FA Cup fifth round preview: Liverpool’s quadruple bid continues

The FA Cup returns as Chelsea look to bounce back following a painful League Cup final defeat against Liverpool, while Jurgen Klopp’s side set their sights on more trophies following their triumph.

We preview the standout fixtures from this week’s fifth round.

Liverpool v Norwich City

Following a record-breaking ninth League Cup crown, Liverpool will be looking to achieve the unprecedented quadruple this season. Jurgen Klopp’s side are on a 10-game winning streak, but this is only the second time under his tenure that the Reds have reached the fifth round of the FA Cup. So far this season, Liverpool have beaten Norwich City three times, twice in the Premier League and once in the League Cup, but they have never beaten a team four times in a row in a single season.

Norwich are currently scrapping for Premier League survival following a 2-0 defeat to Southampton on Friday. The Canaries have been eliminated at the fifth round of the FA Cup in four of the last five seasons that they have reached this stage. Finnish striker Teemu Pukki is the only current player to have scored against Liverpool, but he is yet to score in the FA Cup in six appearances.

Dean Smith’s side will need to produce a shock on Wednesday to defy their odds at 14/1, as Liverpool look likely to continue their quest for more domestic silverware as the 2/11 favourites. Backing Liverpool to win and both teams to score may offer better value at 8/5.

Luton Town v Chelsea

Luton Town continued their impressive run of form in England’s second tier over the weekend with a narrow success over Derby County, moving them into the Championship’s play-off places. Luton have won six of their last seven games at Kenilworth Road in all competitions but have lost eight of their last 11 FA Cup ties with top-flight sides. A victory over Chelsea would see the Hatters make it to the quarter-finals for the first time since the 1993-94 season.

Wednesday’s match sees the second consecutive meeting between Luton Town and Chelsea in the FA Cup, after last season’s 3-1 victory for the Blues at Stamford Bridge. Following the League Cup final defeat to Liverpool on Sunday, Thomas Tuchel will be looking to bounce back with a convincing win against Luton but is expected to change up his starting XI given Chelsea’s busy fixture list. The Blues have won 19 of their last 22 FA Cup games since the 2017-18 season, which is more than any other side, and they have not been knocked out of the cup by lower-league opposition since 2015.

With eight FA Cup titles to their name, Chelsea are the obvious favourites at 4/11, but can Luton extend their run of form to upset the odds at 15/2? Backing Chelsea to win and both teams to score at 11/5 could be a tempting price.

Southampton v West Ham United

This fifth-round tie marks the third meeting of the season between Southampton and West Ham United, with the Saints unbeaten in the two Premier League fixtures between the sides with one win and one draw. Ralph Hasenhuttl’s side are enjoying their best run of the season with an unbeaten streak of six matches across all competitions and will be looking to reach the quarter-finals in consecutive campaigns for the first time since 1906. Prior to their 3-2 win on Boxing Day, the Saints were winless in eight matches against West Ham.

The Hammers have never lost to Southampton in the FA Cup, however. David Moyes’ side travel to St Mary’s off the back of overcoming Wolves at the weekend and the visitors have three consecutive clean sheets in their last three trips to St Mary’s, but they are also winless in nine FA Cup away games against fellow Premier League sides.

This is likely to be a close tie on Wednesday night with Southampton the 13/10 favourites. West Ham’s odds stand at 2/1, but considering the results so far this season, backing a Saints win in extra-time could offer good value at 12/1.

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