jonjoward1998

Mar 1, 20228 min read

FA Cup 5th Round Predictions

TUESDAY:

PETERBOROUGH V MAN CITY

Peterborough are having a really tough season in this Championship as they're bottom of the league and their quest for survival was made even more challenging last week with the departure of manager Darren Ferguson. Ferguson was arguably the best man to take them back up if they ended up relegated as he's done so before and new boss Grant McCann already has a tough job on his hands in truing to keep the Posh in the league.

The Posh will definitely be looking forward to this game as they rarely get the chance to play a team like Man City. They'll just go out there and enjoy the occasion no matter what the score is and their experience from this game could give them the confidence to boost their survival hopes.

Man City had to patient against Everton on Saturday and as always the patience eventually paid off. It was a game they had to win as Liverpool weren't playing and it will give them some breathing space at the top of the league for the next few weeks unless they drop some points.

City will have a full squad to pick from for this game as they have no injury concerns to worry about. They will make changes to the team that played against Everton but their starting 11 on the day will still look strong because of the strength of their squad overall.

PREDICTION: 0-6

This one should be a comfortable win for City because I think they'll have too much for Peterborough. With the quality of players they'll have out on the pitch despite them making some changes, they'll still win this one without too many problems.

CRYSTAL PALACE V STOKE

Crystal Palace's current squad is probably the most exciting I've seen from them ever because of the attacking options they have. They've relied a lot on Wilfried Zaha over the last few seasons but with players like Michael Olise, Eberechi Eze and Conor Gallagher in their side they have more goals in them now than they did before.

Stoke have been a very inconsistent side in the Championship this season after a reasonably good start. They were up near the play offs earlier in the season but inconsistent form since then has seen them drop down to 15th. They're not in great form going into this one but over the course of the season they have been very inconsistent.

Michael O'Neill will see this cup tie as an opportunity to help his side kick start their season and improve their form as they've won just once in their last 5 league games. They will be underdogs in this one as they're a league below their opponents but they'll still be looking to use this cup tie as an opportunity to improve their fortunes.

PREDICTION: 2-0

I'm backing Palace to win this cup tie because I think they'll have enough to see themselves through to the next round. With the attacking options they have along with the current strength of their squad, they should have no problems in winning this cup tie.

MIDDLESBROUGH V TOTTENHAM

Middlesbrough will fancy themselves to cause another cup upset here after knocking out Man United in Round 4 which will give them confidence going into this one. Their league form has stuttered since then but they'll still back themselves to cause another cup upset.

The FA Cup is Spurs' last chance of having a successful season as its the only competition they're still in plus it would guarantee them a place in Europe if they were to miss out via the league. They may be 7th as things stand in the Premier League with a couple of games in hand but with Wolves a couple of points behind them, it is likely that they could miss out on a place in Europe overall.

It will be interesting to see which Spurs turn up for this cup tie as they've been inconsistent of late. They tore Leeds apart at the weekend days after a poor performance at Burnley which came off the back of an impressive win over Man City. Antonio Conte will want another win here so he can build some much needed consistency for his Spurs team.

PREDICTION: 1-0

I'm backing Middlesbrough to cause another cup upset here as I can see Spurs put in one of their usual Spursy performances. If this happens, I can see Boro take advantage here.

PREMIER LEAGUE FIXTURE

BURNLEY V LEICESTER

Burnley have some much needed confidence on board going into this game following their recent results which have given them a boost in their battle to avoid the drop. They've been tight at the back as they usually are but more importantly they're carrying more of a goal threat which was what they were lacking about a month ago.

Leicester have looked more like the team from last season in recent games but haven't got the results to go with their improved performances. I mentioned after their defeat to Wolves a couple of weeks ago that they need to get their best players back and they'll have one of them available for this one in Jamie Vardy.

They could've done with Vardy in their last two games against West Ham and Wolves as they couldn't finish them both off with the chances they had. Vardy would've taken them if he was on the pitch and the Foxes will be more than glad to have him back leading their attack.

PREDICTION: 1-1

I can see Burnley get another good result here because they're in good form and I can see them cause the shaky Leicester defence problems with their long balls into the box. The Foxes will have Vardy back which will be a boost for them. But I think the Clarets will keep him quiet for this one.

WEDNESDAY:

LUTON V CHELSEA

Luton are having a brilliant season in the Championship this season as they're currently sitting in the play off places in 6th. They would've taken a mid-table finish at the start of the season having finished 12th last season and for them to be in the play offs shows how good a job Nathan Jones has done.

