JAN 24 — This weekend the Premier League takes a break to give way to the oldest cup competition in the world.
Looking at the fixture list for the FA Cup 4th Round, one has to just surrender to the fact that it’s not the easiest thing to predict.
When a team like Burnley from the League Championship can deservingly beat Tottenham Hotspur 3-0 after 90 minutes, and should rightfully be in the Carling Cup final (but are not, thanks to the English FA retards not following the UEFA Champions League basis of two 90-minute games for the away goals rule to count), then anything’s possible.
Actually, last season’s FA Cup journey among the Premiership teams is a good example of the phrase “expect the unexpected”. That only one Premiership team was in the semi-final was a record of sorts. But when you factor in teams like Chelsea losing to Barnsley, who had also beaten Liverpool 2-1 at Anfield in the previous round, then you know the God’s must be really ‘aving a larf at ye olde English game!
Getting back to this season’s competition, the draw did pull a couple of gems from the hat — namely, Manchester United vs Tottenham (tomorrow, 1.15am) and Liverpool vs Everton (tomorrow, 11.55pm). The coincidence of the draw couldn’t be more ironic.
MU vs Spurs has turned out to be a cup dress rehearsal for their meeting on March 1 in the Carling Cup final. Meanwhile, Liverpool is hosting Everton for the second time in seven days and will be hoping to prove to their fans that Everton’s late comeback last Monday was a fluke.
I predict that both the away teams will be able to hold their own against their more illustrious opponents, so do expect at least a draw in these two matches.
In other matches involving Premiership teams, I will put my money with some certainty on Chelsea, Arsenal and Aston Villa progressing against lower division opponents Ipswich Town, Cardiff City and Doncaster Rovers, respectively.
Carling Cup surprise package Burnley take on Premiership bottom club West Bromwich Albion. Though it’s an away match, the determination and effort shown by Burnley against Spurs will prove again to be enough to defeat their second Premiership opponents in a matter of 4 days.
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