Leicester are in real trouble following their six point deduction and subsequent poor run of form with Gary Rowett’s side now sitting in the relegation zone, though they are just one point from safety. 

Leicester have failed to win any of their last five matches across all competitions, conceding 2+ goals in four of these games - their lack of defensive solidity extends further with the Foxes without a clean sheet in their last 10 matches across all competitions.

Ipswich have found some form over recent weeks and come into this clash having won each of their last three matches, scoring 2+ goals in two of these games. Ipswich have won 12 of their 18 matches at Portman Road this season, netting 34 goals across these games (1.88 per game). Only Coventry (36) have scored more goals at home than Ipswich in the Championship this season.

Leicester have only won four of their 18 matches on the road this season, notably conceding 31 goals across these games (1.72 per game). It’s hard to see how the Foxes tighten up at the back for this clash against an Ipswich side that is in good form - and can close the three point gap to the automatic promotion spots with victory here.

PSV are more than capable of covering this line on their own, which is what they did when the sides met earlier in the season as they ran out 5-1 winners over Alkmaar. 

There aren’t many sides as dominant as PSV in the Eredivisie, they are clearly the best side in the division - and the only way they really get beat is being edged out in a high scoring affair which was the case as they lost 3-2 to Nijmegen last time out. 

Each of the last six head to head meetings between these sides, stretching back to 2023, has seen 3+ goals. PSV have seen 3+ goals in each of their last five matches across all competitions, while Alkmaar have seen 3+ goals in three of their last five matches across all competitions.

PSV have only lost one of their 12 home games in the Eredivisie this season, with these games producing 56 goals (4.66 per game). Alkmaar’s games on the road tend to be pretty end to end with only one draw from their 13 away games - these matches have produced 36 goals (2.76 per game).

Luzern have been a good side to back for entertaining games across recent weeks with each of their last five matches across all competitions seeing BTTS. 

Luzern have come out on top in three of these games, and the reason that they’ve been so competitive is because Luzern are trying to break into the Championship group spots in the Swiss Super League.

The initial league meeting between these sides produced seven goals as Lugano ran out 5-2 winners over Luzern, with that game seeing a combined xG of 2.37 - suggesting that both sides were quite clinical on the day.

Luzern have seen 45 goals across their 14 away matches in the Swiss Super League this term (23 scored, 22 conceded - 3.21 per game). The gap between Luzern and the Championship group spots now sits at eight points so they must win here to keep their hopes of qualifying for the Championship group alive.

Juventus contested a crazy 3-3 draw with Roma last time out, but this assignment should be more straightforward with the Old Lady taking on a Pisa side that have lost four of their last five matches across all competitions, and find themselves nine points adrift of safety at the bottom of Serie A.

Pisa have only managed to win one of their 27 matches in Serie A this season, conceding the third most goals in the division (44) and being the joint second lowest scorers (20). Their away record is even worse - Pisa are the only side in Serie A yet to win an away game this season, which should make this a relatively straightforward task for Juventus.

Juventus ran out 2-0 winners when these sides met earlier in the season, and were very comfortable in that victory with seven shots on target to Pisa’s zero and a vastly superior xG (1.74-0.65). Juventus have plenty to fight for as well, they currently occupy a Conference League place but the Champions League spots are within reach if they can put together a strong run of form.

These two sides last met in February over two legs in the Champions League playoff knockout stage, with PSG progressing thanks to a 5-4 aggregate win. Both legs saw BTTS, with Monaco scoring 2+ goals in each game and posting a combined xG of 2.51 across the tie.

Monaco have also seen BTTS land in four of their last five matches across all competitions heading into this one. On the road in Ligue 1 this season, their 11 away games have produced 30 goals (2.72 per game), though they’ve managed to win just three of those fixtures.

There’s plenty on the line for PSG too. They currently sit top of Ligue 1, but their lead is just four points - meaning any slip-up would allow Lens to cut the gap at the summit to a single point, a far tighter margin than PSG are used to playing with in recent domestic campaigns.