The Hatters played Chelsea in the 4th Round last season where they lost 3-1 at Stamford Bridge. They arguably stand a better chance of causing an upset this time round than they did last season because of the season they're having. They've played some good football under Nathan Jones and if they can play like they have done all season, they could give Chelsea a game.

Chelsea will need to pick themselves up in this game after losing the Carabao Cup final to Liverpool on Sunday. Losing a cup final can take time to get over and especially when you lose it on penalties as it is the most heart-breaking way to any football match. Thomas Tuchel will be hoping that his side can banish those demons in this game.

The Blues will probably make changes for this one as Tuchel may want to rest the players who played the full 120 minutes in the cup final. They will have had a couple of days to recover from that game but with certain players likely to feel a bit tired, it wouldn't surprise me if they rested those players who played the entire game.

PREDICTION: 0-2

I'm backing Chelsea to win this one because I think they'll have more than enough to win this game. They may make a few changes for this game but I still think they'll have enough to reach the next round.

SOUTHAMPTON V WEST HAM

Southampton should be looking to go far in the FA Cup this season as they realistically have nothing to play for in the league. They should have enough to finish in the top 10 if they carry on the way they are but I can't see them push for a place in Europe as they're 7 points adrift of those spots and the teams already there are likely to stay there at the end of the season.

The momentum will be with the Saints in this one as they're unbeaten in their last five and in the better form. They took 4 points off West Ham in the Premier League this season and that along with their recent form will give them plenty of confidence going into this game.

West Ham picked up a much needed win against Wolves at the weekend which got their top four bid back on track. It was a result they needed as they were starting to slip away and Man United of course dropped points which enabled them to close the gap.

The Hammers haven't really gone far in this competition since reaching the final back in 2006 and David Moyes will 100% see this competition as an opportunity to win his side a trophy. They are still in the Europa League and have a Champions League spot to play for in the league, but going far in or possibly winning the FA Cup would make their season even better.

PREDICTION: 2-1

I'm going for a Southampton win here because they're in the better form and I can see them carry the confidence gained from recent games into this one. They beat the Hammers the last time they met them and I can see them beat them again.

LIVERPOOL V NORWICH

Liverpool's Carabao Cup win will give them the motivation and confidence to win other trophies this season and one of them could be the FA Cup. They haven't done well in this competition over the last few seasons but with a stronger squad this time round, they definitely stand a better chance of winning it.

The reds will probably make some changes for this cup tie as Klopp may want to rest the players that played the majority of the Carabao Cup final. They'll still field a reasonably strong team because of how strong their squad is but I still think they'll rest some players and bring in the ones who didn't play on Sunday.

Norwich's 3rd Round win over Charlton started their mini revival in the Premier League but since beating Wolves in Round 4 they've lost a bit of momentum. They did have to play Man City and Liverpool in two of their games since their last cup game but they still could've got results from the more winnable games against Crystal Palace and Southampton.

The Canaries didn't play too badly when they came to Anfield a couple of weeks ago as they took a surprise lead and battled well for most of the game. They'll need to show that kind of performance in this one if they're to stand a chance of getting something from this cup tie which looks very unlikely to happen.

PREDICTION: 3-0

I've got to go with a Liverpool win here because I think they'll be too strong for Norwich. The reds will make some changes but because their squad is looking very strong, they'll still have more than enough to win this game.

THURSDAY:

EVERTON V BOREHAM WOOD

Everton looked in the game against Man City on Saturday where they felt hard done by with that penalty decision that went against them. They may have lost the game but their performance on the day will hopefully give them a platform to build on as they look to climb up the table and away from the relegation places.

A good run in the cup could give Everton the confidence they need to improve their league form because it has done that for teams in the past. Frank Lampard has to play a reasonably strong team for this one so he can build some momentum for his side to take into their league games and so his side can avoid an FA Cup embarrassment.

Boreham Wood are the only side left in the FA Cup yet to concede a goal which will give them a lot of confidence going into this cup tie. They put in a battling performance to beat Bournemouth in the last round and they'll need to do the same if they're to cause yet another shock.

Everyone involved with the non league club will definitely be looking forward to this game as they never get to see their team play a club like Everton at a stadium as historic as Goodison Park. The players themselves will just go out there and enjoy the occasion no matter what the score is plus they deserve a tie like this.