FA Cup 5th Round: A Game-by-Game Breakdown

It's a very exciting weekend in English football because the best domestic club competition in the world resumes with the FA Cup Fifth Round taking place over the course of two days.

There are 16 teams left in the competition, and each knows that one slip up could mean crashing out in embarrassment or having to play a grueling replay in the middle of a busy schedule.

Several Premier League teams are playing lower league opposition, and it will be interesting to watch which sides turn up and which fall victim to historic upsets.

With no shortage of drama likely to ensue, let us examine and break down each FA Cup Fifth Round fixture.

Chelsea vs. Birmingham City

Chelsea and ex-Premier Leaguers Birmingham City will kick off the weekend's round of fixtures at Stamford Bridge.

The Blues are on a dismal run of form, with Andre Vilas-Boas admitting that he has lost some of his dressing room after an Arsenal-esque capitulation against Manchester United and a toothless 2-0 defeat to Everton that gave the Gunners their fourth-place slot.

Meanwhile, Birmingham City have not performed much better recently, scoring a total of one goal in their last three matches and not putting to rest their image as a side of battering rams.

Villas-Boas will be under considerable pressure to bring Roman Abromavich victories and silverware, and I think Chelsea will overcome Birmingham City in a labored display. The team from England's Second City will not concede defeat easily.

Prediction: Chelsea 2-0 Birmingham City

Everton vs. Blackpool

In contrast to Chelsea, Everton have been hitting a rich vein of form recently, taking down the Londoners and Manchester City in two of their last three matches.

American demi-god Landon Donovan will be playing his last game for Everton on his most recent loan spell, and he will look to support the Merseysiders' suddenly effective attack and productive midfield.

Meanwhile, Blackpool have been their usual free-wheeling selves, recklessly attacking to the tune of 52 points and fourth place in the Championship.

The Tangerines showed last year that they will not be intimidated by playing bigger sides, but they also showed on many occasions that they cannot hang with them for an entire match.

Prediction: Everton 3-1 Blackpool

Norwich City vs. Leicester City

Two mid-table sides clash in this matchup, but one is mid-table in the best domestic league in the world, while the other is toiling in the second division.

Norwich City have probably been the Premier League's biggest surprise this season, sitting in eight place after being promoted for two successive seasons. The Canaries have claimed two successive wins, and captain Grant Holt has bagged nine goals in the League this season.

Leicester, meanwhile, are coming off of a very disappointing 3-2 defeat to Watford, and will look for revenge against a bigger side like Swansea that they know well.

This promises to be a very intriguing matchup, and I fancy Leicester to have a very good game on a bigger stage than they are used to.

Prediction: Norwich City 2-2 Leicester City

Millwall vs. Bolton Wanderers

This is a matchup between two struggling teams who may very well be facing each other next season on a regular basis.

Bolton Wanderers have struggled mightily this season, and sit in second-to-last place in the Premier League, having languished at the foot of the table for much of the season, though they have been boosted somewhat by the arrival of Arsenal youngster Ryo Miyaichi.

Millwall are on the outside of the relegation scrap in the Championship, and are six points away from the drop zone. They have not lost in all competitions since January, and have the advantage of playing this tough tie at home.

Thus, I will go out on a limb here and predict that we will see our first upset of the weekend at The Den.

Prediction: Millwall 1-0 Bolton

Sunderland vs. Arsenal

As this is the only two FA Cup meeting between Premier League sides all weekend, it is the most exciting match of the weekend.

Sunderland will look to exact revenge on Arsenal, who they just barely lost to last week when Thierry Henry scored a memorable 91st minute winner in his final Premier League game for the Gunners.

Arsenal, meanwhile, are coming off of a humiliating defeat against AC Milan in midweek, and the possibility of a mental hangover is very real for Arsene Wenger's side.

They will be without Per Mertesacker after his injury against the Black Cats last weekend, which will rule him out "long term," and Laurent Koscielny, who picked up a little knock to his knee against Milan.

A depleted defence and tired legs will have to do a tough job against a Sunderland side instilled with new hope. As much as I would not like to see it as an Arsenal fan, look for this one to be an even match. Tune in for the replay at the Emirates Stadium.

Prediction: Sunderland 1-1 Arsenal 

Crawley Town vs. Stoke City

Crawley Town are by far the most surprising team to find themselves in the Fifth Round of the FA Cup.

The Red Devils are just outside the promotion zone of League 2—yes, England's fourth division. And though people tend to write off teams like Crawley Town as out of their element and just happy to have made it this far, they can put up a real fight if they have one of their best nights.

They have lost just once in their last eight games, and will have nothing to lose against a Stoke City side that everyone will expect to win.

I am one of those people. Stoke may not be in the best form, but they should be able to take care of business against a side so much smaller than them, even away from home.

Prediction: Crawley Town 0-2 Stoke City

Stevenage vs. Tottenham Hotspur

Stevenage may not be of as low a profile as Crawley Town, but the League One side will nevertheless have a very tough task against a swashbuckling Tottenham Hotspur team.

Spurs will not have much reason to rest their players other than the usual injury worries, as they have a full seven days until their trip to Arsenal to play the North London derby.

Stevenage are unbeaten since January 2, but they face the hardest game of their season, even though they have the benefit of home-field advantage.

Prediction: Stevenage 0-4 Tottenham

Liverpool vs. Brighton and Hove Albion

Mid-table Championship side Brighton and Hove Albion have perhaps the toughest draw of any side this weekend, as they are forced to travel to Anfield and face Liverpool.

The Reds will want to avenge their much-publicized defeat to Manchester United and push on in their quest to take home the FA Cup in addition to a possible Carling Cup Final victory over Cardiff City.

The Seagulls have done well recently in the Championship, but might have trouble with playing in a raucous environment that has claimed the heads of many.

Prediction: Liverpool 3-1 Brighton