FA Cup Predictions > Mar 19th & 20th

[StevieDay1983]

The FA Cup Quarter-Final draw has been made and these are the four matches scheduled to take place along with their odds. Give us your predictions for these games that will be on us before we know it! 

[DarrenTse]

Middlesbrough
It seems that the victory over Manchester United at Old Trafford is not great enough for them. Middlesbrough beat Tottenham Hotspur 1-0 in the fifth round and reached the FA Cup semi-finals for the first time since 2005. Boro have achieved an incredible nine-game winning run in all competitions at Riverside Stadium and have conceded only four goals.

Chelsea
The 1-2 away victory over Lille in their Champions League last-16 second-leg clash marked Chelsea's fifth consecutive victory - Chelsea had to fall behind twice in the fifth round of the FA Cup, but finally beat Luton town 3-2. Tuchel will inevitably be forced to avoid questions about club ownership, but his side reached the quarter finals with five consecutive wins away and will strive to reach the semi-finals for the third consecutive season this weekend.

Prediction
In this season's game, Tuchel's men did not perform well in the face of low-level League opponents, but when the host's FA Cup tour ends in front of their own fans, a new set of front court options will be confident of breaking Boro's resilience.


1X2 Pick: 2
Final Results: 0-2, 1-2

[malabgd]

Middlesbrough vs Chelsea

2022-03-19T18:15+01:00

 

Middlesbrough

Doubtful: James Lea Siliki (11/0 m, probably in), Andraz Sporar (28/8 f, probably in)

Out (injuries/other): Riley McGree (3/0 m), Martin Payero (12/1 m), Darnell Fisher (0/0 d), Sammy Ameobi (0/0 m)

Suspended: -

 

Chelsea

Doubtful: Callum Hudson-Odoi (15/1 f), Reece James (17/5 d), Andreas Christensen (16/0 d)

Out (injuries/other): Ben Chilwell (6/3 d)

Suspended: -

 

Daily updated injuries and suspensions information from more than 100 football leagues and competitions worldwide at: www.injuriesandsuspensions.com

[StevieDay1983]

Middlesbrough vs Chelsea

The FA Cup Quarter-Finals are up this weekend and we have four ties that are certain to provide entertainment and drama. The first game scheduled is the clash between Championship play-off hopefuls Middlesbrough and Champions League qualification-chasing Premier League team Chelsea in a 5:15pm GMT kick-off on Saturday evening from the Riverside. Will we have a giant-killing to open proceedings?

Middlesbrough have become a dangerous team under the management of Chris Wilder and this is particularly the case on home turf. Boro are in 7th place in the league with their eyes firmly set on the Championship play-offs this season. The team have only lost 1 of their 11 home matches, including winning the last 9 home games, under Wilder across all competitions including an extra-time win against Tottenham in the FA Cup 5th Round having previously knocked out Manchester United away and Mansfield away. The team is boosted by the return from illness of top scorer Andraz Sporar and midfielder James Lea Siliki. Middlesbrough have scored in 10 of their 11 home matches under Wilder. They are aiming to reach the FA Cup Semi-Finals for the first time since 2006 having lost the last four FA Cup Quarter-Finals they have played in. Unfortunately, Middlesbrough are without a win in their last 20 matches against the reigning European champions.

Chelsea might have had their season bogged down in controversy and logistical nightmares but Thomas Tuchel is still truly focused on his team ending this season with another trophy in the cabinet as they look to progress in the Champions League and FA Cup. The Blues are in 3rd place in the Premier League so involvement in next season's Champions League is looking likely too. Tuchel has a number of injury concerns for this game with Andreas Christensen, Reece James, and Callum Hudson-Odoi all doubts to play. Chelsea have won 11 of their last 12 matches in this competition. It is the 16th time in 22 seasons that they have reached the FA Cup Quarter-Finals which is more than any other club. The team have lost just 3 of their 15 FA Cup Quarter-Finals in this century. Romelu Lukaku could be a pick for anytime scorer. The Belgian striker has bagged 15 goals in this competition since his debut back in 2012 with only Sergio Aguero (20), Harry Kane (16), and Olivier Giroud (16) boasting better records during that period.

It's been a while since Middlesbrough last beat Chelsea with that most recent victory coming back in a 2-1 home win back in August, 2006. Chelsea have won their last 8 games against Middlesbrough scoring 19 goals during those games but I can't see a similar outcome here. Middlesbrough are going to fight to the end against a Chelsea team that will match that doggedness. I think Chelsea will win but I'm not entirely convinced they'll do it in 90 minutes.

Draw @ 4.40 with SBK

Anytime Scorer: Romelu Lukaku @ 2.55 with Unibet

[StevieDay1983]

Crystal Palace vs Everton

OK, so maybe I let the football romantic in me get the better of me on Saturday but it was always worth a punt! Crystal Palace play Everton in this all-Premier League tie for the second of the FA Cup Quarter-Finals taking place this weekend with kick-off scheduled for 12:30pm GMT on Sunday afternoon at Selhurst Park. Which one of these two teams will earn a spot in the Semi-Final and a trip to Wembley?

Crystal Palace feel like a team re-discovering their self confidence right now. It's now 5 matches unbeaten for the Eagles across all competitions. Patrick Vieira has seen his team navigate their way past Millwall, Hartlepool, and Stoke so far and it's probably fair to say that they've maybe not made life as easy for themselves in those games as they could have done. Still, they are at this stage of the competition and that's all that matters. The team is also sat comfortably in 11th place in the top flight so a nice little FA Cup run is adding some positivity to their campaign. Vieira will be without the duo of Nathan Ferguson and James McArthur but the trio of Luka Milivojevic, Will Hughes, and Martin Kelly are all back involved. This will be the second time in four seasons that Palace have reached this stage having lost to Watford in the 2018/19 competition at this stage. Interestingly, Vieira is now undefeated in his last 18 FA Cup matches as a player and manager so he clearly loves this competition.

