ALEX CROOK PREVIEW: FA Cup Fifth Round

Star Sports ambassador ALEX CROOK looks ahead to the pick of the weekend FA Cup matches, including another boosted ALEX ACCA.

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🐺 WOLVES v LIVERPOOL 🔴
Friday, 8pm

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It was only four days ago that Liverpool were humbled at Molineux and Arne Slot’s side make a quickfire return to the scene of Tuesday’s shock 2-1 defeat.

Reds boss Slot will be hoping his side can gain immediate revenge after coming under fire from Liverpool fans in the wake of that defeat.

Despite beating Liverpool and Aston Villa back-to-back, Wolves remain destined for relegation to the Championship, but the cup competitions have brought the best out of them this season.

The hosts beat both Everton and Aston Villa in the EFL Cup before losing a seven-goal thriller at home to Chelsea. In this competition, they made light work of lowly Shrewsbury before overcoming Grimsby in difficult weather conditions.

The visitors cruised past Brighton in the last round, but Slot is bound to have one eye on Tuesday’s Champions League trip to Galatasaray.

Opposite number Rob Edwards has the advantage of being able to name his strongest possible 11 against a Liverpool team out to avoid losing three successive away games in the FA Cup for the first time in 72 years.

I think this could be a really entertaining game and potentially another awkward evening for Liverpool, but with many of his more senior teammates misfiring this could be the time for teenager Rio Ngumoha to shine.

My build-a-bet is over 2.5 goals, Ngumoha to score and over 2.5 Wolves cards which returns 11/1 with starsports.bet.

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NEWCASTLE v MANCHESTER CITY
Saturday, 8pm

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We will find out if familiarity really does breed contempt when Newcastle meet Manchester City for the fifth time this season – and the fourth since November – on Saturday night.

Newcastle beat City 2-1 at home in the Premier League but have since lost both legs of their EFL Cup semi-final and were beaten 2-1 at the Etihad in the league only last month.

Eddie Howe will take heart from how close his Magpies side ran Pep Guardiola’s title hopefuls in that game, and from the fact they snapped a three-game Premier League losing streak at St James Park by defeating Manchester United with ten men on Wednesday.

On the same night, City dropped precious points at home to Nottingham Forest after being held to a 2-2 draw despite twice taking the lead as they lost ground on Arsenal at the top of the table.

Both teams have big Champions League games coming up in mid-week, with City travelling to Real Madrid and Newcastle hosting Barcelona, which is bound to influence both managers’ thinking.

Guardiola is hunting a third FA Cup winners’ medal, but I feel this means more for Newcastle than their visitors, Eddie Howe having ending their long domestic trophy drought in last season’s EFL Cup final victory over Liverpool.

As Forest proved in mid-week City are still not the force of old, especially when it comes to keeping the ball out of their own net so Newcastle to win in 90 minutes at 11/5 with starsports.bet looks too big to me, especially as neither manager will want extra-time.

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⚪ LEEDS v NORWICH 🟡
Sunday, 4.30pm

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Daniel Farke has a tricky-looking reunion with old club Norwich on Sunday as Leeds bid to reach their first quarter-final since 2003.

The Canaries, who themselves have only made it through to the last eight on one occasion since 1992, are one of the Championship’s most in-form sides after winning seven of their last nine games to pull clear of relegation danger.

The fact that Philippe Clement’s men are now 11 points clear of the bottom three means they can afford to have a real crack at their trip to Elland Road.

Leeds, meanwhile, have been pulled back into the Premier League survival fight, meaning Farke may have to be a little more conservative with his team selection.

Leeds boss Farke made six changes for their fourth round penalty shootout win at home to Norwich’s second tier bedfellows Birmingham and it would be a surprise if key striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin, for one, is not rested here.

Having led the Canaries to two Championship titles during his time in charge, German Farke is sure of a warm reception from the travelling fans, but his side to win at 4/9 with starsports.bet is too skinny.

I think this could well go the distance so the draw at 7/2 with starsports.bet is my play.

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⚒️ WEST HAM v BRENTFORD 🐝
Monday, 7.30pm

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The weekend ends with another all-Premier League tie on Monday as Brentford host West Ham in a London derby.

The hosts gave their hopes of pulling off a relegation great escape a shot in the arm by triumphing 1-0 at Fulham on Monday, with the in-form Crysencio Summerville yet again proving the match-winner.

I was at the Vitality Stadium to see Brentford underwhelm in their 0-0 draw at Bournemouth but that performance should not detract from the fact Bees have won seven of their last nine away games.

The fact they are sitting comfortable in seventh place in the table, within touching distance of a first ever European campaign, should mean Keith Andrews takes this tie seriously.

With so many big hitters already out, and others with more pressing matters at hand this feels like another year of the underdog and Brentford should take inspiration from Crystal Palace in their quest for a first ever major trophy.

West Ham’s priority has to be staying up, especially as dropping out of the top-flight would mean dire financial consequences.

Nuno Espirito Santo changed his entire team as they needed extra time to get past Burton Albion in round four having also been held to a draw in 90 minutes by Championship QPR a round earlier.

I’ll keep this nice and simple and back Brentford to win in 90 minutes at 13/10 with starsports.bet.

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1️⃣ BEST BET: Brentford to win 1.5pts at 13/10 (⭐ ? CLICK TO BET NOW)
2️⃣ NEXT BEST: Newcastle to win 1pt at 11/5 (⭐ ? CLICK TO BET NOW)
🎲 LONG SHOT: Leeds v Norwich draw 0.5pts at 7/2 (⭐ ? CLICK TO BET NOW)
📊 BUILD-A-BET: Wolves v Liverpool, over 2.5 goals, Rio Ngumoha to score and over 2.5 Wolves cards 0.5pts at 11/1 with starsports.bet
🚀 ALEX ACCA: Fulham, Coventry, Sheffield United, Barnsley 1pt at 12/1 (⭐ ? CLICK TO BET NOW)

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