FA Cup predictions: Fourth round

After two weeks of drip-fed Premier League football, the FA Cup returns as top-flight teams look to capitalise on their well-earned winter breaks.

Few heavy-hitters were eliminated in the third round earlier in January, with Arsenal the only giants to see their domestic cup hopes shattered after Liverpool won at the Emirates.

The Reds will be banking on victory at home to Norwich City to reach the fifth round, while the tie of the weekend sees Manchester City visit Tottenham Hotspur on Friday night hoping to finally end their curse in north London.

As teams look to secure their spots in the draw for the next stage, here are 90min’s predictions for the fourth round of the 2023/24 FA Cup.

Thursday 25 January

Two towns on the coast of the United Kingdom collide in the first fixture of the fourth round when Bournemouth host Swansea City.

The Cherries’ booming run of form has been halted by consecutive defeats to Tottenham and Liverpool but Andoni Iraola will still be confident of progressing past a Swans outfit currently scrapping away in 16th in the Championship.

Friday 26 January

Chelsea, fresh from reaching their first domestic cup final under Mauricio Pochettino on Tuesday, are back under the Stamford Bridge lights on Friday night in one of three 19:45 kick-offs. They entertain Aston Villa, who won on their last visit to west London in September but haven’t reached the fifth round since they went all the way to the final in 2014/15.

Coventry City could pip Sheffield Wednesday at Hillsborough, having won the last three games between the Championship outfits, while Nottingham Forest will also fancy an away win at Bristol City, who dumped West Ham United out of the competition in a replay.

Kicking off at 20:00, Manchester City‘s trip to Tottenham is arguably the tie of the round. Pep Guardiola’s side are the reigning holders but must overcome a ridiculously poor run of results at Spurs’ home ground to keep their defence alive.

Saturday 27 January

Saturday’s FA Cup action involves inter-league match-ups in all but one fixture. Perhaps the last chance for some classic magic this season comes at lunchtime when sixth-tier Maidstone United, the lowest-ranked side remaining in the competition, visit Championship promotion hunters Ipswich Town.

Brighton & Hove Albion will hope to bring an end to their odd hoodoo with Sheffield United. The Blades are unbeaten in their five Premier League meetings with the Seagulls to date ahead of their battle at Bramall Lane.

Leeds and Plymouth are bound to put on a show in their Elland Road clash, with the two sides scoring 97 Championship goals between them so far this season.

Leicester have won their last four games against Birmingham – including a 1-0 FA Cup triumph in 2020 – and the Foxes should comfortably reach the next round, while Premier League teams Everton and Luton lace up their boots again having successfully come through third round replays.

The evening game sees the perennially injury-ravaged Newcastle visit London to battle Fulham. The Magpies haven’t won the FA Cup since 1955 and have been dealing with fitness issues and transfer madness throughout January. Their fixture with the inconsistent Cottagers could be a belter.

Sunday 28 January

After the action of Thursday, Friday and Saturday, what better way to introduce Sunday’s fixture list than with a Black Country derby at 11:45 in the morning?

West Brom got the better of Wolves in their last season together in the Premier League, taking four points from their two meetings during the 2020/21 campaign, but the Wanderers are unbeaten in their last six games and should show their class to win at the Hawthorns.

Russell Martin’s glorious beard will be on full display at Vicarage Road as the in-form Southampton take on Watford. The Hornets have shown more consistency in recent weeks and have lost just two games since a 1-1 with the Saints in early December.

Liverpool and Norwich have shared the odd classic here and there in the Premier League, though their last encounter came in the FA Cup in 2022. The Reds triumphed 2-1 and went on to lift the trophy at Wembley, eventually overcoming Chelsea on penalties.

Sunday’s slate comes to an end in Wales when Newport host Manchester United. The Red Devils are never far away from a crisis but Erik ten Hag could do without a first major cupset of his Old Trafford reign. Newport, however, are no strangers to the big occasion, having faced the likes of Man City and Tottenham in the competition in previous years.

Monday 29 January

Wrexham will look another handful followers to their ever-growing project in the final game of the round at Blackburn Rovers.

The Rob McElhenney and Ryan Reynolds-owned club made a big splash in the FA Cup last season, reaching the fourth round where they were eventually dumped out by Sheffield United in a replay. The Rovers’ only win in their last eight outings came in the cup, with their Championship play-off aspirations falling off a cliff of late.

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