Football focus

Verdict: FULHAM GARNER THE PLAUDITS

Liverpool v Portsmouth

4.05pm Sunday, Anfield - live on Sky Sports 1

Referee: Mark Halsey (Bolton) Facts: Portsmouth lost 4-0 on their last visit to Anfield in 1987 with the Liverpool goals coming from Beardsley, McMahon, Aldridge and Whelan. Steven Gerrard scored in successive matches for Liverpool for the first time with his goal against Manchester City on Wednesday Standout bet: Steven Gerrard to score at anytime: 4-1 (Stan James)

Portsmouth's players must have the happiest marriages in the Premiership, given how poor they are at playing away. Nine defeats and no wins for Harry and Jim's travelling circus qualify them as the UK's least successful road show since the Michael Barrymore comeback tour. Anfield may not be the fortress of old, but with a captain like Gerrard, Liverpool will only need light infantry to progress.

Verdict: REDS STRIKE IT LUCKY

Millwall v Burnley

3pm tomorrow, The Den

Tickets: £16-£22 (£5-£12 concs). Millwall's ticket office will be open until 7pm tonight and from 9.30am tomorrow. Supporters buying tickets tomorrow are advised to arrive early to avoid congestion Referee: Howard Webb (Rotherham) Facts: Burnley have won four and drawn five of their past nine games against Millwall. Robbie Blake has scored 17 goals for Burnley this season, including two in the last round of the FA Cup. Goalkeeper Willy Gueret has kept 10 clean sheets in 15 starts for Millwall Standout bet: Danny Dichio to score the first goal: 9-2 (Coral)

Daniele Dichio sounds like an upmarket hairdresser, and he has certainly made the cut at Millwall. After scoring five goals in three league games while on loan from West Brom, his move has been made permanent this week. Dichio seems the answer to Dennis Wise's striker shortage, it's just a shame team-mate Moses Ashikodi took Wise's plea for a cutting edge so literally.

Verdict: CLARET ON THE CARPET

Sheff Utd v Colchester

2pm Sunday, Bramall Lane

Referee: D Pugh (Wirral) Facts: Sheffield United have lost three games in a row, failing to score on each occasion, and haven't won a home game since 9 December. Colchester striker Wayne Andrews broke an eight-game goal drought when he scored against Southend on Tuesday Standout bet: Colchester (h-t), Sheff Utd (f-t): 28-1 (Bet365, Skybet)

Chiropodist-turned-poet-turned-manager Neil Warnock is not everyone's cup of tea, but at least he knows how to throw them. United's boss smashed the saucers following last week's 3-0 home defeat to Crystal Palace, but has more respect for the FA Cup after reaching the semi-finals last year. Colchester also have a proud Cup tradition having knocked out Leeds in 1971, but their luck could run out in Yorkshire. The Bramall Lane tea lady certainly hopes so.

Verdict: WARNOCK RAISES A CUP

Sunderland v Birmingham

5.35pm tomorrow, Stadium of Light - live on BBC1

Referee: Graham Barber (Tring) Facts: Birmingham, who are unbeaten in their past six games, have kept 14 clean sheets this season and are yet to concede a goal in the FA Cup. Sunderland are unbeaten at home since losing to Huddersfield in the Carling Cup in September Standout bet: Birmingham to win without conceding: 11-4 (Bet365)

St Andrew's will play host to the FA Vase Final in May, which could be as close as Blues get to silverware all season. Steve Bruce has fashioned a hard-working side in his own, erm, rugged image but they struggle to score and Mick McCarthy's side have lost just one of their last eight games and the least they can hope for is a replay.

Verdict: BLUES LIVE TO DIE ANOTHER DAY

Tranmere v Swansea

3pm tomorrow, Prenton Park

Referee: Richard Beeby (Northampton) Facts: Tranmere, who have drawn five of their past six matches, are unbeaten in 12 at home. Eugene Dadi is Tranmere's top scorer this season with 10 goals. Swansea haven't won in five away games and striker James Thomas has not scored in his past eight appearances Standout bet: Tranmere (half-time), draw (full-time): 16-1 (Tote)

Tranmere have a remarkable FA Cup record, reaching the last 16 in four of the past five seasons, but may not go further this year. Rovers look rocky. Swansea beat highflying Preston in the last round and Lee Trundle is arguably the lower divisions' top marksman. The bleach-blond mulleted striker may look like an extra from Phoenix Nights and lives up to his name in the (lack of) pace stakes, but knows where the goal is.

Verdict: SWANSEA TRUNDLE ALONG

NATIONWIDE LEAGUE

Crystal Palace v Stoke

3pm tomorrow, Selhurst Park

Tickets: £19-£25 (£5-£15 concs). Tel: 08712 0000 71 Last season: 1 (Adebola) 0. Referee: Rob Styles (Hampshire) Facts: Andy Johnson made it six goals in four games with his strike at Sheffield United. Stoke haven't won at Palace since 1986 but are unbeaten in their last nine league matches Standout bet: Andy Johnson to score the first goal: 4-1 (Bet365)

Iain Dowie seems to spend more time in the pool than on the training pitch but his madcap methods are going swimmingly at Crystal Palace. Dowie gets up with the lark and insists his squad join him for early-morning dips - not Doritos you understand - though rumours that he has petitioned the Football League to introduce 3am kick-offs are as wide of the mark as Ade Akinbiyi's finishing. Akinbiyi returns to Selhurst tomorrow but Palace should record their fifth straight win.

Verdict: DOWIE MAKES A SPLASH

Watford v Preston

3pm tomorrow, Vicarage Road

Tickets: £15-£20 (£5-£10 concs). Tel: 01923 496 010 Last season: 0-1 (Alexander). Referee: André Marriner (W Midlands) Facts: Watford haven't kept a clean sheet in a home game since their 0-0 draw with West Ham in November. Graham Alexander scored his sixth penalty of the season in Preston's 3-0 win over West Brom Standout bet: Away win for Preston: 6-4 (Ladbrokes, Sky, Stan James)

Ray Lewington blamed last week's capitulation to Sunderland - they threw away a two-goal lead in the last 15 minutes - on the fear factor and his players are right to be bricking themselves. Watford have not won for six games and find themselves in the thick of the relegation battle. Preston, on the other hand, are on the up and a victory tomorrow could take them into the play-off positions.

Verdict: MORE WOE FOR WATFORD

Brentford v QPR

3pm tomorrow, Griffin Park

Tickets: All ticket match. Home: £12-£16 (£3-£11 concs). Tel: 0870 900 9229. Away: Sold out. Tickets will not be on sale tomorrow Last season: 1 (Peters) 2 (Shittu, Bircham) Referee: Keith Hill (Hertfordshire) Facts: Brentford have kept just four clean sheets in the league but have won six of their 16 games against teams from the top half of the table. Rangers are the top-ranked team on home form in Division Two, but are only ninth best away from home Standout bet: Four goals or more: 12-5 (Blue Square)

There is little love lost between these two sides and following a bust-up between Martin Rowlands and Stephen Hunt earlier in the season, this west London derby could turn into a St Valentine's Day massacre. Brentford have not beaten Rangers since 1965 and a home defeat beckons.

Verdict: BRENTFORD MASSACRED