The FA Cup fifth round is kicking off this week, with teams battling fiercely to secure their place in the quarter-finals.
We’ve already witnessed some shocking upsets in the earlier rounds – Arsenal fell 4-2 to Nottingham Forest, a Championship side, and Liverpool were knocked out by West Brom after a 3-2 defeat at home.
Will the thrill of unexpected results continue? Here are our top tips and insights for the FA Cup fifth round matches!
Friday 16 February
Leicester City 11/20
Draw 31/10
Sheffield United 47/10
Leicester City will host Championship team Sheffield United at King Power Stadium. Leicester are in great form after an impressive 5-1 away victory over Peterborough, while Sheffield United are coming off a narrow 1-0 win against Preston North End, featuring an 80th-minute penalty goal by Billy Sharp.
Leicester haven’t lost in their last five home games and are showing solid performances, including a recent 2-0 FA Cup win over Fleetwood Town. Sheffield United, who are reaching this stage for the first time since 2014, haven’t beaten Leicester in their last five clashes, including a heavy 4-1 loss in the Carabao Cup. Backing Leicester City to clinch the win at 11/20 is our call.
Chelsea 2/9
Draw 5/1
Hull City 11/1
Chelsea take on Hull City at Stamford Bridge, gearing up for their Champions League showdown with Barcelona just days away. Key players including Willy Caballero, David Luiz, and Pedro are likely to start. Chelsea have an outstanding record with eight consecutive home wins in the FA Cup.
Hull City, sitting just above the relegation zone in the Championship, have struggled away with only two wins in their last ten matches. We suggest taking Chelsea on a (-1) handicap at 6/10 for the win.
Saturday 17 February
Sheffield Wednesday 9/4
Draw 22/10
Swansea 12/10
Swansea head to Hillsborough to tackle Sheffield Wednesday. The Owls are struggling, currently 17th in the Championship and winless in seven games, though they have been strong at home in this competition.
Swansea are in superb form, unbeaten in their last nine, including a stunning 8-1 win against Notts County and a recent Premier League win over Burnley. Backing an away win by Swansea at 12/10 looks smart.
Brighton 4/10
Draw 33/10
Coventry City 15/2
Brighton host League Two side Coventry City at the Amex Stadium. Brighton have been steady, unbeaten in their last four matches across all competitions.
Coventry, though facing recent losses, have a good cup run knocking out higher division teams. We’re tipping Brighton to advance comfortably.
West Brom 17/10
Draw 21/10
Southampton 16/10
West Brom host Southampton in a Premier League clash. West Brom stunned Liverpool at Anfield to reach this round but are currently struggling near the league’s bottom.
Southampton have had mixed form and will be hungry after recent setbacks. Both teams met earlier this month in a 3-2 West Brom win. Our pick is Both Teams to Score at 17/20.
Huddersfield 13/2
Draw 7/2
Manchester United 4/10
Manchester United travel to Huddersfield, who recently moved out of the relegation zone. Huddersfield caused an upset by beating United 2-1 earlier this season, so they’ll be eager to repeat the feat.
United face potential squad rotation ahead of their Champions League clash but still are favourites. Backing Both Teams to Score at 11/10 offers value here.
Sunday 18 February
Rochdale 17/1
Draw 13/2
Tottenham 1/7
Tottenham face League One’s struggling Rochdale. Rochdale show resilience with recent unbeaten streaks despite their low league position.
Spurs are in excellent form, unbeaten over 12 games and boasting wins against top teams. We expect Spurs to be leading at half-time at 5/10 odds.
Monday 19 February
Wigan Athletic 14/1
Draw 6/1
Manchester City 1/6
Manchester City challenge League One leaders Wigan in a repeat of the 2013 FA Cup final where Wigan triumphed. City have been impressive recently and are expected to overpower the Latics.
Backing Manchester City to reach the quarter-finals is our top pick.
QUAD @ 7/1
Leicester Win 11/20
Chelsea (-1) Handicap 6/10
Swansea Win 12/10
Tottenham HT Win 5/10
