FA Cup fifth round news: Betting tips, predictions and preview for televised games
This week’s column comes directly from Egypt. What a place by the way.
Granted given what’s happening around the world this is probably not the ideal time to be travelling out towards the Middle East but we got here OK.
The Bookie Basher didn’t shine in geography at school (did at heads & volleys though so swings and roundabouts) so didn’t actually realise Egypt is quite close to Iran.
I have therefore made a tactical decision to get on the cocktails early doors daily in case it kicks off.
The locals seem to like my antics, and have taken to calling me Degsy Daiquiri, Count Drunkula and - cryptically - Legs Goner McGregor.
Read on for a breakdown of the best bets from this weekend’s FA Cup TV games from Sports News Blitz’s punting laureate - The Bookie Basher – including Saturday’s big one between Newcastle United and Manchester City.
READ MORE: FA Cup news: Cup fever takes hold as Mansfield Town host Arsenal, Wrexham welcome Chelsea
Wolves v Liverpool
Bottom club Wolves beat the defending Premier League champions Liverpool on Tuesday night, and just three days later the teams meet again in the FA Cup.
Lightning could easily strike twice here, and for this reason Wolves are a bet surely at 5/1 or bigger?
The Old Gold look destined to drop to the Championship yet have beaten Liverpool, Aston Villa and drawn against Arsenal in their past three home games.
For the fifth time this season, Arne Slot's side conceded an injury-time winner in midweek and Cody Gakpo must be related to Slot mustn’t he?
His continued inclusion is nonsensical and with half the team cutting about out of position week after week, anyone backing them at heavy odds on here needs an intervention.
Suggested Bet: Wolves to win at 5/1 (Bet Victor / Coral / Ladbrokes)
Mansfield Town v Arsenal
Mansfield will take to the pitch in an FA Cup fifth round tie for the first time in 51 years when they host Premier League leaders Arsenal on Saturday.
Nigel Clough’s Stags are embroiled in a League One relegation battle and despite already knocking out Burnley in this competition are mega odds to claim another huge FA Cup shock.
Looking at the respective squads the Gunners - 14-time FA Cup winners - should p*ss this even if they rotate their all-star line up.
Don’t be shocked if the goals come from well-worked corner routines, and with this in mind Riccardo Calafiori is in my thinking as a first goalscorer.
The big Italian should get some game time here and he would be a threat from set plays. 17/1 to score first? Hold my beer.
Suggested Bet: Calafiori to score first at 17/1 (Bet MGM)
Wrexham v Chelsea
Can nouveau riche Wrexham stun an erratic Chelsea side? I fancy the Blues if I’m honest, unless they lose their discipline again.
Pedro Neto’s red card against Arsenal on Sunday was the seventh given to a Chelsea player in 28 Premier League games this season.
Liam Rosenior is rightly concerned, but they were magnificent against Aston Villa the other night and should scoot home on Saturday.
Suggested Bet: Chelsea to win & both teams to score at 15/8 (bet365)
Newcastle United v Manchester City
Without a doubt this is the fifth round’s headline act, and I’m going to have a good punt on the Geordies I reckon.
10-man Newcastle could have lost their composure after that iffy red card call the other night, but you would not have known the hosts were playing with a man fewer in the second half as they served it up to the Red Devils time and again and were rewarded late on.
On the same night Man City extended their unbeaten run to 10 games in all competitions, but the title race tilted firmly in Arsenal’s direction after that 2-2 draw with Nottingham Forest.
The Cityzens are tough to beat but struggle for consistency and could wilt in another bear-pit of an atmosphere on Tyneside, where the Toon are 5/2 to win.
5/2? As they say in Egypt, let’s go, Habibi.
Suggested Bet: Newcastle to win at 5/2 (Unibet)
Leeds United v Norwich City
It’s the Daniel Farke derby on Sunday, with the hairy German boss's current charges facing off against his former team in Norwich.
Leeds are having a good season but that Tuesday night defeat against Sunderland will have felt like a body blow, especially with West Ham and Forest picking up points.
Even if the Yorkshire giants rotate here they should be too hot for the Canaries, who have been poor in the Championship this season.
Wilfried Gnonto and Facundo Buonanotte started their last FA Cup match and I fancy the former - who remains one slick sheet of ice when he’s in the mood - to score first.
Suggested Bet: Wilfried Gnonto to score first at 10/1 (Betway)
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