FA Cup Round 4 Previews and Predictions

Defending champions Manchester City were knocked out in Round 3 leaving only second place side Stoke City to remain out of the finalists.

The two biggest matches of the weekend will both be Saturday with Manchester United traveling to Anfield Road against Carling Cup finalists Liverpool, and Chelsea heading to Loftus Road to face Queens Park Rangers.

Both matchups led to controversy the last time they met in the English Premier League and should produce rather interesting affairs this go around.

There are plenty of great matches this weekend as we start to narrow the field as only 16 clubs will remain after Round 4.

Watford vs. Tottenham Hotspur

Alex Livesey/Getty Images

Date

Friday, January 27, 2012

 

Venue

Vicarage Road Stadium

 

Run Down

Tottenham should have this in the bag against the lower-half championship side, but there is always a chance of a surprise.

 

Match Prediction

Watford 1 - 3 Tottenham

 

Key Players

Marvin Sordell (Watford) and Emmanuel Adebayor (Spurs)

Everton vs. Fulham

Mike Hewitt/Getty Images

Date

Friday, January 27, 2012

 

Venue

Goodison Park

 

Run Down

Fulham have been on fire lately as Clint Dempsey and the attack of Bobby Zamora and Andrew Johnson is starting to click. Everton are hoping their new additions continue to serve them well also.

 

Match Prediction

Everton 2-3 Fulham

 

Key Players

Landon Donovan (Everton) and Clint Dempsey (Fulham)

Queens Park Rangers vs. Chelsea

Dean Mouhtaropoulos/Getty Images

Date

Saturday, January 28th, 2012

 

Venue

Loftus Road

 

Run Down

Chelsea return to the scene of John Terry and Anton Ferdinand's bust up earlier this campaign. It should be all Blues, but they have had their trouble at times this season with lesser squads.

 

Match Prediction

QPR 2-2 Chelsea (Replay)

 

Key Players

Joey Barton (QPR) and Fernando Torres (Chelsea)

Liverpool vs. Manchester United

Michael Regan/Getty Images

Date

Saturday, January 28th, 2012

 

Venue

Anfield Road

 

Run Down

Liverpool booked their place in the Carling Cup final over Manchester City on Wednesday with an impressive display to fight back twice, and the Reds will be keen to continue their cup run for the FA Cup.

Manchester United knocked the Reds out last year in this competition and the match should be an interesting one as the last time they met was when the Luis Suarez and Patrice Evra controversy erupted.

 

Match Prediction

Liverpool 2-1 Manchester United

 

Key Players

Craig Bellamy (Liverpool) and Danny Welbeck (Manchester United)

Blackpool vs. Sheffield Wednesday

Alex Livesey/Getty Images

Date

Saturday, January 28th, 2012

 

Venue

Bloomfield Road

 

Run Down

Blackpool are a point out of the playoff spots in the Championship and are on fine form while Sheffield Wednesday are charging up the League One table at fourth. It should be a fine matchup.

 

Match Prediction

Blackpool 3-2 Sheffield Wednesday

 

Key Players

Kevin Phillips (Blackpool) and Gary Madine (Sheffield Wednesday)

Bolton vs. Swansea City

Alex Livesey/Getty Images

Date

Saturday, January 28th, 2012

 

Venue

Reebok Stadium

 

Run Down

Bolton just managed a shock victory over Liverpool in the league, but Swansea are in far better form at the moment and should dispatch the home side.

 

Match Prediction

Bolton 2-3 Swansea

 

Key Players

Mark Davies (Bolton) and Scott Sinclair (Swansea)

Derby County vs. Stoke City

Ben Hoskins/Getty Images

Date

Saturday, January 28th, 2012

 

Venue

Pride Park Stadium

 

Run Down

The Rams are a championship victory away from the promotion playoffs while Stoke City are cruising at eighth in the EPL. It should be a good match and I think the Rams could pull off an upset.

 

Match Prediction

Derby 2-1 Stoke

 

Key Players

Theo Robinson (Derby) and Jonathan Walters (Stoke)

Hull City vs. Crawley Town

Chris Brunskill/Getty Images

Date

Saturday, January 28th, 2012

 

Venue

Kingston Communications Stadium

 

Run Down

The Tigers are sitting well in the promotion fight of the Championship while lowly Crawley Town are in a fight to make it to League One. However, the championship side should have it covered.

