FA Cup Fifth Round Showdowns: Underdogs & Giants Clash

The Emirates FA Cup enters its fifth round stage this weekend, with 16 sides fighting for a place in the quarter-finals and a chance to continue their quest for glory in England’s oldest football competition.

With reigning champions Crystal Palace out of the picture, the FA Cup will crown a new champion in May.

Without further ado, let’s look at the five most exciting fifth-round ties.

Wolverhampton Wanderers vs Liverpool

Revenge is a dish best served cold, but it’s been only a week since the Premier League basement boys humbled defending champions Liverpool at Molineux en route to their first set of back-to-back league wins since April 2025.

Though Wolves have already set one foot in the Championship, they’ve recently shown some promising signs, and it would take a brave man to bet against them building on last weekend’s stunning 2-1 victory.

While destined for relegation, the West Midlands outfit could salvage some pride in the FA Cup, where their last success came in the 1959/60 season.

Standing in their way are eight-time FA Cup winners Liverpool, whose manager, Arne Slot, is facing heavy scrutiny amid the club’s disappointing defending campaign in the Premier League.

Aware of the importance of this competition, Slot has branded the upcoming showdown at Molineux as a ‘massive game’ during his pre-match conference, suggesting the Reds will approach this meeting with full focus.

Mansfield Town vs Arsenal

Mansfield’s dream FA Cup journey faces an arguably insurmountable challenge as they take on runaway Premier League leaders Arsenal at One Call Stadium, with the odds heavily stacked against the third-tier minnows.

Nigel Clough’s side pulled off a huge upset in the previous round, eking out a hard-earned 2-1 victory at Turf Moor over Burnley to reach the fifth round of the oldest football cup competition for the first time in 51 years.

Unfortunately for the Stags, this is likely to be the end of the road for them unless they can produce another monumental upset against one of Europe’s most in-form sides.

Fresh off extending their lead over second-placed Manchester City to seven points, courtesy of a narrow 1-0 victory at Brighton & Hove Albion, the Gunners continue their pursuit of a historic quadruple in the FA Cup.

So far, it’s been plain sailing for Mikel Arteta’s troops, as they scored four goals apiece in a pair of commanding triumphs over Portsmouth and Wigan Athletic in the opening two rounds.

Wrexham vs Chelsea

Wrexham’s fairytale rise continues as the Welsh club prepare for another landmark moment in their remarkable modern journey.

Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney are on the verge of achieving something unheard of in the modern history of English football, with second-tier Wrexham on course to secure a place in the promotion play-offs.

After three consecutive promotions, the Red Dragons could reach the top flight for the first time in club history, and this clash at the Racecourse Ground only adds another chapter to the club’s remarkable rise under Hollywood ownership

Vying for their eighth FA Cup trophy, Chelsea will hope to avoid the fate that befell Nottingham Forest, who fell victim to Wrexham’s unparalleled ambition in the opening round of the competition.

Liam Rosenior’s men will take the field in high spirits after putting Aston Villa to the sword on Wednesday. Despite conceding an early opener, the Blues emerged as 4-1 victors at Villa Park, significantly boosting their top-four hopes.

Newcastle United vs Manchester City

Unfazed by a numerical disadvantage, 10-man Newcastle United inflicted Manchester United’s first defeat under Michael Carrick on Wednesday, as William Osula’s last-gasp winner inspired the Magpies to a 2-1 victory at St James’ Park.

Despite praising his side for a spirited performance in midweek Premier League action, Eddie Howe must have realised by now that the Premier League is already a lost cause for Newcastle.

Stranded in the division’s lower reaches, Howe’s charges cannot realistically hope to secure a top-six finish, meaning a long-awaited success in the FA Cup could soften the blow.

Newcastle last lifted this trophy in 1954/55, and to end this drought, they must overcome seven-time winners and last season’s beaten finalists, Man City, in round five.

Pep Guardiola’s hopes of spoiling Arsenal’s title charge in the Premier League took a hit in midweek, as Forest snatched away a point at the Etihad Stadium, heightening the pressure on the Cityzens to make amends in other competitions.

West Ham United vs Brentford

Nuno Espirito Santo needs to set his priorities straight and decide whether pursuing FA Cup glory would be a wise choice, even though it could distract West Ham from their most important goal.

Securing Premier League survival is the only thing that should concern the Hammers in the second half of the season, as they remain stuck in the drop zone, albeit only one point adrift of 16th-placed Tottenham Hotspur.

However, the lure of silverware is strong, as it has been almost 50 years since West Ham last conquered the iconic FA Cup, making this a rare opportunity to make a standout result in this competition.

Fighting on the opposite side of the Premier League table, Brentford have more room to maneuver and can approach this tie with less pressure, although their recent form cannot inspire confidence.

Keith Andrews’ men have recorded partial success across their last three outings (W1, D1, L1), but they can find comfort in having beaten their upcoming rivals in their last two encounters.

Other match-ups

Leeds United and Norwich City have frequently faced each other in recent years, with the majority of their clashes taking place in the Championship.

The Whites boast a massive advantage, having won five of the last seven meetings between the sides, with the other two ending all square.

Vale Park sets the stage for the first match between Port Vale and Sunderland since 2021, when the Black Cats claimed a 2-1 win at this stadium in the League Cup.

Jon Brady’s lads have done well in this season’s competition, but this will be their first game against a top-flight club.

A place in the FA Cup quarter-finals will be on the line when Fulham and Southampton lock horns in an exciting last-16 tie at Craven Cottage.

Marco Silva’s side head into proceedings as favourites after beating the Saints in three of their last four clashes (D1).

How To Watch FA Cup Games in 2025/26

Live FA Cup games on TV are shown on BBC and TNT Sports in the UK. While the BBC only shows select fixtures up to the quarter finals (and then 1 semi final and the final), TNT Sports has live coverage from the first round and shows every match live from the third round onwards (excluding 3pm Saturday kickoffs).

TNT Sports is currently available in the UK through discovery+, but it will move to HBO Max from 26 March 2026 once the streaming service launches in the UK.

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To celebrate the partnership, every reader who subscribes to the Football Today newsletter will automatically be entered into an exclusive prize draw. It’s our way of saying thank you for being part of the community while helping you enjoy a better night’s sleep after all the late-night matches. Simply sign up to the newsletter and you’re in with a chance to win. One lucky subscriber will take home a Simba Hybrid mattress, combining cutting-edge sleep technology with exceptional comfort.

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