STAR FOOTBALL PREVIEW: FA Cup 2023

Many things change with a New Year but the magic of the FA Cup remains as the Premier League and Championship sides enter the fray of football’s oldest cup competition. The cliché book will be worn out over the next 72 hours with some of the biggest teams – and the world’s best players – facing local clubs and making history in some cases with spectacular giant killings.

FA Cup 2023

Schedule:
3rd Round: January 7, 2023
4th Round: January 28, 2023
5th Round: March 1, 2023
Quarter-finals: March 18, 2023
Semi-finals: April 22 and 23, 2023
2023 FA Cup Final: June 3, 2023

*Subject to change

PAST WINNERS & RUNNERS UP:
2021-22 FA Cup Final: Liverpool (won 6-5 on penalties against Chelsea)
2020-21 FA Cup Final: Leicester City (won 1-0 against Chelsea)
2019-20 FA Cup Final: Arsenal (won 2-1 against Chelsea)
2018-19 FA Cup final: Manchester City (won 5-0 against Watford)
2017-18 FA Cup final: Chelsea (won 1-0 against Manchester United)
2016-17 FA Cup final: Arsenal (won 2-1 against Chelsea)
2015–16 FA Cup final: Manchester United (won 2–1 against Crystal Palace)
2014–15 FA Cup final: Arsenal (won 4–0 against Aston Villa)
2013–14 FA Cup final: Arsenal (won 3–2 against Hull City)
2012–13 FA Cup final: Wigan Athletic (won 1–0 against Manchester City)
2011–12 FA Cup final: Chelsea (won 2–1 against Liverpool)

Whilst we can look forward to a cup set or two, at the business end the FA Cup has been a preserve of English football’s elite for the past 20 years. Only three clubs outside the ‘big six’ (Manchester City, Manchester United, Chelsea, Arsenal, Tottenham and Liverpool) have won the trophy since 1994-95, and Leicester were fifth in the League when they beat Chelsea in the final.

So whilst there’s nothing wrong with taking an outsider – plenty of clubs have reached the final at big prices – the top of the market looks the place to search for the best winning shot.

It’s understandable that Manchester City are 3/1 – pound for pound they’re the best side in the country – but there’s little appeal in that price and they’re currently in a battle with Arsenal to retain their Premier League title. That could change over the next couple of weeks, but all eyes will be on a first Champions League title as well, and even if they get the better of Chelsea this Sunday, their priorities could well be stretched.

Chelsea were improved against City in the league on Thursday but they don’t make appeal even at enhanced prices given that they have to travel to the Etihad, and The Blues may need more time under Graham Potter.

Liverpool pulled off a coup double last season, but things are very different at Anfield now and they make little appeal at 13/2 given the heavy toll injuries have taken on them during this campaign whilst their defence is another concern. Attempting to finish in the top four will be their main priority whilst Real Madrid lie in wait in the Champions League.

15/2 is eye-catching about Arsenal (long odds on to win at Oxford on Monday) given their brilliant season, but they don’t possess the squad depth of others and the title charge will surely be their main focus. A much-changed side were beaten 3-1 by Brighton in the EFL Cup and they could be vulnerable if making changes.

Tottenham should find it easy to get past an injury hit Portsmouth, but key absentees – namely Dejan Kulusevski, Richarlison, and Rodrigo Betancur – would be a big miss in the latter stages and a top four spot and the Champions League will take priority above all else.

That Newcastle are in the mix for a Champions League spot – they’re evens with Star Sports for a top four finish – shows how quickly the Saudi takeover has transformed their club and they could have a serious shot at FA Cup glory.

A top four spot will obviously be the priority, but Newcastle don’t have any Champions League fixtures to worry about and with the best side they’ve had in years, surely management will want to end a trophy drought that stretches to the 50’s. Eddie Howe’s cup record at Bournemouth was poor but priorities were very different then and Newcastle have already shown their ambitions with a run to the quarter-finals of the EFL Cup.

Eddie Howe started Callum Wilson, Miguel Almiron, Bruno Guimaraes, Joe Willock, Fabian Schar, Kieran Trippier and Nick Pope in their fourth-round tie against Bournemouth, and an influx of transfers has given them much greater squad depth.

Chris Wood, Allan Saint-Maximin, and Jamaal Lascelles were all on the bench for their 0-0 draw against Arsenal on Monday and even if changes are made, Newcastle boast more quality than in previous seasons. There were probably easier third round ties than a visit to face in-form Sheffield Wednesday, but Newcastle are capable of navigating that and they shouldn’t fear any big side given that they’ve taken points off Arsenal, Manchester City and United, and Tottenham this season whilst they only lost thanks to a very late goal at Liverpool.

The other top side to appeal is Manchester United. They’re also in a top four chase but Erik Ten Hag has a deep squad available to him and a trophy will be high on the priority list given the fact they haven’t won a cup since 2017.

Ten Hag has quickly turned United into an in form outfit – they’ve lost just one of their past 16 competitive matches in all competitions, with four clean sheets in four wins since returning from the World Cup break – and their run to the EFL Cup quarter-finals has showcased their squad depth.

Lisandro Martinez, Fred, Anthony Elanga, and Alejandro Garnacho were all on the bench for their 3-0 win against Bournemouth on Tuesday whilst Erik Ten Hag gave Christian Eriksen, Bruno Fernandes, Marcus Rashford and Anthony Martial starts in their 2-0 EFL Cup win against Burnley.

Of the other sides, Brighton, Aston Villa and Brentford make the most appeal. Brentford’s tie against West Ham is a tough one to call whilst Brighton’s visit to Middlesbrough comes at a tricky time given that Michael Carrick has transformed fortunes at the Riverside since his arrival.

That makes Aston Villa – who play Stevenage at home – the most appealing. They have improved very quickly under Unai Emery, with wins league wins over Brighton and Manchester United before the break, and if getting a bit of luck with the draw they could do better than quotes of 25/1.

WILLIAM KEDJANYI

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