The Premier League takes a breather this weekend, as several top-flight clubs are in Emirates FA Cup action. Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester City, Arsenal, Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester United – among others – are all on cup duty at the weekend, and there could be some shocks on the cards.
Derby County and Leicester City get this round of fixtures up and running with a tasty match on Friday night. We’ll also be focussing on Liverpool’s home game with Wolverhampton Wanderers, Arsenal’s trip to Southampton and the last fixture of the round, between Manchester United and Wigan Athletic.
With a number of huge games taking place in Europe’s top leagues over the weekend, we will also be previewing the pick of the action from the German Bundesliga and the French Ligue 1.
- Derby County v Leicester City – Derby County to Win (13/8 at Bet365)
- Southampton v Arsenal – Arsenal to Win (11/10 at Coral)
- Millwall v Watford – Millwall to Win (15/8 at Bet365)
- Sutton United v Leeds United – Leeds United to Win to Nil (2/1 at Sky Bet)
- Manchester United v Wigan Athletic – Manchester United to Win -2 (13/10 at Coral)
- Mainz 05 v Borussia Dortmund – Borussia Dortmund to Win -1 (13/8 at Ladbrokes)
- Paris Saint-Germain v Monaco – Draw and Both Teams to Score (4/1 at Betfred)
FA Cup
The FA Cup, the famous old competition renowned for its upsets, has already thrown up some shock results this season. Sky Bet League Two outfit Plymouth Argyle took Liverpool all the way to a replay, non-league Sutton United beat League One side AFC Wimbledon, whilst Stoke City, West Bromwich Albion and Bournemouth all fell at the first hurdle to lower league opposition.
Derby County v Leicester City – 27th January
The fourth round of this year’s FA Cup kicks off on Friday night, as Steve McClaren’s Derby County entertain Claudio Ranieri’s Premier League champions Leicester City. With Derby impressing in the Championship and Leicester struggling in the Premier League, we should be in for a cracking Midlands derby.
Things have not quite gone to plan for the Foxes this season. Despite progressing to the last 16 of the Champions League, the champions of England are currently languishing in 15th place in the Premier League table. As for the Rams, they sit two points adrift of the Championship play-offs in seventh.
On paper, these two look pretty evenly matched. However, with Leicester out of form and Derby very much in form, we’re siding with a home win in this one. Bet365 are offering 13/8 for Derby to knock out the Premier League champions at the fourth-round stage.
Derby County to Win – 13/8 at Bet365
Southampton v Arsenal – 28th January
One of the standout all-Premier League ties from this round is no doubt Saturday’s Southampton v Arsenal fixture at St Mary’s. The Gunners will be looking for revenge after the Saints knocked them out of this season’s EFL Cup.
In fact, Southampton have a good recent record over the north Londoners, having won three of the last six meetings between the pair. However, Arsenal have made a strong start to 2017, and they will be eager to make it through to round five without any hiccups.
With the match taking place at St Mary’s, we’re predicting a tight and tense contest on the south coast. However, we believe Arsenal’s qualities will shine through in the end, and we feel there’s good value in Coral’s 11/10 for the Gunners to triumph.
Arsenal to Win – 11/10 at Coral
Millwall v Watford – 28th January
The first of Sunday’s matches sees League One outfit Millwall host Premier League side Watford. The Den can be an intimidating place at times, so the Hornets will need to be wary of the Lions’ threat this weekend.
Neil Harris’s Millwall currently lie ninth in the third-tier table after a somewhat turbulent season for the south London club. However, they are only five points adrift of the play-offs. As for Watford, Walter Mazzarri’s troops are looking dangerously over their shoulders in 14th place in the top flight.
Watford are the favourites with the bookies, but only just. The Lions, who beat Bournemouth 3-0 at home in the previous round, are more than capable of causing another upset on Sunday. We believe it’s worth having a punt on Bet365’s generous 15/8 for a Millwall triumph.