 

Match Prediction

Hull City 3-2 Crawley Town

 

Key Players

Matt Fryatt (Hull) and Matthew Tubbs (Crawley Town)-FA Cup second leading scorer

Leicester City vs. Swindon Town

Clive Rose/Getty Images

Date

Saturday, January 28th, 2012

 

Venue

The King Power Stadium

 

Run Down

Leicester are fresh off a great victory over Southampton while League Two Swindon have not lost in their last three matches in all competitions.

 

Match Prediction

Leicester 4-2 Swindon

 

Key Players

David Nugent (Leicester) and Matt Ritchie (Swindon)

Millwall vs. Southampton

Tom Dulat/Getty Images

Date

Saturday,January 28th, 2012

 

Venue

The New Den

 

Run Down

Millwall are struggling at the bottom of the Championship while Southampton are the exact opposite at the top of the league. It should be a scrap at the New Den for sure.

 

Match Prediction

Millwall 1-3 Southampton

 

Key Players

Darious Henderson (Millwall) and Adam Lallana (Southampton)

Sheffield United vs. Birmingham FC

Michael Regan/Getty Images

Date

Saturday, January 28th, 2012

 

Venue

Bramall Lane

 

Run Down

Both clubs are in the playoff positions of their respected leagues and should put on a good display. Birmingham however, should have the edge but are on upset alert.

 

Match Prediction

Sheffield United 2-2 Birmingham (Replay)

 

Key Players

Ched Evans (Sheffield United) and Marlon King (Birmingham City)

Stevenage vs. Notts County

Jan Kruger/Getty Images

Date

Saturday, January 28th, 2012

 

Venue

Broadhall Way

 

Run Down

A League One showdown should produce a great all out English football display with the tie really going to either side.

 

Match Prediction

Stevenage 2-2 Notts County (Replay)

 

Key Players

Chris Beardsley (Stevenage) and Jeff Hughes (Notts)

West Bromwich Albion vs. Norwich City

Scott Heavey/Getty Images

Date

Saturday, January 28th, 2012

 

Venue

The Hawthorns

 

Run Down

West Brom have been riddled with midfield injuries lately while Norwich City continue their strong run this season. The Canaries are strong favorites.

 

Match Prediction

West Brom 1-3 Norwich City

 

Key Players

Peter Odemwingie (WBA) and Grant Holt (Norwich)

Brighton & Hove Albion vs. Newcastle United

Dean Mouhtaropoulos/Getty Images

Date

Saturday, January 28th, 2012

 

Venue

Amex Stadium

 

Run Down

Brighton & Hove Albion have been a tough team all year. Despite suffering a dip in form in the last months, they are still a strong side and with Newcastle missing three of their best at the African Cup of Nations and their defense suspect, the Seagulls should be able to clip one for the Championship.

 

Match Prediction

Brighton 2-1 Newcastle

 

Key Players

Ashley Barnes (Brighton) and Yohan Cabaye (Newcastle)

Sunderland vs. Middlesbrough

Ben Hoskins/Getty Images

Date

Sunday, January 29th, 2012

 

Venue

The Stadium of Light

 

Run Down

Both clubs are in fine form as Martin O'Neal has brought renewed life to the Black Cats while Tony Mowbray has been building quite a championship contender out of Middlesbrough as they seek a return to the EPL.

 

Match Prediction

Sunderland 2-3 Middlesbrough

 

Key Players

Stephane Sessengnon (Sunderland) and Scott McDonald (Middlesbrough)

Arsenal vs. Aston Villa

Mike Hewitt/Getty Images

Date

Sunday, January 29th, 2012

 

Venue

Emirates Stadium

 

Run Down

Arsenal should advance but Aston Villa proved they could knock off a Top-Four side when they beat Chelsea not too long ago in a convincing display.

 

Match Prediction

Arsenal 2-1 Aston Villa

 

Key Players

Robin Van Persie (Arsenal) and Darren Bent (Aston Villa)

Conclusion

Last Years Winners Already Gone
Alex Livesey/Getty Images

It should be an exciting weekend of action in England's oldest cup competition, and be sure to put your predictions at the bottom.

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