FA Cup Fourth-Round Fixtures – Selected Match Previews

by Luke Andrews, 26 January 2024

This weekend, we are back to cup action as the FA Cup fourth-round action is in the spotlight as teams battle it out to book a place in the last sixteen of the oldest competition in football. Our resident sports expert, Luke Andrews, analyses five games in the fourth round of the games, looking at factors that could affect the team’s performance: fatigue, injuries, and the absence of players in the ongoing Asian Cup and African Cup of Nations tournaments.

The FA Cup’s fourth round features thirty-two teams battling to make it to the final sixteen. The highlight of the games will be the Tottenham Hotspurs welcoming the defending champions Manchester City to the capital.

Chelsea, currently enjoying a streak of excellent performances, will be keen to maintain their momentum in pursuing silverware as they host Aston Villa. Aston Villa, also in impressive form, will visit the capital, setting the stage for a potentially intense encounter and one that FA Cup betting fans might find difficult to call.

In another all-Premier League matchup, Fulham faces off against Newcastle United. Meanwhile, Everton is set to host Luton Town at Goodison Park, adding to the lineup of exciting FA Cup fixtures.

The concluding match highlighted in our series is the Newport County versus Manchester United clash at Rodney Parade. This match epitomises the excitement of the FA Cup, showcasing lower division teams hosting premier squads. Anticipate a bustling Rodney Parade for this encounter, one of our top five picks, promising thrilling on-field action and goals as the ultimate highlight.

FA Cup Fourth Round Betting – Chelsea vs Aston Villa

Chelsea is beginning to have some blue days heading to their FA Cup tie against Aston Villa after a 6-0 thrashing of Middlesbrough in the Carabao Cup. They could be geared for a League Cup double and their second and possibly only other chance for silverware in this campaign.

They have not reached the fifth round since they featured in the 2022 finals.

Mauricio Pochettino would be encouraged by the impressive record of forty wins in forty-seven FA Cup games (drawing five, losing two), including eight consecutive victories while scoring twenty-four goals. The Argentinian has finally found the right rhythm in attack, scoring eleven goals in the previous three home games.

The Blues, however, have just a fifty per cent winning rate in ninety minutes against Premier League opposition (nine wins, two draws, and seven defeats).

I'm not going to question starting Raheem Sterling ever again.

He might not always have the best of games, but he more often than not ends up producing the goods.

That's what experience gives you, we need more of that at Chelsea. pic.twitter.com/kqYchiaLQD

— AzM (@CFCAzM) January 23, 2024

Raheem Sterling is an FA Cup expert with nineteen goal involvements (ten goals, nine assists) in twenty FA Cup starts.

Home team top scorer: – Cole Palmer, anytime goal scorer 12/5 & first goal scorer 13/2.

Aston Villa has had its winter break and now faces a trip to the Bridge for the fourth round of the FA Cup, featuring at this stage for the first time since 2016.

The seven-times winners have not found joy in the oldest cup competition since 1957 but have been on an impressive run in the Premier League this campaign, sitting fourth in the table.

Villa has an excellent head-to-head record against Chelsea, winning each of the last three games against them without conceding, raising their prospect of disappointing one of the big-six opposition on their turf. They are on a three-game unbeaten run (two wins, one draw) and have kept consecutive shutouts.

How good has Ollie Watkins been this season? 🔥 pic.twitter.com/TQqxJRplRA

— Premier League (@premierleague) January 10, 2024

Unai Emery has an excellent reputation in knockout competitions, while Ollie Watkins has scored two straight games at Stamford Bridge and hopes to make it three in a row.

Away team top scorer: – Ollie Watkins, anytime goal scorer 21/10 & first goal scorer 13/2.

Selected bets: – Chelsea 23/20, Draw 36/13, Villa 12/5. Over 2.5 4/5. Under 2.5 21/10. BTTS: No 5/4, Yes 7/10.

FA Cup Fourth Round Betting – Tottenham vs Manchester City

In what might be the weekend’s marquee matchup, Premier League powerhouses Manchester City and Tottenham Hotspur face off in the FA Cup. This clash follows their recent Friday night triumph, where they edged past Burnley with a 1-0 victory in this prestigious tournament.

Ange Postecoglou aims to maintain a notable record, as the London team has triumphed in three out of their last five encounters against City. Notably, these victories have been secured with a consistent 1-0 scoreline whenever they host City in the capital.

Tottenham have progressed beyond the fourth round in the previous four campaigns. They, however, have a severe selection problem, with about seven of the first-team regulars expected to miss the clash.

