FA Cup Fourth Round Soccer Picks, Predictions and Best Bets
The FA Cup returns this weekend for the fourth round of games, where 32 remaining teams from all divisions of English football have a chance at glory. There are 13 Premier League teams remaining, with this week showcasing several fixtures where two top-flight English clubs clash head-on.
There are three spots I love this weekend, so let’s dive in.
Newcastle and Aston Villa face off in the FA Cup for the first time since 2001. The Magpies showcase more wins (76) in the competition compared to the Lions (61), with the fixture ending in a draw 40 separate times.
Aston Villa came out victorious in the FA Cup third round to knock out Tottenham with a 2-1 result. The Lions are having a great season so far in third place in the EPL with the second-lowest goals allowed (27) behind only Arsenal, and immediately progress to the Europa League Round of 16 after finishing matchday eight in second. Ollie Watkins (+175 to score) and Morgan Rogers (+195) lead their team in scoring in the EPL with eight goals apiece, with Rogers being a lethal chance creator with seven assists combined in the FA Cup and EPL.
Newcastle may have slipped to 10th in the EPL, but they are heavy competitors this season as they still reside in Champions League football. They edged a close 7-6 penalty win off a 3-3 regulation draw in the FA Cup third round against Bournemouth and picked up a 2-1 road win against Tottenham on Tuesday. While the Magpies have three players, Bruno Guimaraes (+255), Nick Woltemade (+210), and Harvey Barnes (+265), combining for 21 goals in the EPL, the team only has one win in their last six games, and lost to Aston Villa 2-0 on January 25.
A similar result is likely to ensue due to the Lions’ sharp defence, a team that has only allowed four goals in their last five matches in all competitions, so prepare for another Aston Villa victory.
Liverpool ML (-190) vs. Brighton
Liverpool and Brighton face off once again after a 2-0 shutout victory in the Premier League on December 13 from a Hugo Ekitike brace.
Liverpool may be having an uncharacteristic Premier League season at sixth place, but they dominantly finished at the top of the Champions League standings and moved on from the FA Cup third round with a comfortable 4-1 win over Football League One side Barnsley. They enter this match after picking up a cagey 1-0 win against Sunderland in the EPL, and are hopeful as ever with players like Hugo Ekitike (-130 to score), Cody Gakpo (+120), Dominic Szoboszlai, and Mohamed Salah (+155) at the helm with 19 goals and eight assists between the four.
While Brighton are never down for the count, they haven’t won a Premier League game since January 3, although they did come out with a spectacular 2-1 win over Manchester United to progress from the FA Cup third round. They find themselves in 13th place in the EPL, mainly from an abundance of draws, with three 1-1 ties and a 2-2 result in their last 10. Danny Welbeck (+195) is the only true offensive threat for Brighton, with eight goals, aside from the potential Charalampos Kostoulas (+245), who have two in the EPL.
Liverpool struggles from time to time, but ultimately has a much better squad and midfield depth, with their typical home Anfield advantage. So, it may be safe to take Liverpool against an out-of-form Brighton.
Chelsea’s Cole Palmer anytime goalscorer (-125) vs. Hull City
Chelsea’s main man midfielder and English international, Cole Palmer, is starting to snowball after battling injury for most of the season. He scored a hat-trick against Wolves on February 7, and followed that up with a goal and an assist against Leeds in his last matchup on Tuesday. Any penalty awarded to Chelsea is his for the taking, and he’s a sharpshooter when it comes down to it. Expect Palmer to give Chelsea the advantage with his first FA Cup goal this season.