Celta Vigo are enjoying a great season and should feel optimistic about getting a positive result against a Real Madrid side that look to be collapsing a little under the tutelage of Alvaro Arbeloa with player power starting to take hold at the club again.

Celta Vigo come into this game in great form having avoided defeat across their last five matches, winning four of these games and finding the back of the net in all five games. Real Madrid have only kept one clean sheet in their last five matches across all competitions, and that clean sheet was pretty cheaply earned in the first leg of their Champions League tie against Benfica. 

Celta Vigo ran out 2-0 winners when these sides met earlier in the season, and have scored in each of the last four head to head meetings between the sides. Celta Vigo have scored 19 goals across their 13 home matches in LaLiga this term, so they should have plenty of firepower to unsettle the Real Madrid backline which looks very vulnerable at the moment.

Rob Edwards opted for a pragmatic, deep block in the midweek meeting between these sides, and that approach paid dividends.

Wolves took the lead through Rodrigo Gomes in the 78th minute, which was Wolves’ first shot of the game. Mo Salah equalised soon after, but it was Wolves who had the last laugh, and Andre’s 94th-minute strike made it back-to-back wins for the Midlands side. 

Liverpool were the dominant team in terms of possession, but Wolves came away with the three points, so they are likely to go with similar tactics this weekend in the FA Cup. Liverpool racked up eleven corners in that match, with 19 shots worth 1.83 xG. 

Arne Slot's side are averaging 5.7 corners per game when playing away this season, and they will hope to be more clinical in the final third on Friday night. 

Even though it was his mistake that ultimately led to Mo Salah scoring, Jose Sa deserves immense credit for his five saves in that game.

The Wolves skipper has been kept busy in recent games, and he also played another key role against Aston Villa in the match before. Sa recorded four saves in that one, and he is averaging 2.93 saves per game in the Premier League this season. 

Arne Slot is likely to go with a strong eleven here, especially considering there is an FA Cup quarter-final spot on the line. Liverpool have fared well in the Champions League, but the FA Cup looks like their most realistic chance of silverware this season.

Slot opted for a strong eleven against Brighton in the previous round, as Liverpool secured a comfortable 3-0 win at Anfield - they will want a similar result here. 

Florian Wirtz was once again omitted from the matchday squad for Liverpool midweek, as the German international continues to struggle with a back injury.

That means Dominik Szoboszlai should continue to feature in an advanced midfield role. He registered three shots against Wolves three days ago, with one of those hitting the target. 

The Hungarian international is averaging 1.93 shots per 90 in the Premier League this season, which is incredibly impressive considering he has played large parts of the campaign at fullback. He has taken 52 shots in the league this campaign, and 77% of those have come from outside the box - despite that, he tends to be accurate with his efforts.

Szoboszlai has landed this selection in nine of his last eleven matches across all competitions, and he was on the scoresheet against Brighton in the previous round of the FA Cup.

Joao Gomes played a pivotal role in the league match midweek, as he featured for the full 90 in the heart of midfield.

The Brazilian was booked for his first foul in the 69th minute, so had to be a lot more cautious from then on, but he was still heavily involved in duels. Joao Gomes racked up a total of 23 duels - the most of any player in the match by quite some distance.

He completed six out of eight tackles and was dribbled past twice. Even though Wolves sat deep, they were still aggressive in the middle of the park, and they committed 13 fouls as a team. Andre was also kept busy, as he registered five tackles and one foul. 

Joao Gomes is averaging 2.24 fouls per 90 in the Premier League this season, and has landed this selection in eight of his last 12 starts. 

The first league meeting between these two sides back in December produced five goals, with Reading running out 3-2 winners over Luton - with both teams also posting respectable xG tallies (1.19–0.99). Reading head into this clash in strong form, having avoided defeat in their last five matches across all competitions, with both teams scoring in all of those games.

