FA Cup 5th Round Betting Preview

The fifth round of the FA Cup kicks off on Monday evening, as Arsenal travel to Portsmouth. The League One outfit have had an almighty downfall ever since they won the trophy in 2008 under Harry Redknapp, failing to get past the fourth round in each season and rocketed to the third tier at the same time.

This campaign is the furthest Pompey have found themselves since the '08 triumph and are now priced at 6/1 with Sky Bet to get past Arsenal in 90 minutes on Monday and 7/2 to qualify for the quarter-finals. Portsmouth are in very good form since the turn of 2020, losing just twice in 16 matches across the board which has put them into the EFL Trophy final and only five points off League One leaders, Coventry City.

The Gunners, on the other hand, have failed to improve on their disastrous period, post-Unai Emery. Arsenal were recently knocked out of the Europa League at the hands of Olympiacos meaning the FA Cup is their last chance at a medal this year - Arsenal are 2/5 to get past Portsmouth in 90 minutes and 1/6 to qualify and a tempting 11/1 to lift the trophy.

The tie of the fifth round sees Chelsea take on Liverpool at Stamford Bridge on Tuesday. This will be the Reds' first game since losing their unbeaten streak in the Premier League to Watford, whilst the Blues have won just twice in their last eight games in all competitions.

Chelsea have found their Champions League place for next season under considerable threat in the past few weeks and Frank Lampard will undoubtedly see the FA Cup as a route to success and a chance at staying in his managerial role. Now, considering Liverpool's priorities in the Champions League and Premier League, Lampard and co. are at an appealing 23/20 to beat them within 90 minutes, but are 4/6 to qualify.

The Reds and Jurgen Klopp have shown little interest in these domestic cup competitions this season, as the German never even turned up for the replay against Shrewsbury Town and has insisted on playing the youngsters at any given opportunity. So, considering all their eggs are in one basket, it's understandable to see them at 2/1 to win at the Bridge and 11/10 to qualify.

Also taking place in the FA Cup fifth round on Tuesday is Championship leaders West Bromwich Albion and Newcastle United, who clash at the Hawthorns. The Baggies are just one clear of Leeds United in the second tier and will no doubt have one eye on their trip to Swansea City on Saturday when they step out in the FA Cup, whilst the Magpies have little to lose on Tuesday evening.

Although far from safety, Newcastle are five clear of the drop zone and Steve Bruce will surely see the FA Cup as his best chance to impress Mike Ashley, in what has been another topsy-turvy season at St. James' Park.

The form of either side is very contrasting, with Bruce's men having to settle for back-to-back replays in the past two rounds and they only just got past Oxford United with a 116th-minute winner last time out. In the Premier League, Newcastle are winless since they beat Chelsea in January and are now 7/4 to beat West Brom and 10/11 to qualify.

Slaven Bilic's Premier League chasers are 7/5 to get past Newcastle in 90 minutes and are 4/5 to qualify for the next round.

The third and final FA Cup tie on Tuesday sees Championship strugglers Reading host Premier League hotshots Sheffield United. Reading made their way into this round by beating Cardiff City on penalties, although, the Royals have won just once in their last six since this FA Cup triumph.

You can get Reading at an appealing 16/5 to win in 90 minutes, which could be worth a punt considering the Blades are well in the mix for a Champions League spot and could well have their eyes on Norwich City this weekend instead. At the same time, Mark Bowen's men are priced at 7/4 to qualify, compared to Sheff United's 2/5 with Sky Bet.

Chris Wilder's men are, of course, in stellar form ever since they left the Championship behind this season. United are eighth in the Premier League and can find themselves as high as fifth if they win their game in hand; which is looking like a route into the Champions League. As a result of the Blades' fantastic form and quest for Europe, they are priced at 5/6 to beat Reading in 90 minutes.

