FRIDAY:
MAN UNITED V MIDDLESBROUGH
Man United began to hit some form before the winter break following back to back wins over Brentford and West Ham which moved them into the top four of the Premier League. There are still areas for improvement under Ralf Rangnick but those wins will give them confidence going into this game as well as their other league games.
They have to play a strong team here because they've had a couple of weeks to prepare for this game plus the FA Cup is their best chance of ending the season with a trophy. They may make a few changes with it being a cup game but I still expect United to field a strong team and I think they will.
Middlesbrough have been rejuvenated under Chris Wilder as they've risen from mid-table to the edge of the play offs. He's won 7 of his 11 games in charge since taking over from Neil Warnock in November and in him Boro have a manager who can take them forward.
Chris Wilder won at Old Trafford last season when he was at Sheffield United and he'll definitely want another win against them in this cup tie. His side will definitely be in the game as his sides have been known to have a great team spirit like his Sheffield United team. He'll be hoping that his Middlesbrough side will show it in this one.
PREDICTION: 2-0
United may make some changes for this one, but I still think they'll have enough to win. Boro will try and make it difficult for them but United's quality should see them through.
SATURDAY:
CHELSEA V PLYMOUTH
This will be Chelsea's last game before they head off to the UAE for the Club World Cup. They'll make changes for this one as they'll want to rest some players for the big tournament but they should still play some of their first team as they'll want to take the competition seriously like the other big teams.
Plymouth shocked Championship Birmingham in the last round and have another game to look forward to in this one. They haven't had a game like this in a long time and the players will just go out and enjoy the occasion as they don't get many opportunities as big as this one.
Argyle's form has been mixed since Steven Schumacher took over from Ryan Lowe as it has seen them drop out of the play off places. They are still in touching distance of the play offs and this cup tie could give them the confidence they need to reignite their promotion bid.
PREDICTION: 4-0
Chelsea will make changes for this game with it being against lower league opposition. Bu I still think they'll have more than enough to win the game. With the squad they have they should win this one comfortably.
KIDDERSMINSTER V WEST HAM
Kidderminster knocked out Championship Reading in Round 3 and will be looking to do the same in this one against West Ham. They showed great character to come from behind and win the game in the last round and they'll need to show that in this one if they're to cause yet another upset in this competition.
They'll definitely be up for this game as they rarely get the chance to play against Premier League opposition. Especially against a big club like West Ham. Everyone associated with the club will be looking forward to the game and the players will just go out there and enjoy the occasion.
West Ham will be hoping that a win in this game will give them the confidence they need to kick start their top four bid following back to back defeats to Leeds and Man United before the winter break. Those two defeats saw them drop out of the top four at the expense of Man United and will be looking to use the cup as an opportunity to get their season back on track.
It was a quiet and disappointing transfer window for the Hammers during January as they weren't able to bring in any reinforcements to bolster their squad. The players have looked a little tired over the last couple of months and a couple of signings during the window could've helped them overcome that. But it wasn't to be.
PREDICTION: 0-3
West Ham will make changes for this one. But I still think they'll play a strong enough team to avoid an upset. Kidderminster will give it a go like they did in the last round against Reading but I think the Hammers' Premier League quality will be enough for them to win the game.
CRYSTAL PALACE V HARTLEPOOL
Crystal Palace will have Wilfried Zaha back for this one following his return from AFCON with Ivory Coast which is a massive boost for Palace going forward. The Eagles have done ok without him this season but having him back in the side is still a massive plus for them.
The Eagles will be looking to go far in this cup competition so I expect they'll play a strong team here. They may field a few youngsters as Vieira is looking to promote the youth but I still think they'll field a reasonably strong team so they have the best possible chance of reaching the next round.
Hartlepool are having a decent first season back in the Football League with the club 16th in League 2 and well clear of the drop. They would've taken survival at the start of the season as they're a newly promoted team and for them to be mid-table at this stage of the season represents a good season for them.
This will be a game that they've looked forward to for a long time because they haven't had an opportunity like this for a number of years. Everyone associated with the club will be looking forward to the game with it being against Premier League opposition and the players will just go out and enjoy the occasion.
PREDICTION: 3-0
This one will definitely be a Palace win because I think they'll have more than enough quality to win the game. They will make some changes but I still think they'll field a strong enough team to win them the game.
