The Barlays Premier League takes this weekend off, but some of England’s top teams will still be action over the course of the next two days.
The FA Cup fifth round features eight games involving nine teams from the English top flight, including two marquee match-ups featuring all four teams at the top of the table.
Here are five matches to keep close tabs on.
Sunday programming alert: Watch Everton vs. Swansea City (Sportsnet World, 8:30 am ET) and Arsenal vs. Liverpool (Sportsnet World, 11 am ET). | Also watch Sheffield United vs. Nottingham Forest exclusively on Sportsnet World Online at 10 am ET. | TV schedule
Arsenal vs. Liverpool
Redemption day has finally arrived for Arsenal. A horrendous week of results has raised questions about their title credentials and ability to go the distance. It began eight days ago at Anfield—thumped 5-1 by Liverpool, the Gunners followed up with an uninspiring scoreless draw on Wednesday versus Manchester United at Emirates Stadium. Everything comes full circle, and Arsene Wenger is hoping to put to rest all the negativity surrounding his embattled players against the team which began their turbulent week. Normally, Wenger uses cup competitions to give his youngsters a run in the first team, but given recent events and the need for an immediate response to silence an expanding list of critics, expect Arsenal to come out full throttle with a strong lineup.
Over at Liverpool, Brendan Rodgers has been receiving nothing but praise, not only for the Reds’ master class last weekend, but for the gritty and possibly undeserving 3-2 comeback victory over Fulham at Craven Cottage on Wednesday. Liverpool twice hit back to equalize, and secured maximum points from a late spot-kick that Steven Gerrard calmly placed past Maarten Stekelenburg. Once again self-inflicted wounds—Kolo Toure’s laughable own goal opener and Martin Skrtel gifting the second on a bad clearance attempt—almost led to more points lost. It’s the main reason Liverpool aren’t taken seriously as title chasers, despite having the key advantage of fully focusing on a possible nineteenth English crown.
Everton vs. Swansea City
Four years have passed since Roberto Martinez departed South Wales, effectively walking out the door to take over former club Wigan—during his playing days—and irking a large contingent of Swansea supporters. Labelled “El Judas” for his supposed betrayal, Martinez lost in his return to Liberty Stadium last season with the Latics. However, the Spaniard’s visit with new club Everton ended triumphantly just before Christmas, with Ross Barkley scoring the late match-winner (2-1). Heading into Sunday’s fifth round fixture, the Toffees’ form has taken a slight dip of late (losing two of their last three), while Swansea are thriving under new manager Gary Monk, taking four points from his first two matches in charge.
It might not be favourable among the masses, but both teams would benefit without the additional commitment and strain of another competition. The FA Cup may be nostalgic and loved by purists, but league position is what matters most nowadays and the money it generates. A trophy raise at Wembley is definitely picturesque and forever remembered, more so than finishing anywhere between fifth and seventeenth. Unfortunately, if Everton plan on beating the odds and cracking the top-four, an extended run might not be ideal. However, try explaining that to Toffees supporters who have been without silverware since winning their fifth and final FA Cup 19 years ago.
Saturday programming alert: Watch Sunderland vs. Southampton (Sportsnet World, 7:30 am ET), Cardiff City vs. Wigan Athletic (Sportsnet World, 9:30 am ET) and Manchester City vs. Chelsea (Sportsnet World, noon ET. | Also watch Sheffield Wednesday vs. Charlton Athletic exclusively on Sportsnet World Online at 10 am ET. | TV schedule
Sunderland vs. Southampton
Sunderland has a Wembley final date (Capital One Cup) already safely secured in their back pockets, so assumptions of this match being a mere formality for the Black Cats would be a logical conclusion. Given their current standing, in the thick of a scrappy relegation battle with practically half of the table, the smart move would be for Sunderland to field a squad of reserve and youth team players on Saturday at the Stadium of Light. The postponement of their mid-week fixture against Manchester City due to inclement weather gave Gus Poyet’s group an extra day’s rest, making them a tad fresher than their opponents who won at Hull City on Tuesday.
Interestingly enough, should the Black Cats progress to the FA Cup quarter-finals, it would be the second time this season Southampton has crashed out of a cup competition on Wearside (losing 2-1 in the League Cup fourth round proper). The sides also drew 2-2 a month ago in the league, with Fabio Borini and Adam Johnson staging a comeback after being two goals down.
Cardiff City vs. Wigan Athletic
It’s been almost a decade since these two teams met on the pitch, with the Latics pulling the double over the former Bluebirds in the Championship, ahead of earning their first-ever top-flight promotion. The match on Saturday will be their first cup showdown, as all of their previous encounters have taken place in the lower-tiers, with Wigan winning eight (nine draws) of 21 competitive fixtures.
These two teams are fairly unknown to one another, as Cardiff’s last victory came in the old third division (1997), though, if results continue to go south for the Dragons in the league, they might not have to wait nearly as long to contend this fixture. Wigan are pushing to bounce straight back up into the Premier League following relegation last season, and are currently four points off the pace of a playoff spot, losing only two (six wins) of their last 12 Championship matches since Uwe Rosler took over from the sacked Owen Coyle.
Manchester City vs. Chelsea
Round three between these two Premier League heavyweights takes centre stage on Saturday, which comes only 12 days after the Blues’ 1-0 victory at Etihad Stadium in the league. Jose Mourinho has gotten the better of his counterpart Manuel Pellegrini in both of their encounters this season (previously winning 2-1 at Stamford Bridge). The timing of this matchup could not have come at a better point in the season, with Chelsea sitting top of the table, three points ahead of third place City who also have a game in hand following the cancelation of their fixture against Sunderland on Wednesday.
If the fire needed to be stoked even further, a somewhat tame war of words began this week between the managers, with Pellegrini claiming the Blues have spent more money on players this season, and Mourinho countering by questioning Pellegrini’s math skills. Don’t you just love listening to two rich kids arguing over who has the bigger bank account? Aside from the victory earlier this month, the Blues had previously not won in five visits to the Etihad. Sit back and enjoy what very well could prove to be a very volatile and entertaining confrontation.
