The magic of the FA Cup returns this weekend, with some eye-catching fixtures and potential cupsets on the cards. The road to Wembley starts for some and for the lower league sides, it is a chance to create history.
Here are five things to look out for…
Arsenal v Liverpool in a top of the table Cup showdown
Arguably the best fixture of the weekend belongs to two Premier League sides. Liverpool are occupying top spot, whereas out of form Arsenal have dropped to fourth. Arsenal’s FA Cup home form is fantastic, having only lost three of their last 49 home games in the cup. Mikel Arteta will be hoping to prolong that record to a half century, and at the same time knock out one of the heavy hitters in the competition.
Liverpool and Arsenal played out a 1-1 draw at Anfield less than two weeks ago and since then Jurgen Klopp’s side have picked up six points from their last two games, while Arsenal have picked up zero. Liverpool have a cup heavy January with the small matter of a two-legged Carabao Cup semi-final against Fulham to think about too. Will Klopp and Arteta play their strongest XIs as another trophy goes up for grabs?
Replays are still in play up until the fifth round this year, so a draw may not suit either with side.
Prediction: Arsenal 2-3 Liverpool
Black Cats v Magpies in derby duel
The first meeting between Sunderland and Newcastle since 2016 promises to be a special occasion. Sunderland are unbeaten in three games in the Championship and are currently in the play-off spots under news boss Micheal Beale, who has steadied the ship at the Stadium of Light.
Newcastle are on a torrid run of form. Seven defeats in their last eight games has the Magpies sitting in ninth in the Premier League and no European football to look forward to either after being knocked out of Europe completely. The FA Cup could bring them some respite in what has been a miserable run. There would be no better way to do it either than with a victory over their bitter rivals. It is shaping up to be a mouthwatering contest. The bragging rights are there for the taking, but who will come out on top?
Prediction: Sunderland 2-1 Newcastle
Manchester United need FA Cup success
This is now a must win for Erik ten Hag, perhaps not just their third round tie away to Wigan, but the whole competition. Manchester United have stumbled their way thorough the season and have crashed out of both the Champions League, the Carabao Cup and are way back in the race for a top four finish in the league.
The FA Cup could be their only saving grace, and they face a Wigan side who are hovering above the League One relegation spots after being handed a points decuction. Manager Shaun Maloney has had his fair share of troubles this season, with Wigan being handed an eight-point penalty before the season started. Maloney himself scored a famous goal for Wigan to beat Manchester United in 2012, which led to Manchester City pipping the title over Sir Alex Ferguson’s side.
Prediction: Wigan 1-1 Man Utd
Ange needs to respect the FA Cup
Ange Postecoglou’s Spurs were knocked out the Carabao Cup on penalties by Fulham earlier on this season which immediately hindered the chances of silveware in Postecoglou’s first season in charge. In the FA Cup they have another Premier League tie, hosting Burnley. The two sides met at Turf Moor earlier in the season and Spurs won 5-2.
Burnley’s priority will be staying in the Premier League but manager Vincent Kompany will have tremendous respect for the competition, having won it twice with Manchester City. Spurs are close to having some key men back in their ranks but may rotate ahead of the Premier League clash with Manchester United in sight.
Prediction: Spurs 2-0 Burnley
A chance of another cup run for Poch
Having already reached the Carabao Cup semi-finals, Chelsea have another opportunity to mount another cup run to take the pressure off Pochettino following a poor league campaign so far. They play hosts to Preston North End of the Championship who are 14th and five points off the play-offs. It has been a tricky spell for under pressure Ryan Lowe’s side, who have lost four of their last five games.
Chelsea will be favourites, and will have their tails up after two Premier League wins on the trot. Poch says he will name a strong side for the clash as he looks for another strong run in a cup competition. Three of Chelsea’s next four games are against Championship opposition, with the two-legged semi-final against Middlesbrough coming up.
Prediction: Chelsea 3-0 Preston