EVERTON V BRENTFORD
Everton will have Frank Lampard in charge for the first time in this game following his appointment earlier this week. He may have a big job on his hands because of the situation the team are in but other than that I think it's a good appointment for the Toffees. He'll bring through the youth like he did at Chelsea and he'll play a style of play that the fans will get behind.
A good run in the cup is exactly what Everton need to save their season as it can give them the confidence they need to kick start their season. The players will need to show a reaction with it being their first game under Frank Lampard and I think they will.
Brentford are not in good form going into this one following four straight defeats from their last four games. They should still be safe but they need to start picking up results sooner rather than later so they can stay out of the relegation mix. Could a win in this cup tie give them the confidence to get their season back on track.
The Bees will have been buoyed by the arrival of Christian Eriksen this week and he could make his debut in this game. I can't see him playing the whole game as he hasn't played for a number of months but once he's up and running he'll be a massive player for the Bees.
PREDICTION: 2-0
I'm backing Everton to win this one because I can see them show a reaction following the arrival of Frank Lampard. He's had a week to work with the players in training and I can see them carry that hard work on to the pitch.
MAN CITY V FULHAM
Man City finally signed a recognised striker in January as they got Julian Alvarez who could make his debut in this one following his arrival from River Plate. They have coped well without a recognised striker this season like they did for much of last season but with this signing, they finally have a focal point to lead their attack.
City will be expected to field a strong team here because of the squad they have and the competition being a trophy they want to win. They may leave a few big names out but because their squad is so strong, the team they field will arguably be as strong as their best 11.
I was quite sceptical about Fulham appointing Marco Silva as their new manager at the start of the season because of his defensive record from his time in the Premier League. But I have to say that he's brought back that ruthlessness to the Fulham attack which they lacked last season as they've netted 74 goals which is more than any other side in England's top four tiers.
The Cottagers may need to be a bit more cautious in this one because of the quality that City have and the amount of times they can punish you if you make a mistake. If they play their usual open and expansive style of play in this one, they could get punished because of how ruthless City can be on their day.
PREDICTION: 4-0
I'm going for a comfortable City win here because I think their quality will be too much for Fulham. Fulham will try and play their usual expansive style of play, but I think City will punish them for that because of how relentless they can be.
SOUTHAMPTON V COVENTRY
Southampton are in some decent form going into this cup tie and their draw with Man City before the winter break will give them plenty of confidence because of how well they played. They started the game on the front foot by scoring early on and they remained resolute for the rest of game after conceding the equaliser. Their performance will be a big plus for them going forward.
I have had my worries about the Saints at times this season but with the form they're currently in, I think they'll be ok. They'll want another cup run after reaching the semi finals last season and that is something the new owners will want to see.
Coventry are having a decent season in the Championship this year with the club 10th in the league and five points off the play offs. They may have slipped out of the play offs over Christmas but the Sky Blues are still having a good season and manager Mark Robins deserves a lot of credit for the job he has done.
PREDICTION: 2-1
I can see this one being a close game as I think both teams will go for it. In the end I'm going for Southampton to take the win because I think their pressing game will be enough for them to take the win.
WOLVES V NORWICH
Wolves are one of the in form teams in the Premier League at the moment as they've won all of their last three games since their 3rd Round win over Sheffield United. Bruno Lage deserves a lot of credit for the job he has done because he had a tough start when he came in and since then he's got Wolves challenging for Europe.
I think they'll play a strong team here because they'll want to go far in this competition. They're having a good season in the league and they would love a good cup run to go with it.
Norwich started to pick up some form before the winter break with back to back wins over Everton and Watford which moved them out of the bottom three. They have some much needed confidence on board as a result of those wins and they're beginning to believe that they can stay up.
A good run in the cup could help their battle for survival further as it will give them more belief that they can stay in the Premier League.
PREDICTION: 1-0
Both sides are in good form going into this one which should make it a close contest. But I'm going to hand Wolves the win because I think they'll have just enough to reach the next round. They might leave one or two key players out but I still think they'll have enough to win the game.
TOTTENHAM V BRIGHTON
Spurs will be happy that they managed to get a couple of player in before the window closed because at it looked like they weren't going to get anybody in at one stage during the window. Conte was looking frustrated for most of the window and now he'll be relieved that he managed to get a couple of players through the door.
