FA Cup news: Five potential fourth-round upsets

This weekend sees the return of the world’s oldest national football competition as the fourth round of the FA Cup kicks off.

There are a number of high-profile fixtures on the cards, including Manchester United hosting Leicester City, Millwall travelling to Leeds United, Brighton welcoming Chelsea, and Aston Villa clashing with Tottenham.

With its long history of giant-killing upsets, the FA Cup is sure to offer an exciting few days of knockout footie.

Sports News Blitz writer Jon Shea takes a look at five potential upsets ahead of the action.

Southampton vs Burnley

First up is a meeting between Championship promotion hopefuls Burnley and Premier League basement dwellers Southampton.

It is not at all controversial to predict that Southampton will be relegated from the Premier League come May as it has been an utterly disastrous campaign for the Saints that has seen just nine points amassed from 24 matches.

Ivan Juric’s side did, however, win their first league game since November at the weekend – a 2-1 win over fellow strugglers Ipswich – and will now look to continue that tiny sliver of form into cup competition.

Burnley, on the other hand, are flying high in the Championship and still well in with a shout for automatic promotion. That said, their football is leaving a bit to be desired, with three goalless draws in five matches.

If one is to get technical, there are only a couple of league places between the two sides and certainly not much difference in terms of on-field quality.

Burnley are thus more than capable of going to St Mary’s and getting a result. And while it would not be the biggest shock of the weekend, it would be special for Clarets fans.

READ MORE: Manchester United vs Leicester: Five key battles that could decide the FA Cup clash

Coventry City vs Ipswich Town

Since Frank Lampard took up the managerial reins, the formerly struggling Sky Blues have flown up the league table. Thanks to a run of seven wins in 13 games – and four in a row coming into this tie – Coventry now find themselves just three points off the Championship play-offs.

They misfired badly under Mark Robins at the start of the season, but their fortunes have been turned around completely and fans are once again dreaming of promotion.

To add to the sense of glee, Coventry have been given a home tie against Premier League opposition this weekend, which is exactly what the FA Cup is all about.

Ipswich, for their part, are stumbling through a first Premier League campaign in over twenty years. After two unbelievable seasons, Kieran McKenna’s men are finding top-flight life tough.

Currently sitting in 19th position, the Tractor Boys will be low on confidence, and Lampard’s rejuvenated side may just look to take advantage of that.

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Plymouth Argyle vs Liverpool

It rarely gets bigger than hosting the Premier League leaders in an FA Cup tie. On Sunday, Plymouth get to do just that as they welcome Arne Slot’s brilliant Liverpool side to Home Park.

The Reds are chasing every trophy this season and confirmed their place in the Carabao Cup final thanks to a comprehensive win over Tottenham on Thursday. With a midweek Merseyside derby to come, Liverpool are likely to rotate heavily for the game against Plymouth.

A second-string line-up dispatched Accrington Stanley with ease in the previous round, but that will not stop Plymouth dreaming of an upset against a weakened Liverpool side.

Plymouth, it must be said, are having a tumultuous season. Rock bottom of the Championship and four points from safety, the Pilgrims have at least improved since sacking the woeful Wayne Rooney, but a shock this weekend remains unlikely.

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Blackburn Rovers vs Wolverhampton Wanderers

This match has a real chance of seeing an upset and will at the very least spark some Premier League memories of the early 2010s, when these two sides would battle relegation together like it was an artform.

Blackburn have gone about their work nicely in the Championship this term but are in a tough run of form at the minute, winning just one of their last five games. For the time being, though, the 1995 Premier League champions retain a play-off spot.

Wolves are struggling too, with their Premier League status under serious threat for the first time in eight years. Sitting two points above the relegation places, the Molineux outfit needs to turn things around and fast.

Although Matheus Cunha probably holds the key to Sunday’s game, you can be sure that Ewood Park will be bouncing at the return of an old foe.

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Doncaster Rovers vs Crystal Palace

Doncaster have gone about their business very nicely of late, winning four of their last five games to sit pretty in the League Two automatic promotion spots.

As a result, despite 58 places separating Doncaster and Palace on the football pyramid, Rovers fans will be quietly confident of an upset in the fourth round.

Indeed, an FA Cup tie under lights on a Monday screams potential upset.

Crystal Palace are in decent form themselves, though, and will undoubtedly be on a high after winning at Old Trafford in the league last weekend.

It all comes down to whether or not Oliver Glasner will rest some key men for Palace. If in-form striker Jean-Phillipe Mateta plays, Doncaster will have some task on their hands to contain him.

The London club is also likely to want a good cup run as they have, incredibly, never won a major honour, so Doncaster will have to be on their toes to stop the Eagles from soaring into the next round.

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