✅| James Maddison, Dejan Kulusevski and Ben Davies is back in the squad tomorrow. pic.twitter.com/6w7l5KvPFV

— Tottenham Sweden (@TottenhamSweden) January 25, 2024

Dejan Kulusevski was the standout player in the last head-to-head, ending with a 3-3 scoreline in the Premier League in December with two goal involvements (goal and assist).

Home team top scorer: – Richarlison, anytime goal scorer 12/5 & first goal scorer 9/1.

Reflecting on their 2004 encounter, City, despite being down 3-0, staged an impressive second-half comeback to clinch a 4-3 victory, even with a man short. This match, like the upcoming one, took place in the fourth round. With over two decades having passed since that dramatic game, this historical context adds an extra layer of intensity to the already fierce rivalry between the two teams.

Setting historical achievements aside, Manchester City currently faces a challenging streak at the new Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, having not scored or secured a win there, with five consecutive losses. This situation amplifies the pressure on their title defence as they aspire to emulate Arsenal’s feat from the 2014-15 season, where they successfully clinched back-to-back FA Cup titles.

They have a good record with eleven straight-away wins in the competition and hope to reach the fifth round for a ninth successive season. Phil Foden scored in the 3-3 draw between the sides in December and bagged a brace against Huddersfield in the third round.

Away team top scorer: – Julián Álvarez, anytime goal scorer 5/4 & first goal scorer 11/4.

Selected bets: – Tottenham 17/4, Draw 18/5, City 8/13. Over 2.5 1/2, Under 2.5 15/8. BTTS: No 6/4, Yes 4/7.

FA Cup Fourth Round Betting – Everton vs Luton Town

Everton is recovering from a disastrous festive period and is rekindling its groove with an unbeaten start to the year (one win, two draws). Two of the games came in the FA Cup, where, after a goalless draw against Crystal Palace in the first leg, they ended up winning 1-0 at the Goodison to book another match here against fellow Premier League opposition.

They are on course for a fourth consecutive shutout, which speaks a lot about their development at the back despite scoring just once across the three games.

The Toffees boast an impressive track record in the FA Cup’s fourth round, having won seven out of their last eight matches in this stage. However, the team has not advanced past consecutive ties against Premier League opponents since the 2015-16 season.

🗣️ Joao Virginia on playing in front of Evertonian’s: “It was a dream come true and I was really pleased it turned out the way it did. Just to play in front of the Evertonians was a massive thing for me, and to play like that – it was amazing.” pic.twitter.com/zFx8Lfaly7

— Everton Extra (@Everton_Extra) January 22, 2024

Their defence has been a key asset, with second-choice goalkeeper Joao Virginia featuring in both of their FA Cup games this season. His record of three clean sheets in five games positions him as a solid defensive anchor for the team.

Home team top scorer: – Dominic Calvert-Lewin, anytime goal scorer 7/5 & first goal scorer 4/1.

Luton Town are also enjoying a splendid run of form, remaining unbeaten in their last three matches (one win, two draws). They triumphed 2-1 at Goodison Park back in October and will be chuffed to return in high spirits, aiming to replicate their victory and advance to the sixteenth round of the FA Cup.

A win here would give them the pride of becoming the first side to win against Everton twice in their home ground in the same season for the first time since Stoke City did so in the 1984-85 season.

The Hatters needed a second game to overcome League One outfit Bolton to book a place in the fourth round. They, however, don’t have a good record against Premier League opposition as they have progressed just once in ten FA Cup encounters against Premier League opposition.

Ross Barkley has more shots than any other player on his side (thirty-nine in all competitions) and will face his former side, hoping to add to his tally of two goals and one assist.

Away team top scorer: – Elijah Adebayo, anytime goal scorer 4/1 & first goal scorer 11/1.

Selected bets: Everton 8/15, Draw 10/3, Luton 6/1. Over 2.5 4/5, Under 2.5 21/20. BTTS: No 37/40, Yes 19/20.

FA Cup Fourth Round Betting – Newport vs Manchester United

Newport and Manchester United will be playing their first-ever match against each other in the fourth round of the FA Cup.

The Exiles had one victory (seven draws, fifteen defeats) against top-flight opposition in all competitions in 2018-19 when they beat Leicester City 2-1. Of their eight encounters in the FA Cup fourth round, Newport has progressed from just two, most recently against Middlesbrough in 2018-19 and against Huddersfield in 1948-49.

Sebastian Palmer Houlden has two goals in his last three games for the club. He will likely cause havoc against Manchester United, especially on the counterattack, as I expect the home side to back and defend for long periods in the game.

