We’re getting to the grit of the FA Cup now. The fifth round consists of the 16 survivors in this long single elimination tournament. After some heavy upsets in previous rounds, this is now a wide open tournament.
Manchester United, Arsenal and Liverpool are the only “big teams” still alive but they’re known to struggle in previous rounds against weaker opposition and can be beaten. Teams below like West Ham, Crystal Palace and Stoke are the next favorites and are more than willing to take on that favorite spot if the top three fall out. Lower league teams like Derby County and Middlesbrough have seen success against top teams in the FA Cup and are on great momentum to potentially promote to the EPL next year. Here is your FA Cup schedule for this weekend.
In parenthesis – League and overall position in the English soccer pyramid.
Saturday February 14
West Brom (EPL-14) 4-0 West Ham United (EPL-8)
Derby County (CH-23) 1-2 Reading (CH-34)
Blackburn Rovers (CH-29) 4-1 Stoke City (EPL-10)
Crystal Palace (EPL-13) 1-2 Liverpool (EPL-7)
Sunday February 15
Aston Villa (EPL-18) vs. Leicester City (EPL-20) – 7:30 AM ET – FOX Sports 1
Bradford City (L1-52) vs. Sunderland (EPL-15) – 9:30 AM ET – FOX Soccer Plus
Arsenal (EPL-5) vs. Middlesbrough (CH-21) – 11:00 AM ET – FOX Sports 2
Monday February 16
Preston North End (L1-48) vs. Manchester United (EPL-3) – 2:45 PM ET – FOX Sports 1
