Carlisle United are in the unusual position this season of being odds-on favourites for victory today.

Bookmakers reckon Mike Williamson's side will be too strong for Morecambe in their Boxing Day showdown.

The 23rd-v-24th clash at Brunton Park sees a United victory priced 3/4 by Unibet, 4/5 by SkyBet and 10/11 by QuinnBet.

The game sees Williamson seeking a first home win as Blues head coach against a Morecambe side a point below United in the League Two relegation zone.

Derek Adams' visitors are 16/5 with BetMGM to win at Brunton Park, and 3/1 with William Hill.

The draw is 13/5.

Luke Armstrong was denied by a controversial refereeing decision when he looked to have given Carlisle an early lead at Port Vale last weekend.

The recalled striker is 11/2 favourite to open the scoring in today's six-pointer.

Daniel Adu-Adjei is 6/1 for the opener with fellow AFC Bournemouth loanee 15/2.

Longer shots in the Carlisle ranks for the first goal include Jordan Jones at 10/1, Jon Mellish at 14/1, Cameron Harper at 22/1 and Aaron Hayden at 25/1.

The game will see Blues captain Sam Lavelle up against the club where he enjoyed an impressive spell including captaining the Shrimps to promotion in 2021.

The defender is 25/1 to get the first goal and 10/1 to score against his former employers at any stage in the game.

For Morecambe, Ben Tollitt is 9/1 for the opener with ex-Blues forward Hallam Hope 10/1 to strike first.

Another former United man, ex-Blues youth captain Tom White, is 40/1 to get the first goal. Other contenders in the visiting ranks include 10/1 shot Marcus Dackers, who got a hat-trick against a young Carlisle reserve side last week.

Jordan Slew is 12/1 while David Tutonda is priced 50/1 for the opener.

United got the better of Morecambe earlier this season with a 2-1 away win in the Bristol Street Motors Trophy.

A similar result in Carlisle's favour today has odds of 15/2.

A 1-0 home win is 7/1 while a 3-1 Blues victory - the score the last time Carlisle defeated Morecambe in the league at Brunton Park in October 2020 - is 14/1.

Morecambe last won at United's ground in October 2018 with a 2-0 victory, and the same outcome today is 20/1.

A 1-0 Shrimps win is 12/1 while a 1-1 draw is priced 6/1.

Source: Oddschecker.