The Premier League takes a backseat this weekend with the FA Cup fourth round taking centre stage.
Manchester United were amongst those to fall at the primary hurdle together with holders Crystal Palace who were stunned by Macclesfield within the third round.
The sixth-tier side are out to cause one other shock once they host one other Premier League outfit in Brentford.
Chelsea get the motion underway tonight with Liam Rosenior up against one in every of his former clubs Hull City.
Manchester City host Salford City in a tasty tie on Saturday with Arsenal trying to avoid a slip-up at home to Wigan Athletic.
England legend and Betfair ambassador Alan Shearer runs us through a couple of of his FA Cup predictions to Metro.
Macclesfield vs Brentford
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Can Macclesfield proceed their giant-killing run within the FA Cup? Probably not with the shape that Brentford are in and the way in which Keith Andrews has got them playing, nevertheless it’ll be tough. There’s all the time one standout result over a weekend and Brentford have gotten to ensure that that’s not that one.
It’s great to see Macclesfield do well because for the opposite teams you’re out of your comfort zone, you’re in a very different environment.
Aston Villa vs Newcastle
It is a big game. I suppose either side will make a few changes. Newcastle looked rather a lot higher at Spurs in midweek. Eddie Howe modified it around again, he left the 2 forwards out. Three in case you include Osula and it worked higher. There was more energy and Newcastle were more of a threat in forward positions.
They’ve got to try to maintain that going. It’s a troublesome run for Newcastle. They’ve got Tuesday night, they’ve got Saturday, they then travel to Azerbaijan to go and play within the Champions League, which is a large game as well. So tough times for the Newcastle players. It’ll be tough at Aston Villa, they’re having an excellent season, sitting in third position within the Premier League. Nevertheless it’s all something very different, I suppose.
Form often does exit of the window on this competition. That’s why it’s so very difficult to predict. Normally if it was a league game I’d go in with a draw but clearly I can’t. I’m going to stick to Newcastle to undergo to the following round.
Liverpool vs Brighton
I suppose Liverpool are having a troublesome time in comparison with what they’ve been used to and there have been boos last week. I used to be really impressed with them at Sunderland for them to go there and manage the sport as they did. We know the way tough it’s there. I assumed the way in which they defended, I assumed Konate and Van Dijk were superb. We haven’t said that enough this season.
They were a tad unlucky last weekend against Man City. But I’d think that Liverpool will proceed their winning ways and undergo to the following round because they haven’t got a game next week, so far as I’m aware so I feel they’ll go as strong as they’ll.
Brighton know that Liverpool are under huge pressure to try to win something this season, in order that they’ll try to use that to their advantage. But that’s a giant ask.
Hull vs Chelsea
I suppose all of it is determined by what Rosenior want essentially the most. Whether he wants to guard and solidify going for a spot within the Premier League or playoffs, which they’re in on the minute, or whether he wants an FA Cup run.
I suppose we’ll discover what team he puts out. It’s a giant dilemma for him. I suppose they’re at home and so they’re continue to exist the BBC, there’ll be a giant crowd there. So, it’s one in every of these games where you’d think it’s going to be a terrific atmosphere and be really tough for Chelsea. But I feel the variety of players that they’ll bring on and rest, I suppose, for Chelsea, then I still think they’ll have an excessive amount of for Hull.
Man City vs Salford
Man City are in great form and Guardiola will change it around and he’ll give players games that haven’t played rather a lot. But having said that, they’ll have enough to beat Salford.
Arsenal vs Wigan
Again, I feel Mikel Arteta will change it around with players that didn’t play against Brentford. He’ll put them in, I suppose. And again, there can be a story over the weekend, but I don’t think this can be the story. I feel it is going to be Arsenal going through.
Grimsby vs Wolves
If Grimsby show the identical appetite that they did against Man United within the Carabao Cup and same know-how then who’s to say they’ll’t get a result? But often these results go the way in which of the Premier League team once they’re really struggling at the underside as Wolves have been under huge pressure. It could be that they benefit from the pressure being off them for slightly bit. I’d say Wolves will win, just.
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