FA Cup action is back on the agenda this week with the 2024 last 16 ready to do battle between Monday and Wednesday.
Treble chasers Manchester City are in action in an all Premier League tie against Luton Town and Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool have a handy home game against Championship side Southampton. And the FA Cup adventure continues for sixth tier minnows Maidstone United away to Coventry City in their fifth round tie.
Here at SBOTOP we’ve picked the four games which have all the FA Cup romance and intrigue, and controversy, you would hope for… so let’s take a closer look at the best match-ups of the week.
Mon 26th Coventry City vs Maidstone United
Why need Maidstone worry about a trip to Coventry after they plundered a win away to Championship high flyers Ipswich Town in the fourth round? That was the biggest of all the FA Cup 2024 results and it was fully deserved, as goals from Lamar Reynolds and Sam Corne gave the National League South team a night they will never forget.
Can they do it again? Well of course they can but the Stones face another formidable opponent in Coventry. Mark Robins’ side finished fifth last season but missed out in the play-offs, and they are currently ninth in the Championship table and in the promotion mix again. Coventry will be smarting after they lost 3-0 at home to Preston North End at the weekend, a first defeat after three wins and a draw, including a 4-1 victory over Sheffield Wednesday in the fourth round as the impressive Callum O’Hare scored a brace.
This tie is what the FA Cup is all about and, while the neutrals will be rooting for the Stones, a quarter final appearance would be a big deal for Coventry too.
Tues 27th Luton Town vs Manchester City
The FA Cup 2024 betting odds say the Sky Blues are the team to beat in this competition (much like every tournament they enter) and the task falls to Premier League strugglers Luton Town. The Hatters have fought gallantly on their return to the top flight but Rob Edward’s side have a really tough task ahead of them in both the league and this FA Cup tie.
The holders Manchester City have been gathering momentum in recent weeks and they have welcomed back some key players, with Erling Haaland and Kevin de Bruyne back in action while Jack Grealish too has made a quicker return than expected. Luton have lost the last three and they will do well to keep the Sky Blues at bay on Tuesday.
Weds 28th Chelsea vs Leeds United
This game has real bite to it and the 1970 FA Cup final between Chelsea and Leeds is known as the most brutal game in English history. So violent was the clash that modern day referee Michael Oliver said he would have issued 11 red cards, and I suspect VAR would have found a couple more! 54 years on and this remains a tasty rivalry and it is a potential classic for the neutrals to enjoy. Both teams are rather more cultured now and we are unlikely to see a bloodbath at Stamford Bridge.
Mauricio Pochettino’s Blues are in the Carabao Cup final against Liverpool on Sunday and, in the midst of a difficult league season for the Londoners, some cheer in the cup will be very welcome. They won’t find it easy against a Leeds side in fantastic form, second in the table and looking for a quick return to the Premier League. Daniel Farke’s side have won the last six, including a 3-1 victory over runaway leaders Leicester City on Friday night.
Weds 28th Liverpool vs Southampton
Leeds United have nudged ahead of Southampton into the Championship promotion places after the Saints fell to a third defeat in four games, failing at home to Millwall at the weekend. The league is undoubtedly Southampton’s biggest priority and I suspect head coach Russell Martin will not be targeting this game. They will take what they can but the Saints will not expect much. Liverpool may already have some silverware in Jurgen Klopp’s final season at Anfield, if they manage to beat Chelsea in the Carabao Cup final and, like the Sky Blues, they are chasing a treble. Mo Salah has returned to action and the Reds have been in a rich vein of form and I suspect they will have much too much for the Saints.
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