This competition is Spurs' last chance of silverware and with a serial winner in Conte as their manager, they'll surely be looking to take this one seriously. The Italian won this cup at Chelsea back in 2018 and reached the final the year before so it's likely that he'll play a strong team here.
Brighton will be looking to go on a cup run this season so I expect they'll field a strong team for this one. They're having a good season in the league with the club 9th in the Premier League and Graham Potter will definitely see this competition as on opportunity to go far in. Especially with the ambitions that the club have.
PREDICTION: 2-1
I can see this one being a close game as they're both looking to go on a good run in the competition itself. In the end I'm going for Spurs to edge it as I think they'll have enough quality to win them the game.
PREMIER LEAGUE FIXTURE:
BURNLEY V WATFORD
This relegation six pointer is a must win game for both sides with the pair of them desperate for points and the sides around them not playing.
Burnley haven't won a game since beating Brentford at the end of October which is the only win they've had all season. They'll want to win this game more because of the winless run they're on and the fact that they go into this one at the foot of the table.
They looked like their usual solid selves against Arsenal before the Winter break by making vital interventions and limiting them to very few shots on target. They have been like that at times this season but haven't posed enough of a threat going forward. That will of course be a concern for them and they've hopefully used the last couple of weeks to work on that.
Watford will have Roy Hodgson in charge for the first time here and he'll definitely want to get off to a good start so his side can build some momentum and confidence to help them get the right results. I was surprised that they chose Hodgson as their new manager because I thought Crystal Palace would be his last job. But its clear that he still has the desire to carry on at 74 years old.
The Hornets will be without top scorer Emmanuel Dennis for this one following his red card against Norwich which will be a massive blow for them in this game. They do have Ismaila Sarr back who has been a huge loss but without Dennis they lack that focal point in their attack.
PREDICTION: 1-0
Both sides will want to win this one for their own reasons and I'm backing Burnley to take the points. With Watford without Dennis and the Clarets being a solid outfit defensively, I think the home side will have just enough to win the game.
SUNDAY:
LIVERPOOL V CARDIFF
Liverpool could hand a debut to new signing Luis Diaz in this one following his arrival from Porto last weekend. But it wouldn't surprise me if he wasn't involved as he only arrived in England earlier today and Jurgen Klopp will want to give him time to settle into his new surroundings. If he is involved he'll probably make a cameo appearance off the bench as he's just arrived into the country.
The reds should play a reasonably strong team in this one as they've had plenty of time off as a result of the winter break. They'll still play some of the youngsters with it being a cup tie but with this being a competition that they can win, I still think they should play a strong team.
Cardiff are having a tough season in the Championship this season but they have started to pick themselves in recent weeks after back to back wins from their last two games. The results have given them confidence and they'll be looking to carry that confidence into this game so they have a chance of causing an upset.
PREDICTION: 3-0
I've got to back Liverpool here because I think they'll be to strong for Cardiff. They may still be without Salah and Mane but I still think they'll have enough quality to win the game comfortably.
NOTTINGHAM FOREST V LEICESTER
Nottingham Forest will be backing themselves to cause another upset here after knocking out record winners Arsenal in the 3rd Round. They were better in every department against Arsenal in the last round and will need to repeat that performance here if they're to get a result.
The fans as well as the players will be looking forward to this game with it being a derby they haven't seen or played for a number of years. They'll definitely be feeling confident as they've already knocked out a Premier League side in Arsenal which will give them the belief that they can knock out another Premier League side.
Leicester will definitely be looking to field a strong team in this one as they'll want to keep hold of their FA Cup crown. They are missing a lot of players through injury but the good news for them is that they'll have both Wilfried N'Didi and Kelechi Iheanacho back following their AFCON exploits with Nigeria.
Another good cup run is the only hope the foxes have left of saving their season with a European challenge looking unlikely in the Premier League. They could win the Europa Conference League but given how inconsistent they've been this season, a good go at that competition looks unlikely.
PREDICTION: 1-3
I'm going for a Leicester win here because I think they'll field a strong enough team and have enough quality to win the game. Forest will back themselves after beating Arsenal in the last round but I think the Foxes will have enough in them to win the game.
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