 1-1 at full time$6.50which means that a $1,000 bet would pay $6,500.

JUSTBET ODDS – AC Milan vs Atalanta, Sunday, May 15, 2022

PredictionOdds on PredictionOdds Calculation

AC MILAN TO WIN$1.74which means a $1000 bet would pay $1,740

ATALANTA TO WIN$4.25which means a $1000 bet would pay $4,250

MATCH TO DRAW$4.25which means a $1000 bet would pay $4,250

Odds on the Home Team (Milan) winning the game 3-2 at full time$20.00which means that a $1,000 bet would pay $20,000

Odds on the Away Team (Atalanta) winning the game 1-2 at full time$14.00which means that a $1,000 bet would pay $14,000

Odds on the game drawing 2-2 at full time$12.00which means that a $1,000 bet would pay $12,000.