FA Cup Soccer Picks: Norwich City vs. Manchester United DraftKings DFS Showdown Picks, Betting Predictions and Analysis

Norwich City can take their minds off the relegation battle they find themselves in with an FA Cup tie with Manchester United at Carrow Road. Form would suggest this should be a comfortable away win, but Daniel Farke’s team selection for the home league game with Everton on Wednesday suggests his mind was already on this cup tie. United is still alive in the Europa League and victory in this competition would ease some of the pressure on Red Devils manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer from some section of the supporters.

DraftKings is offering multiple ways for soccer fans to cash in on the game, including a Counter Attack showdown with a $50,000 prize tool that pays out $10K to the winner. Set your lineups here: FA CUP Showdown $50K Counter Attack [$10K to 1st] (NOR vs MU).

Soccer fans can also get in on the action by downloading the DK Sportsbook app or heading over to the DraftKings Sportsbook website.

In this article, I will highlight the players that I think are worth picking for the Showdown contest, as well as looking at some of the bets offered on DraftKings Sportsbook. For the full list of available bets, download the DraftKings Sportsbook app or check out the DraftKings Sportsbook website.

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Manchester United’s squad strength proves too strong for Norwich

The form of these two sides suggests the visitors should advance to the quarterfinals of the FA Cup with the minimum of fuss. United, who is expected to rotate the squad for this game, is unbeaten in its last 13 league and cup games since losing 2-0 at home to Burnley in the EPL on Jan. 22. Norwich, who was beaten 3-1 by United in the league fixture at Carrow Road at the end of October, has lost its past three league games since knocking Tottenham Hotspur out of the FA Cup in the previous round. It could and should have been a bigger margin of victory for United, who missed two first-half penalties. Norwich has failed to score in six of its past seven league games, including the past three. United has won the FA Cup 12 times and could draw level with Arsenal at 13 if it goes on and wins the cup this year. Both meetings this season have seen exactly four match goals scored and over 3.5 goals (+210) could be in the cards if either side can score an early goal. Because of Norwich’s failings in front of goal, both teams to score has not paid out in their past seven league games. Both teams to score (+107) has landed in United’s past two away games in the EPL. If Norwich does win this game, it will be a major surprise.

Prediction: Over 3.5 total goals (+210)

Norwich players to consider for DraftKings DFS

When Teemu Pukki ($6,400) was scoring goals, Norwich had a chance of winning some of the games it was playing. However, since Pukki’s goal scoring has dried up – he hasn’t scored a goal from open play in his past 14 games – there is a feeling that if he doesn’t score, nobody will. A goal or two in this game could kickstart Pukki’s season and he could carry that form into the remaining league games in what is becoming a losing battle to stay in the Premier League. Pukki’s lack of goals is not just down to him. It’s down to the inability of his teammates to create clear-cut chances for the Finland international to feast upon. Despite his lack of goals, Pukki is good value in this game.

Emiliano Buendia ($9,400) is a more expensive option, but he was a busy player for City in its cup win over Spurs when he had four shots in the tie that was eventually decided by a penalty shootout. Norwich goalkeeper Tim Krul ($4,400) is a man for the big occasion. With plenty of experience, including World Cup shootout success for the Netherlands, he would love to produce one of his best performances of the season against United. Jamal Lewis ($4,200) is the last player other than Pukki to score a league goal for Norwich since Jan. 1. Josip Drmic ($5,800) is looking to score in his third successive FA Cup tie having found the net against Burnley and Tottenham.

Prediction: Pukki to be an anytime scorer (+255)

United players to consider for DraftKings DFS

United travels to Carrow Road with their confidence sky high following a 3-0 win over Sheffield United on Wednesday at Old Trafford. The sStar of the show was Anthony Martial ($10,600), who became the first United player to score a hat-trick for the Red Devils since Robin Van Persie in 2013. Martial’s value has risen as you would expect and he will be hoping to carry on scoring against the team he scored on in both league games already this season. Instead of the two goals he has scored against the Canaries, he should have three after he missed a penalty in United’s 3-1 win at Norwich.

Marcus Rashford ($10,200) was the other player to miss from the spot that day, but he has three goals already to his name against their opponents this season. This could be the perfect game for Rashford to rediscover his goalscoring form if he is picked. He has yet to find the back of the net since he returned from a back injury. He had two assists against Sheffield United on Wednesday but after a lengthy injury lay-off, Rashford might sit this one out which could give Odion Ighalo ($9,800) another chance to shine. Ighalo scored twice in a 3-0 win over Derby in the last round to set up this clash.

Goalkeeper Sergio Romero ($7,200) could replace David De Gea as goalkeeper, as he has done for the majority of cup ties this season and Romero has yet to concede a goal in four matches in this competition. Eric Bailly (3,600) could be the sleeper pick in this game. He didn’t feature against Sheffield United on Wednesday, perhaps with the view of keeping him fresh for this fixture, while Nemanja Matic ($4,000) is capable of scoring crucial goals like his one and only goal this season, which came in a 1-0 win over Manchester City in the League Cup.

Prediction: Ighalo to be anytime scorer (+128)

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I am a promoter at DraftKings and am also an avid fan and user (my username is CharliePMullan) and may sometimes play on my personal account in the games that I offer advice on. Although I have expressed my personal view on the games and strategies above, they do not necessarily reflect the view(s) of DraftKings and I may also deploy different players and strategies than what I recommend above. I am not an employee of DraftKings and do not have access to any non-public information.

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