Home team top scorer: Will Evans, anytime goal scorer 11/2 & first goal scorer 20/1.

Manchester United have never played in Wales since they featured in the finals against Arsenal back in 2005, where they lost the match in penalties (5-4) after a goalless draw. The only other time they played against Welsh opposition was in 1957 when they beat Wrexham 5-0.

The Red Devils have been victorious in forty-nine of their fifty-one Cup ties against sides outside the Premier League; the only two times they slumbered was in 2021-22 when they lost to penalties against Middlesbrough after a 1-1 draw and in 2009-10 losing 1-0 against Leeds United.

They have a dominant unbeaten record while travelling in the competition in twenty-eight games (twenty-four wins, four draws).

Marcus Rashford is the greatest winger Premier League has ever seen🔥pic.twitter.com/LMGsKdxQoE

— SAJI (@MUFC_SAJ) January 17, 2024

Marcus Rashford has four goal contributions (two goals, two assists) for his side in the last four games in all competitions and seems to have found his best form in recent weeks.

Away team top scorer: – Rasmus Hojlund, anytime goal scorer 5/6 & first goal scorer 4/1.

Selected bets: Newport 33/1, Draw 14/1, United 1/12. Over 2.5 1/4, Under 2.5 3/1. BTTS: No 4/6, yes 6/4.

FA Cup Fourth Round Betting – Fulham vs Newcastle

Fulham came into this encounter on the back of a narrow 3-2 defeat on aggregate against high-flying Liverpool in the Carabao Cup, in which they competed aggressively. The Cottagers never won against Newcastle in the FA Cup, losing all four encounters against them, with the games coming between 1908 and 1961 and losing by at least four goals.

The matches between Newcastle and Fulham have produced an average of six goals per game, with twenty-four goals scored in four games.

The Cottagers reached the fifth round of the FA Cup last season, knocking out Sunderland, but have, however, never gone past the fourth round since they achieved that fate in three consecutive seasons between 2008-09 and 2010-11.

Home team top scorer: – Bobby De Cordova-Reid, anytime goal scorer 7/2 & first goal scorer 9/1.

Newcastle United are ardently seeking silverware, and following their setbacks in the Champions League and Carabao Cup, coupled with a nineteen-point deficit in the Premier League race, they need to concentrate all their efforts on the FA Cup.

The challenge is formidable, as Newcastle United have never secured a victory in an FA Cup match against Premier League opposition, even when they themselves were in the top flight. Their manager, Eddie Howe, faces a similarly daunting record, having never won an FA Cup game against Premier League teams in nine attempts, with one draw and eight defeats. The game against Fulham will be the first encounter against top-flight opposition in the FA Cup, having lost two while at Burnley and six losses, one draw while at Bournemouth.

#Transfers ⚽️: Reports are suggesting that Arsenal is keeping an eye on the 24-year-old Newcastle United striker Alexander Isak. 🇪🇷 pic.twitter.com/PXN3n86dAi

— ⓉⓃ (@tesfanews) January 18, 2024

Alexander Isak has five goals in the previous four games and is the player who can guide the Magpies to end the poor run in the FA Cup.

Away team top scorer: – Alexander Isak, anytime goal scorer 13/8 & first goal scorer 5/1.

Selected bets: Fulham 2/1, Draw 13/5, Newcastle 27/20. Over 2.5 3/4, Under 2.5 11/20. BTTS: No 11/8, Yes 4/6.

The key moment to watch for is Pep Guardiola’s aim to break a five-game losing streak at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. Therefore, I expect him to field a solid team to defend their title.

Manchester United, on paper, seems to have the easiest draw against Newport County, with all due respect to the latter. This match presents an opportunity for United to showcase their attacking prowess. However, as fans of the Red Devils have learned this season, nothing is certain until the final whistle.

Chelsea comes into their encounter on the back of a six-goal winning match against Middlesbrough and will be confident to welcome a good Villa side in what should be a high-scoring fiesta.

The Everton versus Luton match is shaping up to be highly unpredictable, with potential for either side to emerge victorious. However, given Luton’s previous win at Goodison Park this season, they might replicate that impressive performance in this upcoming encounter.

All stats are taken from SoccerSTATS.com and WhoScored.com, and the odds are from bet365 and are correct at the time of writing but can fluctuate, especially in play.

All tips are provided as entertainment only; the author’s opinion should not be considered financial guidance. Always bet responsibly; if you need help with problem gambling, you can find organisations that offer support in this page’s footer.