FA Cup 5th Round Predictions

FRIDAY:

WOLVES V LIVERPOOL

Wolves beat Liverpool in the Premier League on Tuesday and they deserved to as they were the better side in every department.

The FA Cup has been a big plus for Rob Edwards' side as their results in this competition have given them confidence and they have taken it into their league games.

They'll certainly be feeling confident heading into this one and especially after beating Liverpool in midweek.

Liverpool were poor in the game on Tuesday and just as I thought they were getting their top four hopes back on track, they're again looking doubtful because they're not consistent enough.

Arne Slot will want to see a reaction from his side in this cup tie because of how poor they were in midweek and I think he could get one as he will have looked back at the game on Tuesday and seen what went wrong for his team.

Wolves will look to replicate the same gameplan they had in the game in midweek, but I think the reds will still respond as I can see them make a few changes to freshen up the team, and show more energy and endeavour than they did in midweek.

PREDICTION: 1-2

SATURDAY:

MANSFIELD V ARSENAL

Mansfield caused the shock of the 4th Round when they beat Burnley thanks to a brilliant free kick from Louis Reed.

Causing another upset in this one will be tough as they haven't been in great form in League 1 and are playing the best team in the Premier League at the moment.

Arsenal will makes changes because of this game being a cup tie against lower league opposition, but I still see them playing a strong team because of the strength in depth they have.

Mansfield will look to make it difficult for the Gunners by getting men behind the ball and being incredibly tough to beat.

But I think Mikel Arteta's side will find a way to win the game without too many problems as they have done a lot this season.

PREDICTION: 0-2

WREXHAM V CHELSEA

Wrexham have already knocked out a Premier League team in the FA Cup this season in Nottingham Forest who they beat on penalties in the 3rd Round.

This game might be the biggest game in their history because of the size of club they're facing in Chelsea and if they were to cause another upset here, it might even be bigger than their win over Arsenal in 1992.

Chelsea were very good in their win over Aston Villa on Wednesday which got their top four hopes back on track.

Joao Pedro scored a hat trick in that game and I'm starting to think that he might be the player they've been crying out for in a clinical centre forward because of the impressive season he's having.

Liam Rosenior will probably make changes for this game with it being cup tie and also because he'll want to give fringe players an opportunity.

But his side should still have more than enough to win this game because I think he'll field a strong enough team to win this game.

Wrexham will give it a good go, but I think Chelsea's quality will be enough to see them through to the next round.

PREDICTION: 1-3

NEWCASTLE V MAN CITY

This will be the fifth time these two sides have met this season after meeting in the Carabao Cup semi finals as well as in the Premier League.

Newcastle have fared better in the cup competitions than they have in the Premier League as they reached the semi finals of the Carabao Cup and are in the last 16 of the Champions League.

They were outplayed by City in both legs of their Carabao Cup semi final but they did put in a good shift against them in the Premier League a few weeks ago when the two sides met at the Etihad.

City had to work for that win against the Magpies a few weeks ago but they still did enough to come out on top thanks to Nico O'Reilly's double.

Pep Guardiola will probably make changes for this game with their Champions League game against Real Madrid in mind, but I still see him playing a strong team because he usually does that in cup games.

After beating Newcastle comfortably in both legs of the Carabao Cup semi final, I can see City win this one fairly comfortably as well no matter how many changes they make.

PREDICTION: 1-3

SUNDAY:

FULHAM V SOUTHAMPTON

This season might be Fulham's best chance to win the FA Cup as they're in good form and having a good season in the Premier League, and have a good enough squad to win a trophy.

Marco Silva's contract is due to expire at the end of the season and winning the cup would certainly be a great way for him to bow out if he does end up leaving.

Southampton have really turned a corner since Tonda Eckert took over as he's taken them from being in a potential relegation battle to the cusp of the play offs.

The Saints come into this game in fine form following six wins from their last seven in the Championship which will give them a lot of confidence heading into this cup tie.

But with Fulham having a good home record and a strong squad overall, I think they'll have enough to see themselves through to the next round.

PREDICTION: 2-0

PORT VALE V SUNDERLAND

Port vale are having a disastrous season in League 1 as they find themselves bottom of the table and ten points from safety.

But they did cause an upset in the last round when they beat Bristol City on Tuesday which should give them some much needed confidence.

Sunderland should definitely be looking at a cup run this season as they're having a brilliant season in the Premier League and a cup run alongside that would make it even better.

Regis Le Bris will probably make a lot of changes for this game because of it being a cup tie against lower league opposition and him also wanting to give fringe players opportunities.

But I do think he'll field a strong enough team and because of this, I can see his side win this game fairly comfortably.

PREDICTION: 0-3

LEEDS V NORWICH

Leeds haven't gone beyond the 5th Round since 2003 and I can see that run extending because I think Daniel Farke will make a lot of changes for this game with Premier League survival in mind.

Their defeat to Sunderland along with West Ham's win over Fulham brought them right back into the relegation mix and I think he'll be thinking more about Premier League survival than a cup run.

Norwich have been a team transformed under Philippe Clement who did have his doubters when he came in as Liam Manning's replacement.

But he's proved them wrong ever since as he's taken the Canaries from being in a relegation fight to a top half finish.

Leeds have been strong at home this season but as they're likely to make changes for this game, I fancy Norwich to cause an upset here.

PREDICTION: 1-2

MONDAY:

WEST HAM V BRENTFORD

The FA Cup has been a huge plus for West Ham this season as their results in the competition have given them the belief that they can stay in the Premier League.

Premier League survival will of course be the main priority for the Hammers, but I do think Nuno will want to take his side far in this competition so they can continue to build on the momentum they've gained.

Brentford will surely be looking to go on a cup run because they're having a fantastic season in the Premier League and a cup run alongside that will make their season even better.

The Bees won this fixture in the Premier League comfortably back in October and have been in good form on the road for the last month, winning four of their last five away games in all competitions.

I can see both sides play strong teams in this one as they'll both want to go far in this competition.

But I think Brentford will the side that come out on top because of the form they've been in away and their overall record against the Hammers.

PREDICTION: 0-2