FA Cup predictions: Fifth round

The first piece of domestic silverware in England has been handed out after Liverpool won the Carabao Cup, but attention will quickly turn to the FA Cup as the fifth round takes place in midweek.

The Reds bested Chelsea in extra-time to win at Wembley on Sunday and both sides are back in action on Wednesday as they look to seal their places in the quarter-finals.

The lowest-ranked side remaining in the competition kick things off on Monday, with Manchester City and Newcastle among the Premier League teams featured on Tuesday.

Here's how 90min sees the 2023/24 FA Cup fifth round playing out.

Monday 26 February

Maidstone United's run has been one of the best underdog stories in the FA Cup in recent years and George Elokobi's side will be hopeful of putting their name into the hat for the last eight when they visit Coventry City on Monday night.

Maidstone eliminated Championship opposition in the last round by winning at Ipswich, and while Coventry may have dropped out of the play-off spots this month, Mark Robins' outfit should have enough in the tank to reach the FA Cup quarter-finals for the first time since 2009.

Tuesday 27 February

An intriguing opener awaits for Tuesday's FA Cup action as idealists Bournemouth take on promotion-chasing Leicester City. The Cherries are winless in seven league games while the Foxes were downed by Leeds last time out as their lead at the top of the Championship shrunk to six points.

Newcastle were swarmed by Arsenal on Saturday night, failing to find any rhythm at the Emirates Stadium, but cup success could offer the Magpies a ray of light in an otherwise dark campaign. Blackburn Rovers have failed to find their clinical edge of late, drawing three consecutive league fixtures.

Manchester City extended their unbeaten run in all competitions to 17 games with their slender victory at Bournemouth. The treble winners are widely expected to breeze past Luton Town, though the Hatters have made life difficult for the more illustrious visitors to Kenilworth Road so far in 2023/24.

Wednesday 28 February

Chelsea blew a great opportunity to end their recent Wembley hoodoo but contrived to lose to a youthful Liverpool in extra time as Virgil van Dijk's header settled proceedings. Having now lost six domestic cup finals in a row, the Blues will hope to avoid a 'cupset' against historic rivals Leeds at Stamford Bridge.

Manchester United's unbeaten start to 2024 came to a glum end at Old Trafford as Fulham ran out deserved winners and they'll need to do better on their next visit to Nottingham Forest than they managed back in late December. Morgan Gibbs-White's 82nd-minute strike gave Forest victory on that day, but they've only won twice in their last ten games since.

Wolves have stormed into the Premier League's top ten and are now just a point behind upcoming opponents Brighton. Wanderers have become more consistent while the Seagulls remain as temperamental as ever, following up their 5-0 thrashing of Sheffield United with a scratchy 1-1 home draw with Everton.

Liverpool's kids got the job done against Chelsea and a fair few of them will be tasked with ensuring progression at the expense of Southampton. The Saints' automatic promotion push has faltered with three defeats in four Championship games and more disappointment could await at Anfield.

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