FA Cup 5th round predictions: Man City, Liverpool & Chelsea in action

The FA Cup returns in midweek as teams bid to reach the quarter finals of the competition.

Fresh from their respective Carabao Cup glory and heartbreak, Liverpool and Chelsea are back in action, while Manchester City and Tottenham will also look to progress to the next round.

All the 'big' teams have been kept apart in this draw, though there are still some intriguing matches. Manchester City travel to Championship side Peterborough, Middlesbrough host Spurs and Chelsea visit Luton.

Ahead of the fixtures, here are 90min's predictions for the fifth round.

Tuesday

Peterborough vs Manchester City

So often the dominating side in England's cup competitions, Manchester City had to watch on as Liverpool took their Carabao Cup crown from them.

However, you'd be a fool to bet against Pep Guardiola's side regaining the FA Cup following Leicester's triumph last season.

City haven't been particularly brilliant recently, losing to Tottenham before scraping a win at Everton, but they'll definitely have enough in the tank to best a Peterborough outfit who sit bottom of the Championship with five losses in their last six games. Their last victory came in this competition, when they beat Queens Park Rangers 2-0.

Prediction: Peterborough 0-5 Manchester City

Crystal Palace vs Stoke

Palace will hope they've turned a corner in their last few games, earning a win and a draw to push them up to 11th in the Premier League. Before those two matches, they'd won just one game in their last six - their last FA Cup outing against Hartlepool.

They face a Stoke side winless in their last four games and who also have a poor away record in 2022. They got to this stage by dumping out Wigan.

The Eagles will be favourites here, but with neither side in particularly hot form, don't rule out a shock at Selhurst Park.

Prediction: Crystal Palace 2-1 Stoke

Middlesbrough vs Tottenham

In Tuesday's latest kick off, Tottenham visit Middlesbrough off the back of a 4-0 thumping of Leeds on Saturday.

While Spurs ran out comfortable winners at Elland Road, they're topsy-turvy form offers plenty of hope for a Boro side looking for promotion to the Premier League. Their hopes of a playoff spot have taken a hit due to two recent losses, but under Chris Wilder they're more than capable of springing a surprise.

Tottenham will be favourites, but expect a good, tight game.

Prediction: Middlesbrough 1-2 Tottenham

Wednesday

Luton vs Chelsea

Fresh from their Carabao Cup defeat to Liverpool, Chelsea jump straight into more cup antics when they kick off Wednesday's action at Luton.

An enthralling final ended goalless before substitute goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga blazed his shootout effort over the bar, and this clash could give Thomas Tuchel more headaches.

The Hatters are sixth in the Championship under Nathan Jones and have won seven of their last nine games in all competitions, one being the 3-0 victory at Cambridge in the last round.

Chelsea are understandably favourites, but they may not blow their hosts away.

Prediction: Luton 0-2 Chelsea

Southampton vs West Ham

One of only two all-Premier League FA Cup ties this round, West Ham travel to Southampton looking to reach the quarter finals of the competition for the first time since 2015/16.

Both sides are in excellent form, with the Hammers still fighting it out for a top four spot, while the Saints have charged into the top ten having gone unbeaten in their last five league games.

With changes likely to be made to each starting XI, expect an entertaining fixture - one that may need extra time and even penalties to decide.

Prediction: Southampton 2-2 West Ham

Liverpool vs Norwich

Carabao Cup winners Liverpool jump from one domestic competition to another when they host Norwich in front of what is sure to be a raucous Anfield crowd.

The two sides squared off less than two weeks ago as the Reds ran out 3-1 winners after the Canaries had taken a shock lead.

Jurgen Klopp will likely give some of his lesser-used stars some game time, but they should still have more than enough to see off a Norwich side more concerned by their Premier League status than an FA Cup run.

Prediction: Liverpool 4-0 Norwich

Thursday

Everton vs Boreham Wood

The FA Cup could be seen as something of a distraction for Frank Lampard and Everton, who are living dangerously down at the bottom of the Premier League in 17th.

However, it presents the former Chelsea boss with an opportunity to coerce some form out of his players against a Boreham Wood side who play their football in the National League.

The Wood have done incredibly well to get to this stage, earning magnificent wins over AFC Wimbledon and Bournemouth, and their players will no doubt relish the opportunity of playing at Goodison Park.

It should be a comfortable victory for the Toffees, but if any of the the fifth round games scream 'cupset', it's this one.

Prediction: Everton 2-1 Boreham Wood

Monday

Nottingham Forest vs Huddersfield

Rounding us off is the strangely scheduled game between Nottingham Forest and Huddersfield.

Both teams will play their Championship fixtures on Friday before squaring off on Monday night, and there'll be plenty of rotation to ensure no player gets unnecessarily injured during the fixture pile-up.

The Terriers have shot up to third with their recent run of good form, while Steve Cooper's Forest still have an outside chance of claiming a playoff spot. Hopefully a winner can be decided inside 90 minutes for the sake of the players' legs, but extra time may still be required.

Prediction: Nottingham Forest 1-1 Huddersfield

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