jonjoward1998

Jan 26, 20239 min read

FA Cup 4th Round Predictions

FRIDAY:

MAN CITY V ARSENAL

These two are going head to head for the Premier League title and whoever wins here will probably go all the way in this competition.

Man City showed signs that they're returning to their best against Wolves last weekend where Erling Haaland netted another hat trick. He was certainly back to his best as he showed what a difference he makes to this City side when he's around.

Defensively has arguably been City's area of concern recently probably because of the amount of times they've changed their backline. Changing personnel in your defence can be unsettling as you're having to play with different partnerships at the back. Pep does have a strong squad but he needs to find a settled defence if his side are to be successful this season.

Arsenal have beaten City the last couple times they've met them in this competition at the semi final stage in both 2017 and 2020. Mikel Arteta was in charge when the two sides met in 2020 not long after he arrived at the club and it's the only win he's registered against his mentor.

Their record against the big teams this season has been much improved compared to recent seasons and it's played a big part in the season they're having. They go into those games with much more belief and they'll be going into this one with a lot of belief with the form they've been in.

PREDICTION: 3-2

Arsenal may be in the better form but I think City will come out on top here. They've got a stronger squad and arguably more quality than the Gunners and I can see that quality shine through here. Arsenal will give it a good go but I think City will have enough to see themselves through.

SATURDAY:

ACCRINGTON STANLEY V LEEDS

Accrington Stanley are just a point outside the relegation zone in League 1 and this cup tie could give them the momentum they need to pull themselves away from danger. Their current form isn't great having won just twice in seven league games and they're also the joint second lowest goal scorers.

Everyone involved with the club will be looking forward to this game with it being against Premier League opposition and they don't get to play against these teams very often. The players will just go out there and enjoy the occasion hoping to cause a cup upset.

Leeds have come unstuck against lower league opposition in this competition in recent seasons losing to the likes of Newport and Crawley. Stanley may be struggling in League 1 this season but you still wouldn't be surprised if Leeds suffered another banana skin here.

They need a good run in this competition so they can carry the momentum into the league. Their current form has put a lot of pressure on manager Jesse Marsch who needs a result here to keep his job.

PREDICTION: 1-0

I fancy Stanley to cause an upset here as I can see Leeds make wholesale changes. John Coleman's side don't score many goals but with Leeds being a side who occasionally shoot themselves in the foot, I can see the League 1 side cause an upset here.

WALSALL V LEICESTER

Walsall are having a decent season in League 2 as they currently sit in 11th place and four points outside the play offs. They've never really hit the high spots in that division as they're usually a side who finish lower mid-table. For them to be 11th at this stages marks a good season for them so far.

Manager Michael Flynn is an experienced manager when it comes to causing an FA Cup upset having achieved one or two during his time at Newport. One of the big teams he knocked was in fact Leicester back in 2019. He'll certainly be fancying himself of causing another upset here wit the recent history he has of doing so.

Leicester are one of those sides who need a good cup run to kick-start their season which has been rather underwhelming. Their form since the World Cup break has been poor and they need a win in this cup tie to give them some much needed confidence which is something they need.

The Foxes will be more than glad to have James Maddison back after coming off the bench in their draw with Brighton last weekend. He's been a massive miss for the Foxes since the World Cup break and his return has come at a good time as the Foxes need results and quickly.

PREDICTION: 0-2

I'm backing Leicester to win here because I think they'll field a strong enough team to win the game. Walsall will give it a go but with the Foxes having Maddison back and some good squad players to come in, I think they'll win this one fairly comfortably.

FULHAM V SUNDERLAND

Fulham had some decent chances against Spurs on Monday night and particularly early on. But they weren't able to take them which was surprising as I thought they would win that game. They'll still feel optimistic though as they've had a great season and will be looking to keep it up over the next few months.

Marco Silva's side will probably make changes for this game but I don't see him making too many. He'll obviously want to refresh his side so his key men can be available for the Premier League but I still think he'll field a strong enough team here as he'll want his side to go on a cup run.

Sunderland are having a very good first season back in the Championship and it's good to finally see them doing well again after a tough few years in League 1. Tony Mowbray has done a great job since he replaced Alex Neil who left for Stoke early in the season and he is someone who can definitely stabilise them in the second tier.

The Black Cats will look to have a go at Fulham as they're a side who like to win the ball high up the pitch. They've been one of the highest goal scorer in the Championship this season and will surely look to give Fulham a game here.

PREDICTION: 2-1

This one should be a close game as both sides likes to play on the front foot and play good football. I think Fulham will take the win as they'll have enough quality to win the game. They might make a number of changes but I still think they'll field a strong enough team to win this game.

SOUTHAMPTON V BLACKPOOL

Southampton have one of the worst home records in England's top four divisions this season with just one home win to their name all season. They lost again at home in midweek against Newcastle in the Carabao Cup where they could've got something had Nick Pope not played in the way he did.

Their win over Crystal Palace in the last round started a mini revival as they followed it up with wins over Man City and Everton in the Carabao Cup and Premier League respectively. A win from this cup tie should hopefully start another one and they need to make it last longer if they're to give themselves a good chance of staying up.

