The Biggest Winners and Losers After the Weekend's FA Cup Action

The results of the fifth round of the FA Cup are now complete, and it's been another bad weekend for the nation's top teams.

Tottenham could only muster a 0-0 draw and will have to play a replay against Stevenage Borough. Likewise, Chelsea will have to travel to the Midlands after drawing with Birmingham City.

Even worse off are Arsenal, now out of the cup following a 2-0 defeat at the hands of Martin O'Neill's resurgent Sunderland team.

One team refusing to slip up on any potential cup banana skins were Liverpool, which crushed Brighton and Hove Albion 6-1.

Elsewhere, there were wins for Stoke, Bolton and Everton. A minor upset came when Leicester went into the quarterfinals, beating Norwich City 2-1.

So who were the biggest winners and losers coming out of the fifth round?

Biggest Winner: Liverpool

After the never-ending torrent of controversy that has surrounded Liverpool in recent months, it must have been nice to get back to matters on the pitch as they decimated Brighton 6-1

Helped along by three own goals from the visitors, Liverpool cruised to the win with goals from Martin Skrtel and Andy Carrol, before Luis Suarez, the controversy magnet himself, rounded off the win in the 85th minute.

With the Carling Cup final against Cardiff City coming this Sunday, Liverpool look like they could be on for a cup double.

2nd Biggest Winner: Martin O'Neill

Sunderland's rise under Martin O'Neill continued on Saturday as they dispatched a lackluster Arsenal 2-0.

Sunderland have shot up the table from 16th to ninth under O'Neill, and will go into their quarterfinal tie with Everton full of confidence.

O'Neill has not worked any wonders in the transfer market with Sunderland. What he has achieved is giving the team some belief.

This was sorely lacking as Steve Bruce's days as manager were coming to an end. Under O'Neill, Sunderland have to be looked at as one of the favourites to lift the trophy on May 5th.

Biggest Loser: Arsene Wenger

Arsenal's run of trophy-less seasons looks set to continue after they crashed out of the FA Cup to Sunderland.

Arsene Wenger is now clutching at straws, suggesting that finishing fourth is akin to winning a trophy,

After the Sunderland defeat, he stated, "The first trophy is to finish in the top four, and that's still possible. I believe finishing fourth is vital for us, so let's focus on that."

Sorry, Arsene, finishing fourth should not be looked at as a victory for a club like Arsenal. You have to be winning trophies.

Unfortunately for Arsenal, they've nearly all forgotten what that is like.

2nd Biggest Loser: Chelsea

While it may seem odd for one of the biggest losers to not have lost their game, the last thing Chelsea need right now is an FA Cup replay.

Andre Villas-Boas' side are perilously close to missing out on a Champions League spot for next season, That is something not likely to be tolerated by Roman Abramovich.

Now they will have to travel to the Midlands on March 6.

That means four games in the first two weeks of March. All before a crucial showdown with Manchester City.

Things seem to be slipping away from Chelsea. They need to quickly do something about it.