peter henry
The fifth round draw of the FA Cup has now been made, and after plenty of shock results in round three and four, plenty of clubs will fancy their chances of making it all the way to Wembley this season.
There are only three members of the Premier League’s fabled top six and seven top-flight clubs in total left in the world’s oldest knock out competition.
Now the picture is starting to become a little clearer, we thought we’d take a look at the five favourites to win this season’s FA Cup, and if you fancy a wee bet make sure to check out omegatipsters.
Crystal Palace 11/1
Roy Hodgson’s Crystal Palace side beat Spurs 2-0 in the last round, and Eagles fans will be hoping for another trip to Wembley after making the final in 2016, although they ultimately lost 2-1 to Manchester United.
Palace already pulled off one of the shocks of the season when they beat reigning Premier League Champions 3-2 at the Etihad and pushed current top-flight leaders Liverpool mighty close in a pulsating 4-3 loss away at Anfield recently.
The Eagles have been drawn away to League One outfit Doncaster, so Hodgson will fancy his chances of making the last eight.
Wolves 9/1
Nuno Espirito Santo’s Wolves struggled to a 2-2 draw away to Shrewsbury Town at weekend and face a replay at Molineux to earn the right to face in-form Championship side Bristol City in the next round.
However, Wolves have been one of the most impressive newly promoted sites to come into the Premier League in many a year and have already shown themselves capable of matching the top-flights bigger boys this season. Many fans and pundits have the Midlands club down as a dark horse to go far this year, and it’s easy to see why.
Manchester United 9/2
Manchester United have been in sensational form since Ole Gunnar Solskjaer took over the reins from Jose Mourinho just before Christmas, winning all eight of their fixtures so far under the Norweigan.
After overcoming old foes Arsenal with an impressive 3-1 win away at the Emirates in the last round, United fans would have been hoping for a kind draw – those hopes were extinguished tonight though as Red Devils will travel to Stamford Bridge to face Chelsea in what will be a replay of last seasons final.
United will surely want to gain some revenge on Chelsea after last years 1-0 loss at Wembley and one thing is for sure, if the Old Trafford outfit do go all the way this season, they’ll have done it the hard way.
Chelsea 4/1
Reigning FA Cup Champions Chelsea are second favourites, although as just mentioned, they face a huge test against Manchester United in the next round.
Maurizio Sarri’s side haven’t been in the best of form in recent weeks, but with home advantage against United they will fancy their chances of progressing to the last eight.
If Chelsea do regain their FA Cup crown this season it will the first major piece of silverware that 61-year-old Sarri will have won in his managerial career.
Manchester City 7/4
Pep Guardiola’s superb Man City side are the bookies clear favourites to win this years tournament. Despite hitting a sticky patch of form in the Premier League over Christmas, the Citizens are still in contention in four competitions at the moment, and look head and shoulders above every other team in the country, bar Liverpool.
With Chelsea or bitter rivals Man United set to be eliminated in the fifth round, it’s hard to look past the famous FA Cup trophy ending up at the Etihad come May.
Check out the full FA Cup Fifth Round Draw.