Wednesday evening marks the final day of this year’s fifth round FA Cup matches, with the final four of eight set to take place.
Over the past two days, the first four matches took place with Coventry City, Leicester City, Newcastle United and Manchester City all booking their places in the next round of the competition.
These final four games are likely to produce the same amount of drama as the initial four, as Newcastle beat Blackburn on penalties while EFL Championship Leicester beat English Premier League Bournemouth in extra time.
Read on as we pick out our top tips and booking codes for the upcoming FA Cup action:
Chelsea vs Leeds United
Chelsea come into this game having suffered the disappointment of losing in the EFL Cup final to a 118th-minute winner from Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk. This loss became Chelsea’s sixth successive domestic cup final loss, and this will undoubtedly hurt their confidence going into the rest of the season. They’ll be hoping that they can get back to winning ways against Championship side Leeds United, but they are unlikely to be easy opponents for the Blues.
Leeds United currently sit second in the Championship and are enjoying a 12-game unbeaten streak which has seen them beat the likes of Leicester City, who sit top of the league. While Chelsea will pose a bigger threat than they have played this season, we believe that Leeds will be able to pounce on Chelsea’s low confidence and produce a shock victory in this one.
Leeds United to win, 5.90
Wolverhampton Wanderers vs Brighton & Hove Albion
Wolves and Brighton face up in what could potentially be the most entertaining game of this round of the FA Cup, with the two teams so evenly matched so far this season. Brighton currently sit just one point and two positions above Wolves in seventh place, while both are in similar form coming into this game.
Wolves have won three of their last five while Brighton have won two and drawn one, including a huge 5-0 win over Sheffield United.
This one is likely to be a tight encounter and is extremely tough to call but with Wolves having the home advantage, we fancy them to go on and win this one.
Wolves to win, 2.50
Nottingham Forest vs Manchester United
Manchester United suffered a last-minute defeat at the hands of Fulham last weekend, as Alex Iwobi scored in the 97th minute to end Man United’s five-game winning run. They will be coming into this game with Nottingham Forest hoping they can get back to winning ways, and with Forest going through a tough run of results they’ll back themselves to do just that.
Forest have won only three of their last 10 games in all competitions and have struggled in both of their last FA Cup ties, winning in the replay against both Blackpool (after extra time) and Bristol City (after penalties).
The previous two encounters between these sides have seen Forest take Man United all the way, winning one 2-1 and losing the other 3-2 after initially being 2-0 up. We expect this one to be equally as tight with United seeming to always give the opponents a chance to stay in the game, but we do believe Man United will eventually go on to win this one.
Manchester United to win, 2.38
Liverpool vs Southampton
Liverpool will still be buzzing after their late victory in the EFL Cup final against Chelsea over the weekend to claim the first of four available trophies this season. With Jurgen Klopp announcing he will step down at the end of the season Liverpool are looking to make it a perfect ending, and the FA Cup is sure to be on the list of trophies they will want to win.
The Reds may have an injury-ridden squad, but they are facing up against a Southampton side whose form has dropped in the past few weeks so they will fancy their chances. The Saints have lost three of their last four games, including a shock 2-1 defeat to relegation-threatened Millwall.
Striking options Darwin Nunez and Diogo Jota are likely to both miss this one, leaving Cody Gakpo as the most viable striking option. Liverpool will be the dominant side in this one and with chances sure to be created, we fancy Gakpo to get on the scoresheet.
Cody Gakpo to score anytime, 2.30
Booking Codes:
699V6Z3, 699V8HV
