FA Cup Fifth Round Preview

The FA Cup fifth round gets underway in midweek and it is time to preview the matches.

With defending champions Leicester City already out of the competition, we will have new FA Cup conquerors this season. You can watch the FA Cup live here, or check the football TV schedules if you are in the UK.

Peterborough United vs Manchester City

Manchester City’s bid to reach the FA Cup quarter-finals for the fifth time in six years under Pep Guardiola faces a manageable task as they travel to the Weston Homes Stadium to meet second-tier Peterborough United.

The Cityzens have racked up identical 4-1 victories over Swindon Town and Fulham in the two previous rounds, and another clear-cut triumph against the Championship basement boys looks inevitable.

Crystal Palace vs Stoke City 

The FA Cup fifth round pits mid-table Premier League side Crystal Palace against mid-table Championship outfit Stoke City at Selhurst Park, their first competitive encounter since May 2018.

Palace head into proceedings as favourites to progress from their fifth-round ties for the third time running, having won eight of their last ten meetings with the Potters in all competitions (D1, L1).

Middlesbrough vs Tottenham Hotspur

Riverside Stadium is the venue as Middlesbrough and Tottenham Hotspur go head-to-head in the FA Cup fifth-round tie, with the Boro overcoming Manchester United in the previous round to set up this showdown.

Chris Wilder’s men will have to defy the odds again if they are to crash out two Premier League clubs in a single FA Cup season as a side outside England’s top-flight for the first time since 1991/92.

Luton Town vs Chelsea

The scars of a heartbreaking Carabao Cup showpiece defeat to Liverpool on penalties as Chelsea travel to Kenilworth Road to take on Championship high-flyers Luton Town.

Thomas Tuchel’s men got the better off Luton in last season’s FA Cup fourth round as Tammy Abraham’s hat-trick fired the eventual finalists to a comfortable 3-1 win at Stamford Bridge.

Southampton vs West Ham United

Arguably the most handsome-looking FA Cup fifth-round tie pits a resurgent Southampton against Premier League top-four contenders West Ham United at St Mary’s.

The Serbian-led takeover earlier this year inspired the Saints’ renaissance, with Ralph Hasenhuttl’s men taking the field unbeaten in their last six competitive games in a row (W4, D2).

Liverpool vs Norwich City

Another all-Premier League fifth-round tie sees title-bidding Liverpool take on hot relegation candidates Norwich City at Anfield.

Unless some utterly bizarre circumstances take place in Merseyside, Jurgen Klopp’s side should be able to stretch their winning streak over the Canaries to seven matches in all competitions.

Everton vs Boreham Wood

Things are not going Everton’s way in the Premier League, but new manager Frank Lampard could ease the Goodison faithful’s pain by lifting the FA Cup crown this season.

Standing in the Toffees’ way are fifth-tier outfit Boreham Wood, who dispatched current Championship side Bournemouth 1-0 in the previous round. 

Nottingham Forest vs Huddersfield Town

‘Giant killers’ Nottingham Forest continue their eye-catching FA Cup journey against fellow Championship rivals Huddersfield Town at City Ground.

The Tricky Trees went past Arsenal and Leicester in the last two rounds, so it is no surprise they are pre-match favourites here.