Blackpool battered Nottingham Forest in the last round and it was meant to kick start their season. But it wasn't to be as Michael Appleton was sacked and the club failed to climb out of the relegation zone.

Mick McCarthy is in charge of the Tangerines now and this will be his first game in charge. He's had an entire week to work with his players on the training field and he'll be hoping for a strong response here so his side can carry some momentum with them in the Championship.

Despite their poor league form, the players will still believe that they can cause another cup upset after knocking out Forest in the 3rd round. There will be a different approach from them in this game as they have a different manager in charge but they'll still fancy themselves of knocking out another Premier League side.

PREDICTION: 1-2

I'm backing Blackpool to cause another upset here as Southampton have such a terrible record at home. They'll have some belief that they can pull it off after beating Nottingham Forest in the last round and with McCarthy having a week to work with his players, I can see them pull off another upset and get off to a winning start under their new manager.

PRESTON V TOTTENHAM

Preston have been a well established side in the Championship for a few seasons now and this season they're pushing for the play offs. They might be 11th in the table but they're just two points outside those spots in what has been a very open Championship season in terms of the race for the play offs.

They're not a side who will many goals though as they're the third lowest goal scorers in the league. They do play some good football under Ryan Lowe but they're not always clinical in the final third. They'll look to give Spurs a game here with the way they play and they'll need to be clinical otherwise Spurs will punish them.

Spurs haven't been a convincing side this season and especially over the last couple of months where they've been starting games slowly. They did go ahead and keep a clean sheet against Fulham on Monday but they still didn't get off the the best of starts. They need to snap out of this and quickly.

They could hand Arnaut Danjuma his debut in this game following his arrival from Villarreal on loan during the week. Spurs now have some competition for places in their attack with him signed up and his signing could prompt someone like Heung min Son to up his game after an underwhelming season so far.

PREDICTION: 0-2

I'm backing Spurs to win this one as they should have more than enough quality to win the game. It won't be a brilliant performances from them but they should still have enough going forward to get the job done.

MAN UNITED V READING

It was a comfortable win for Man United against Nottingham Forest in the Carabao Cup in midweek where they were in control from start to finish. It was a good response to their loss at Arsenal the previous weekend and the right one in the way they played.

United haven't lost at home since the opening day of the season against Brighton and their form since then has been incredible. Some have said that Old Trafford has lost it's fear factor in recent seasons but with the form United have been in at home this season in all competitions, the fear factor could well be back for opposing teams.

Reading have had an inconsistent season in the Championship this season but it has however been an improvement on last season where they just stayed up. They're looking comfortable in 14th at the moment and Paul Ince deserves some credit for the job he's done since he's been in charge.

Ince will know all about playing at Old Trafford as he spent six years at United as a player. I'm sure he'll get a good reception from the home crowd as he won a number of trophies during his time at the club. But more importantly he'll want to led his side to an FA Cup exit.

PREDICTION: 3-0

I've got to go for a United win because I think they'll be too strong for Reading. They might rest some players but with the form that they've been in since the World Cup and the quality of players they have, they should win this one reasonably comfortably.

SUNDAY:

BRIGHTON V LIVERPOOL

Brighton completely outplayed Liverpool when the two sides met a couple of weeks ago and their performance that day will give them a lot of confidence going into this one. This game won't be as comfortable as the league encounter was but Roberto De Zerbi's side will still believe that they can get another win against the cup holders.

Liverpool will no doubt want to avenge that defeat from a couple of weeks ago and they'll be determined to put in a better showing here. Jurgen Klopp will have looked back at that game and seen what his side need to do better if they're to come out on top in this on. I'm sure he will have got his players working on those things in training this week.

It was another poor showing from them against Chelsea last time out where they were lucky to come away with point. They were not convincing enough going forward and had to rely on Alisson several times to keep them in the game.

PREDICTION: 2-1

I'm going for another Brighton win here but I don't think it will be as straightforward as it was a couple of weeks ago. Liverpool will show a bit more fight and they have to after their shocking display in the previous game. But I think the Seagulls will have enough energy in them to see themselves through.

MONDAY:

DERBY V WEST HAM

Derby are arguably doing a lot better than most people thought they would this season with Paul Warne's side currently 4th in League 1 and in with a chance of a swift return to the Championship. This season was meant to be seen as a rebuilding season after all the problems they had during their relegation season. Particularly off the pitch.

There is a much better atmosphere around the Rams this season thanks to the new owners and this cup tie will raise the excitement levels further. It's been a while since they last faced a Premier League side in a cup competition and everyone involved with the club will surely be looking to forward to this game.

West Ham picked up a much needed win last time out against Everton which will hopefully give them some much needed confidence. It was a much improved performance from them on the day and one they'll be looking to build on.

A win in this cup tie will give them some more momentum and David Moyes will surely be using this competition for that very reason. They might make a number of changes for this game but I still think Moyes will field a strong enough side to get his team through to the next round.