Luton are also enjoying a decent run, having lost just once in their last five outings. BTTS has landed in each of their last four matches, most recently in a 2-1 home win over Northampton, sealed by a winner in the final ten minutes. Both sides remain in contention for the playoff spots, and three points here would represent a significant step toward securing a top-six finish.

Reading have won only four of their 16 away games in League One this season, but their matches on the road have been highly entertaining, with 48 goals in total - averaging three per game. With both teams pushing for promotion and so close to the playoff places, expect an open, end-to-end contest as they go all out for the win.

This is a massive game in the playoff battle in League One with both Bolton and Wycombe occupying those coveted spots ahead of kick off. Bolton are much safer in their position with nine points keeping them from the closest challenger in Huddersfield, but Wycombe are in the firing line with their gap to Huddersfield being just a point.

Bolton have seen BTTS in each of their last five matches across all competitions, notably avoiding defeat in all of these games. They welcome a Wycombe side that has seen BTTS in three of their last five matches across all competitions, and that managed to beat Bolton 2-1 when the sides met earlier in the campaign. 

Bolton have scored 31 goals across their 17 home games in League One this season, only a handful of sides in the division have scored more goals at home than Bolton this season - one of which being Wycombe. Michael Duff’s side have only managed to win three of their 17 away matches in League One this term, so this is going to be an awkward assignment for the away side but one that should see goals at both ends.

I expect this to be a very lively cup tie, and one that Wrexham will be able to be competitive in given where this tie falls in Chelsea’s current calendar. Chelsea travelled to Villa Park during the week, and will make the trip to Paris for their Champions League clash against PSG after this game so we can expect quite a bit of rotation from Liam Rosenior.

Wrexham have already taken on Premier League opposition in the FA Cup this season in the form of Nottingham Forest. Wrexham managed to score three goals in that clash, and also scored against Ipswich in the last round of the cup to set up this intriguing clash. 

Wrexham have scored 33 goals across their 18 home matches in the Championship this term (1.83 per game), with this tally accounting for 61% of the total goals that Wrexham have scored in the Championship this season. I think they’ll go fairly strong here, it’s a massive game for the club and one that should see Phil Parkinson put out a complete side. 

Chelsea have been impressive at times under Rosenior, but keeping clean sheets has not been one of their strengths. Rosenior is still trying to find a way for Chelsea to find control in games, which has led to the Blues only keeping three clean sheets across their 14 matches under his management.

It is obvious to most people that Chelsea have an issue when it comes to discipline, especially in matches where there is likely to be a lively atmosphere. The youthful nature of the squad makes them quick to jump into challenges, and lack restraint when complaining to the referee.

The FA Cup can sometimes be a dampener for cards, but Chelsea’s petulance should still be able to rise to the fore here. The Blues picked up two yellow cards in their 4-0 win over Hull in the last round of the FA Cup, showing how Chelsea are still vulnerable to cautions in the cup competitions. Wrexham managed to draw two cards from Forest on their trip to Wales earlier in the competition. 

Chelsea have collected 67 yellow cards and seven red cards across their 29 games in the Premier League this season, working out to an average of 2.55 cards per game. I’d expect that average to hold here as I don’t think Chelsea will have this game all their own way - leading to more of that ill-discipline that we’ve grown accustomed to seeing with this young Chelsea side. 

Newcastle are one of the strongest sides in the Premier League when it comes to winning corners, particularly when they play at St James’ Park. Eddie Howe’s side have utilised this avenue often since Howe arrived at the club with the delivery of Kieran Trippier lining up well with the aerial threats of Burn and Thiaw.

Newcastle are averaging 6.69 corners per game in the Premier League this season, which is the highest tally of any side in the division. This rises even further to 7.07 corners per game when playing at St James’ Park, showing how key an aspect it is to Newcastle’s overall game plan. Newcastle racked up five corners when Manchester City visited St James’ Park earlier in the season.