After Tuesday's fixtures have been concluded, the Wednesday ties get going as Tottenham Hotspur plays host to Norwich. The two Premier League outfits make up just the second all Premier League tie - the other being Chelsea vs Liverpool. However, Spurs and the Canaries are at two very different ends of the top-flight table, with Jose Mourinho's men battling for Europe, whilst Norwich are seemingly doomed for the Championship, sitting in 20th and six points from safety.

Mourinho has won this competition just once back in 2007 and may need to secure the FA Cup this year to ensure his future at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. Prior to this fixture, Spurs are five points off fifth and have been overtaken by Wolverhampton Wanderers after their loss to them at the weekend.

Indeed, if the ex-Chelsea boss is to prove himself worthier than his predecessor, Mauricio Pochettino, he certainly needs a trophy, as well as Champions League football. Now, the Lilywhites are 4/7 to get past Norwich in 90 minutes and are 2/7 to qualify for the next round. At the same time, the relegation-fighting Canaries are 4/1 to get past Spurs before extra time and are priced at just 5/2 to qualify for the quarter-finals.

Another side who could also aim for the FA Cup as their main priority is Leicester City when they play host to Birmingham City. The Foxes are still eight points clear of fifth-place Manchester United, despite their form decreasing significantly from the early stages of this season. On the other hand, the Blues are 10 points clear of the drop in the Championship, whilst their nine-point gap from the Playoffs seems too tough to break, considering their inconsistencies.

Should you fancy Birmingham to qualify at the hands of Leicester, they are priced at 11/2 with Sky Bet and are an almighty 9/1 to beat the Premier League side in 90 minutes. Brendan Rogers' men, however, are clear favourites to get past Pep Clotet's men, as they are set at 1/10 to qualify and at 1/4 to win before extra time at the King Power Stadium.

Leicester are 1/7 to finish inside the top four and secure Champions League football, which may give Birmingham a chance on Wednesday, with Rogers perhaps resting men for the clash with Aston Villa on next Monday.

Manchester City, fresh from defending one of their domestic crowns, face Sheffield Wednesday during the week as they continue their dominance over the English cup competitions. As expected, City are the favourites to lift the FA Cup this campaign at 7/4 with Sky Bet, whilst Pep Guardiola's men are 2/9 to get past Wednesday before extra time and are a very low 1/12 to qualify for the quarters.

The Yorkshire side, however, are 6/1 to qualify and 10/1 to beat the Carabao Cup champions in 90 minutes. At the same time, the 66/1 price for Wednesday to win in extra time with Sky Bet could be worth consideration, bearing in mind City's Manchester derby on Sunday and how their recent trip to Wembley could factor.

Garry Monk's men were in a fight for the Playoffs earlier this season, but have won just one Championship game since their excellent 2-0 win over Leeds United on January 11. As a result, the ex-Swansea boss will surely look towards the FA Cup as a chance to secure Wednesday's first trophy since 1991, especially considering the club are 11 points clear of the drop zone and still nine off the Playoffs.

The fifth round FA Cup fixtures conclude on Thursday (baring potential replays) with 12-times champions Manchester United travelling to Derby County. Similar to Spurs and Mourinho, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and the Red Devils will no doubt look towards the FA Cup as a route out of an awkward meeting with the board.

The Norwegian is in a healthy position to secure Champions League football, but with City, Spurs and Sheffield United to come in quick succession, Europe's elite competition could quickly fade away. Now, Solskjaer will surely want to lift the FA Cup to keep the owners satisfied, as they look to build with the 47-year-old at the helm.

United are 4/9 to beat Derby to win before extra time and find themselves priced at 2/9 to qualify, whilst the Rams are 5/1 to win in 90 minutes at 3/1 to qualify. Derby are another side in the FA Cup fifth round who find themselves in slumped into midtable in the Championship, 11 points clear of the relegation spots, but are a concerning eight from Preston North End in sixth.

Another consideration is the addition of United's all-time top scorer, Wayne Rooney, who has four goals and two assists for the East Midlands side. Rooney has played against United at Everton since he left in 2017, and now the Englishman is priced at 7/2 to score anytime against his old side with Sky Bet.