Hoffenheim vs Freiburg - Hoffenheim to win
Hoffenheim did suffer a league defeat last time out against Bayern Munich (5-1), but the home side are still in great form despite the loss. Hoffenheim have won five of their last six league matches, with wins over Union Berlin (3-1), Werder Bremen (0-2), Eintracht Frankfurt (1-3), Bayer Leverkusen (1-0), and Borussia Mönchengladbach (5-1).
Freiburg have lost two of their precious four matches in all competitions, with defeats to Lille (1-0) and VfB Stuttgart (1-0). Away from home in the Bundesliga, the visitors have lost three of their previous five matches and against Hoffenheim, Freiburg have failed to keep a clean sheet in six matches.
Manchester City vs Salford City - Manchester City to win
Manchester City are likely to rotate their options at the weekend, and with that, they are still expected to overcome Salford City. The two sides met in the third round of last season’s FA Cup, in which the Citizens were comfortable 8-0 winners. Manchester City come into this game with no losses in their previous six matches, having won their last three.
Salford City has won two of their last four matches in League Two, with defeats to Accrington Stanley (1-0) and Chesterfield (0-1).
Southampton vs Leicester City - Southampton to win
Southampton and Leicester City were involved in arguably one of the games of the season in midweek, as the Foxes squandered a three-goal lead at home to the Saints to lose the game 4-3 in the 97th minute. That win now leaves Southampton on a three-game winning streak and no defeats in their previous five matches in all competitions.
Leicester City’s position in the league and the off-field situation is awful on all fronts. The Foxes are winless in their last six matches and head into this game without a win in their last four, following the collapse in midweek against their opponents in this cup fixture.
Norwich City vs West Bromwich Albion - Norwich to win
Norwich City are in excellent form, as the Canaries have won four of their last five matches in the league, while securing a comfortable 5-1 win against Walsall in the earlier rounds of the FA Cup. The two sides have met only recently, as Eric Ramsay’s West Bromwich Albion side suffered a heavy 5-0 defeat at home.
West Bromwich Albion have yet to kickstart their season under the former Manchester United set-piece coach, as his West Brom side are winless in their last six matches and have failed to score in each of their previous three games. The Baggies have also conceded first in seven of their previous nine matches in all competitions.
Sheffield Wednesday vs Millwall - Millwall to win
Sheffield Wednesday’s fate has already been sealed, and their form has reflected their league position. The Owls have lost their last nine matches in all competitions, failing to score in each of their last 10 games. The home side have also not recorded a single victory since the 20th of September, when they beat Portsmouth.
Millwall are in solid form, with the visitors having picked up 10 points in their last five league games with wins against Wrexham (0-2), Charlton Athletic (4-0) and Watford (0-2). Millwall’s away record is relatively good, as the Lions have the seventh-best away record in the division.
Lincoln City vs Bolton Wanderers - Lincoln City to win
Lincoln City are only two points behind league leaders Cardiff City, and the Imps are unbeaten in their last 12 matches in all competitions, having won their last four league matches. Lincoln City have also scored first in four of their previous five league games.
Bolton Wanderers have a mixed away record in recent matches, with only three wins from their last seven matches on the road in League One.
Aston Villa vs Newcastle United - Aston Villa to win
Aston Villa’s home record gives them the advantage against Newcastle United, as the Villains have won six of their last eight matches at Villa Park, following their late 1-0 win against Brighton & Hove Albion in midweek. Aston Villa overcame Premier League opposition in the previous round, when they beat Tottenham Hotspur in a 2-1 scoreline away from home.
Newcastle have been going through a poor period of form lately, losing five of their last nine matches in the league and cup. Away from home, the Magpies have only won once in their last five matches, and have failed to keep a clean sheet in their last four matches on the road.
Liverpool vs Brighton & Hove Albion - Liverpool to win
Arne Slot’s side picked up an important 1-0 victory over Sunderland in midweek and the Reds have now won four of their last six matches in all competitions, scoring first in six of their last eight games. Liverpool has not lost to Brighton in the last five home meetings against the Seagulls.
Fabian Hurzeler’s side are without a win in their last five matches following their 1-0 defeat against Aston Villa in midweek. Brighton & Hove Albion have not kept a clean sheet in their last seven matches in all competitions and are without a win in their last two games away from home.