Manchester City are conceding 4.43 corners per game on the road in the Premier League this season, and I can see Guardiola choosing this game as an opportunity to rotate his side given that City have to play Real Madrid in the Champions League during the week having just dropped points in the title race at home to Nottingham Forest. City have conceded 4+ corners to Newcastle in each of the four head to head meetings between the sides this season. 

These two sides have already met four times this season, with three or more goals scored in three of those meetings. The most recent clash finished 2-1 to Manchester City at the Etihad, a game that produced exactly three goals and a total of 28 shots, half of which were on target.

Newcastle have seen three or more goals in each of their last five matches across all competitions, most recently claiming a 2-1 win over Manchester United at St James’ Park - despite playing the entire second half with ten men.

Across 15 home league games this season, Newcastle have been involved in 52 goals, averaging 3.46 per game. They're also expected to take this competition seriously, given it's one of the few trophies still within reach this term.

Manchester City may not share that same intensity. After dropping crucial points in the title race midweek and with a Champions League last-16 first leg against Real Madrid on the horizon, their focus could be elsewhere. Still, three of their last five matches across all competitions have also featured three or more goals.

These two sides will surely be getting sick of the sight of each other, as this will be their fourth meeting in 2026, and their fifth this season. Pep Guardiola has had the upper hand recently, as his Man City side have won each of the last three meetings. 

Newcastle find themselves in a rough patch of form, as they have lost five of their last seven league matches, but they were able to secure a 2-1 win against Man United midweek against the odds.

Jacob Ramsey was sent off in the first half, but Newcastle still managed to score twice after that setback. The midfielder will serve his suspension this weekend, while Sandro Tonali could also miss out - he was withdrawn late on due to cramps. 

Newcastle deserve some sympathy for the number of injuries they have had to contend with this season, as Bruno Guimaraes is also expected to miss out this weekend.

Man City’s winning streak came to an end midweek, but they still come into this clash on a ten-game unbeaten run, with eight wins in that stretch. They are looking a tough side to beat at the moment, which doesn’t bode well for Newcastle. 

With that being said, City’s card counts have been noticeably high in recent games, and they have landed this selection in six of their last eight matches. They failed to hit this mark against Salford in the previous round of the FA Cup, but there was a significant gulf in quality between the two sides. 

This selection has landed in all four head-to-head meetings between these sides this season, and there were seven yellows shown across their two EFL Cup meetings. That includes City picking up four yellow cards at St James’ Park. When these sides met on Tyneside in the league, City were shown three yellows.

Newcastle were also shown four yellow cards in that EFL Cup first leg at home, and Sam Barrott could be kept equally as busy this weekend. He has dished out 61 yellows and one red card from his 17 Premier League appearances this season

The referee will also have to keep his eye on Joelinton here, as the Brazilian doesn’t seem to like playing against Man City very much. In fact, he has been carded in each of his last four straight matches against Guardiola’s men - keeping that streak alive in the last head-to-head meeting despite only featuring from the bench. 

After coming on in the 60th minute, Joelinton racked up four fouls before eventually being booked in the 89th minute. He was shown a yellow card when these sides last met on Tyneside for getting into a scrap with Nico O’Reilly in the first half, but still managed to land this selection with exactly two infringements.

Joelinton is averaging 2.03 fouls per 90 across all competitions this season, one of the highest totals in the Newcastle squad, and he tends to take things up a gear at home, especially when playing against a big team. 

Joelinton should find duels against Bernardo Silva in midfield here, who also seems to have some bad blood with Newcastle. The Portuguese international has accrued five fouls in his last two meetings against Eddie Howe's side and was carded in both. In fact, he has committed a foul in five of his last six matches against Newcastle, picking up three yellow cards in that time, too. 

Silva is averaging 1.39 fouls per 90 for City this season, and has landed this selection in seven of his last ten matches. He likes to be aggressive in midfield, and should have plenty of defensive work to get through at St James’ Park here.