Millwall to Win – 15/8 at Bet365
Sutton United v Leeds United – 29th January
The ‘romantic’ tie of the round comes from Gander Green Lane, as non-league Sutton United entertain the (once) mighty Leeds United. Paul Doswell’s side beat AFC Wimbledon in a third-round replay, and they would love to get the better of Leeds on Sunday.
However, no disrespect to the Dons, but playing Garry Monk’s in-form Whites will be a completely different prospect for the U’s. The National League South champions, who are mid-table in the National League at present, will have their work cut out trying to stop Leeds’ free-flowing attack.
Monk’s men will have been disappointed to have lost to Yorkshire rivals Barnsley at the weekend, and they won’t want another slip up in this one. Leeds are available at the decent price of 2/1 with Sky Bet to win to nil this weekend.
Leeds United to Win to Nil – 2/1 at Sky Bet
Manchester United v Wigan Athletic – 29th January
The last of our FA Cup previews comes from Old Trafford, as Warren Joyce returns to the Theatre of Dreams with his Wigan Athletic side to face Jose Mourinho’s Manchester United on Sunday.
Joyce has got an extremely difficult task on his hands, trying to keep the Latics in the Championship. However, after back-to-back wins, Wigan now find themselves out of the drop zone. As for United, they are still knocking on the door for a top four spot in the Premier League.
Despite drawing their last two, Man United have won nine of their last 11, and we can’t see the Red Devils having many problems in this one. Coral are offering 13/10 for the home team to win -2, which we believe is a standout bet in this tie.
Manchester United to Win -2 – 13/10 at Coral
Bundesliga
Having won their last six Bundesliga matches, Carlo Ancelotti’s Bayern Munich sit pretty at the top of the German top-flight table. Red Bull Leipzig, who have only been beaten twice in the league, are three points behind in second. Thomas Tuchel’s Borussia Dortmund, however, have had an indifferent season so far, as they lie fourth. This weekend BVB travel to Mainz 05.
Mainz 05 v Borussia Dortmund – 29th January
Martin Schmidt’s Mainz 05 welcome Thomas Tuchel’s Borussia Dortmund to the Opel Arena for a vital Bundesliga match. Despite being away from home, Dortmund must be targeting maximum points from this one.
BVB have only lost three league matches this term, but draws have been their Achilles heel. The Black and Yellows have drawn six Bundesliga matches, including three of their last four. As for Mainz, they occupy 11th spot, having taken 21 points from their opening 17 matches.
Dortmund are just a point behind Hoffenheim in the table – and if they want to break into the top three, these are the type of games they need to be winning. We believe they will, and we like the look of Ladbrokes’ 13/8 for Dortmund to win -1.
Borussia Dortmund to Win -1 – 13/8 at Ladbrokes
Ligue 1
Nice’s four draws from their last five Ligue 1 matches has left the door open for Monaco to claim top spot. Leonardo Jardim’s men are in fine form, having won five of their last six Ligue 1 games. This weekend, Monaco travel to underachievers Paris Saint-Germain. PSG are currently in third position in the table, a point behind Nice and three points adrift of Sunday’s visitors.
Paris Saint-Germain v Monaco – 29th January
Leonardo Jardim’s Monaco make the trip to the Parc des Princes this Sunday to take on Unai Emery’s Paris Saint-Germain. With only three points separating the pair in France’s top tier, who can steal a march on their rivals in this one?
These two heavyweights of the French game are sure to put on a show on Sunday. Being at home, Paris are the strong favourites, but how can you rule out an in-form Monaco? When the duo met at the Stade Louis II in August, Jardim’s side ran out 3-1 winners.
With the way both sides have been playing of late, we’re struggling to pick an outright winner. Therefore, we’re sitting on the fence and going with the draw. Betfred are offering 4/1 for the draw and both teams to score.
Draw and Both Teams to Score – 4/1 at Betfred