The FA Cup fifth roundtakes place this week with teams looking to book their ticket in the quarter-finals.
We’ve had an upset in the last two rounds with Arsenal losing 4-2 at Championship side Nottingham Forest in the third round and Liverpool exiting the fourth round after losing 3-2 at home to West Brom.
Will there be another upset? Here are our writer’s tips for the FA Cup fifth round.
Friday 16 February
11/20 Leicester City | Draw 31/10 | Sheffield United 47/10 (21:45)
Leicester City welcome Championship side Sheffield United to the King Power Stadium on Friday. The Foxes come into this clash off a thumping 5-1 win away to Peterborough United, while the Blades beat Preston North End 1-0 thanks to Billy Sharp’s 80th minute penalty. Claude Puel’s men are unbeaten in their last five home games, winning three times. After earning a 2-2 draw against Manchester United, they recorded back-to-back Premier League wins over Huddersfield and Watford in between a 2-0 FA Cup win over Fleetwood Town, before drawing 1-1 against Swansea. Chris Wilder’s side, who are in the fifth round for the first time since 2014, are winless in their last five meetings against the Foxes with three defeats, including a heavy 4-1 loss in the Carabao Cup last August. Back Puel’s men to win at 11/20.
2/9 Chelsea | 5/1 | Hull City 11/1 (22:00)
Chelsea entertain Hull City at Stamford Bridge on Friday, four days before their last-16 Champions League clash against Barcelona. Willy Caballero, David Luiz, Emerson Palmieri, Davide Zappacosta, Danny Drinkwater, Pedro and Olivier 
Giroud are all likely to start. Antonio Conte has come under fire this season and the Italian will look to guide the Blues to another FA Cup final. The Blues have won their last eight home games in the competition. Hull got to this stage of the tournament after beating Blackburn Rovers 1-0 at Ewood Park and Nottingham Forest 2-1 at the KCOM Stadium. The Tigers are just a point off the relegation zone in the Championship and have won only two of their last 10 away matches in all competitions, losing six times. Take the Premier League champions on the (-1) Handicap at 6/10.
Saturday 17 February
9/4 Sheffield Wednesday | 22/10 | Swansea 12/10 (14:30)
In-form Swansea travel to the Hillsborough Stadium to play Sheffield Wednesday on Saturday. The Owls are 17th in the Championship and winless in seven games in England’s second tier. They won both their home games in the competition, beating Carlisle United 2-0 and Reading 3-1. Swansea come into this game in great form. Carlos Carvalhal’s side are unbeaten in their last nine matches in all competitions, winning five times. The Swans thrashed League Two outfit Notts County 8-1 to get to this stage, before beating Burnley 1-0 in the Premier League last weekend. I’m backing the away win at 12/10.
4/10 Brighton | 33/10 | Coventry City 15/2 (17:00)
Brighton host League Two side Coventry City at the Amex Stadium on Saturday. Chris Hughton’s side are 14th in the Premier League and unbeaten in their last four matches in all competitions (WDWD). The Seagulls reached the last 16 after beating Crystal Palace 2-1 at home and Middlesbrough 1-0 at the Riverside Stadium. Coventry City have suffered back-to-back defeats in England’s fourth tier – they are yet to play Colchester United at the time of writing. However, the Sky Blues have beaten higher division sides to get to this stage. A 2-1 victory at home to Premier League strugglers Stoke followed with a 1-0 win away to League One outfit Milton Keynes Dons. Brighton are tipped to oust their opponents.
17/10 West Brom | 21/10 | Southampton 16/10 (17:00)
West Brom face Southampton at the Hawthorns on Saturday in an all-Premier League affair. Alan Pardew’s side are struggling at the bottom of the league. However, they eliminated Liverpool to reach the last 16, claiming a 3-2 win at Anfield. Southampton come off a 2-0 defeat at home to Liverpool, which saw them drop three places down to 18th position. The Saints, who knocked out Fulham and Watford to get to this stage, will be hopeful of victory over the Baggies. These sides met in the beginning of the month, with Manuel Pellegrino’s men claiming a 3-2 win at the Hawthorns. I’m backing Both Teams to Score at 17/20.
13/2 Huddersfield | 7/2 | Manchester United 4/10 (19:30)
Another all-Premier League affair sees Manchester United travel to Huddersfield in Saturday’s late kick off. The Terriers moved out of the relegation zone after thrashing Bournemouth 4-1 at home last Sunday. David Wagner’s side claimed a shock 2-1 win over the Red Devils in October and the promoted club will target another upset. Manchester United will want to avoid losing to another promoted side after suffering a 1-0 defeat at Newcastle last time out. Jose Mourinho is likely to rest some key players for United’s Champions League clash against Sevilla on Wednesday. United should still progress to the quarter-finals, but I’m going for value here and backing Both Teams to Score at 11/10.
Sunday 18 February
17/1 Rochdale | 13/2 | Tottenham 1/7 (18:00)
Tottenham visit League One strugglers Rochdale in Sunday’s only game. The Dale are second from bottom in England’s third tier, but they’re undefeated in three matches, at the time of writing. After earning a 1-0 league win at fellow strugglers Northampton Town, they beat Millwall 1-0 at home in their fourth-round replay, before drawing 2-2 at the Den. Tottenham are in top form, having gone 12 games unbeaten with eight wins, at the time of writing. In their last three Premier League games, Mauricio Pochettino’s side beat Manchester United 2-0 and Arsenal 1-0 at Wembley in between a 2-2 draw against Liverpool at Anfield. Lucas Moura, who joined from Paris Saint-Germain for £25m, will be raring to impress. Spurs are tipped to be leading at half-time at 5/10.
Monday 19 February
14/1 Wigan Athletic | 6/1 | Manchester City 1/6 (21:55)
Manchester City take on League One side Wigan at the DW Stadium on Monday night in a repeat of the 2013 FA Cup final, which the Latics, then in the top flight, won 1-0. Pep Guardiola’s side thumped Burnley 4-1 at home then Cardiff City 2-0 in Wales to set up a tie with Paul Cook’s side, who are at the top of English football’s third tier and have already knocked two Premier League sides – Bournemouth and West Ham – out of the competition this season. City should outclass the Latics and book their place in the quarter-finals.
QUAD @ 7/1
Leicester Win 11/20
Chelsea (-1) Handicap 6/10
Swansea Win 12/10
Tottenham HT Win 5/10
Chadley Nagel
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