Everton remain in deep trouble in the league but the 1-0 win at home to Newcastle in controversial circumstances will have done their morale the world of good. The opportunity to put their league woes to one side and potentially earn a visit to the home of English football is a treat for the players. Frank Lampard does have some team selection issues. Keeper Jordan Pickford is still ill, Allan begins a three-game suspension, and the trio of Donny van de Beek, Anwar El Ghazi, and Dele Alli are all cup-tied. Richarlison is available though and he has scored 5 goals in his last 6 FA Cup starts for Everton. This will be the 47th time that Everton have played in an FA Cup Quarter-Final. However, the Toffees have failed to win any of their last 10 away games in the FA Cup that have been played in London. Lampard himself has won 10 of his 14 FA Cup matches as a manager and has also won the competition as a player on four occasions.

What an opportunity this is for both teams. Crystal Palace might have beaten Everton when the two teams met earlier this season but had gone 13 encounters without a win before that. Palace have never beaten Everton twice in a single campaign before. This fixture also brings goals in the FA Cup with the last seven FA Cup meetings delivering 21 goals. I am expecting a similar open game here but think the attacking threats offered by Palace will edge it.

Crystal Palace to Win @ 1.98 with SBK

Total Goals Scored Over 2.5 @ 2.24 with SBK

[StevieDay1983]

Southampton vs Manchester City

The third and penultimate FA Cup Quarter-Final taking place this weekend is the 3pm GMT kick-off between Premier League clubs Southampton and Manchester City at St Mary's Stadium. There is no doubt that the away side come into this game as favourites but they do have a few issues playing against the south coast club recently so is there the potential of an FA Cup upset here?

Southampton have become somewhat of a bogey team for Manchester City with the teams drawing in both of their league meetings this season. The Saints have faced City three times in two of the last three seasons but Southampton have only won 1 of the encounters played at home. Ralph Hasenhuttl's side are in 10th place in the league but have lost their last three league games in a row. This FA Cup run is offering some escapism away from the poor league form with the club having navigated their way past Swansea, Coventry, and West Ham. They did require extra-time against both of the Championship sides. The team have only lost 3 of their last 18 FA Cup matches with two of those losses coming in Semi-Final games. They are unbeaten in their last 8 home FA Cup matches.

Manchester City have the chance to win the treble with the club top of the Premier League, qualifying for the Champions League Quarter-Finals, and reaching the FA Cup Quarter-Finals. Pep Guardiola's men could be on the verge of confirming a pre-contract deal with Borussia Dortmund striker Erling Haaland but that's for next season. This is all about now. The Citizens have already dispensed of Swindon, Fulham, and Peterborough with relative ease in this competition. It is the club's 5th FA Cup Quarter-Final in 6 seasons under Guardiola. Each of the last four FA Cup Quarter-Finals have seen City drawn as the away team and they have won all four. The team have only failed to score in 2 of their last 19 FA Cup fixtures.

Even though Southampton have taken 2 points from their two league games with Manchester City this season they have won just 1 of their last 13 matches against them. I'm not sure I can see Southampton being able to stop City here. I feel Liverpool and City are really starting to take things up a notch with their respective quadruple and treble achievements becoming closer to reality. I'm backing City to win with a business-like display.

Manchester City HT/FT @ 1.99 with SBK

Manchester City to Win & BTTS @ 2.90 with Betway

[StevieDay1983]

Nottingham Forest vs Liverpool

The final FA Cup Quarter-Final match of the weekend is the 6pm GMT kick-off between Championship play-off chasers Nottingham Forest and Premier League title contenders Liverpool on Sunday evening from the City Ground. The home team have already taken a couple of top flight scalps but can they cause another shock as they look to stop an away side with their eyes firmly set on an unprecedented quadruple?

Nottingham Forest are one of the fantastic stories of this year's competition having already eliminated Arsenal, Leicester, and Huddersfield. Head coach Steve Cooper has already proved to be a smash with the Tricky Trees fans after guiding the club from relegation fodder to 9th place in the second tier of English football. The former Swansea manager faces a potential defensive crisis here with centre back Scott McKenna a doubt with fellow defenders Max Lowe and Steve Cook also ruled out. This will be Forest's first FA Cup Quarter-Final since 1996. The last time they reached a Semi-Final was back in 1990/91 when they lost in the Final against Tottenham.

Liverpool could potentially make history this season with the club still competing in the Premier League, FA Cup, and Champions League having already won the EFL Cup. Jurgen Klopp's men will be feeling this game is certainly one they should be winning having already knocked out Shrewsbury, Cardiff, and Norwich. This is their first away trip in this year's competition though. Interestingly, this is the first time Liverpool have reached this stage of the FA Cup under Klopp. The Reds have won at the Quarter-Final stage in 16 of their last 17 such games. History offers a warning with Liverpool only winning 2 of their last 8 away games in the FA Cup. Takumi Minamino is a shout for anytime scorer with his 9 domestic cup goals since the start of 2020 the most of any player.

It is Liverpool who are the obvious favourites to win this game and they have won in 6 of their 7 FA Cup ties with Nottingham Forest. It'll be a cracking atmosphere for this game and that always invites the chance of an upset but this Liverpool team is on another level. Even though Liverpool haven't won on their last 12 visits to Forest I just can't see them messing this one up.

Liverpool HT/FT @ 1.93 with SBK

Total Goals Scored Over 2.5 @ 1.67 with SBK