The FA Cup seems to be more and more more likely to conjure a shock winner with every passing spherical.
Over the past decade, Leicester Metropolis are the one facet exterior of the normal ‘massive six’ to have triumphed on this planet’s oldest cup competitors, however the 2024/25 iteration has already eradicated Liverpool, Arsenal, Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur.
In fact, Manchester Metropolis and Manchester United nonetheless stand – the edges having contested the final two FA Cup finals – however the door has been left firmly ajar for one of many different remaining golf equipment to defy expectations and style glory.
The upcoming fifth spherical will show instrumental in deciding who makes it to the showpiece occasion at Wembley Stadium in Might and there are some tantalising duels price maintaining shut tabs on.
Plymouth Argyle have been the success story of this 12 months’s FA Cup. The south coast facet have struggled all through the Championship season and are nonetheless battling relegation, however that hasn’t prevented them from conquering Premier League opposition on two separate events.
1-0 victories over Brentford and prime flight leaders Liverpool have arrange an immense problem within the fifth spherical as Miron Muslic prepares for battle with Man Metropolis. The Cityzens have gained the competitors twice prior to now six seasons and could have dwelling benefit in opposition to the Pilgrims this Saturday.
Plymouth’s journey to the final 16 will reside on in reminiscence for a while no matter this weekend’s end result, however Metropolis’s combined type gives them a glimmer of hope on the Etihad Stadium. Pep Guardiola’s facet solely squeezed previous Leyton Orient within the earlier spherical and have been uncharacteristically unpredictable this season.
It is an terrible lengthy shot however Plymouth will probably be relishing the problem nonetheless.
Man Utd salvaged their largely woeful 2023/24 marketing campaign with a shock FA Cup triumph and Ruben Amorim will probably be hopeful of following the instance set by predecessor Erik ten Hag following three depressing months within the Outdated Trafford dugout.
Victory at Arsenal within the FA Cup third spherical was one of many few excessive factors for United throughout Amorim’s reign, with an ‘offside’ winner in opposition to Leicester Metropolis required to flee the fourth spherical. Supporters will probably be fearing the worst when welcoming Fulham to Outdated Trafford.
The Cottagers might not have a robust file in opposition to the Purple Devils – dropping each conferences 1-0 this season – however they did style victory at Outdated Trafford final time period. They’re a facet able to mixing it with the perfect on their day – as Liverpool, Arsenal, Chelsea, Spurs and Newcastle have found this season.
Fulham have by no means gained the FA Cup and have solely reached the quarter-finals as soon as prior to now 15 seasons. They’ve a good chance to capitalise on United uncertainty and proceed their journey this 12 months.
Crystal Palace and Millwall have at all times shared an intense rivalry however fixtures between the 2 London sides have been few and much between in latest seasons. Their FA Cup conflict in 2022 – the Eagles profitable 2-1 within the third spherical – was their first assembly since 2013 and they’re unlikely to be taking part in in the identical division subsequent time period.
Further weight will probably be hooked up to Saturday’s battle at Selhurst Park in consequence, with Palace understandably overwhelming favourites to knock their Championship opposition out of the competitors.
Neither facet are prolific scorers however there needs to be some much-needed chew in a retro-feeling capital affair this weekend. Can Millwall grind out an unlimited scalp?
Half of the FA Cup fifth spherical ties are all-Premier League clashes and Sunday’s assembly between Newcastle United and Brighton & Hove Albion has the capability to be probably the most pleasurable.
Each side have confirmed unpredictable this season however are sturdy within the last third – evidenced by four-goal performances final weekend. Newcastle’s seven-goal thriller with Nottingham Forest showcased the perfect and worst of Eddie Howe’s group, whereas Brighton’s thrashing of Southampton was one other instance of their capabilities in assault.
The Premier League battle earlier within the season was solely graced by a single Brighton aim however Sunday’s encounter needs to be extra of a rollercoaster experience. Rotation is feasible and pleasure doubtless because the Seagulls make the prolonged journey to St James’ Park.
Seven of the eight fifth spherical encounters boast a Premier League outfit, with Saturday’s assembly of Championship sides Preston North Finish and Burnley the one contest between two decrease league sides.
The groups locked horns simply two weeks in the past on this actual fixture at Deepdale and it considerably unsurprisingly completed in a goalless draw. In spite of everything, Preston are usually not massive scorers – simply 36 in 34 Championship video games this time period – and Burnley’s astonishing defensive file beneath Scott Parker has seen them maintain 13 clear sheets of their final 14 matches.
Hopefully, the FA Cup magic can rub off on this weekend’s match-up, with at the very least one second division facet assured to be taking part in on this 12 months’s quarter-finals.
