FA Cup fifth round: Ties to watch out for | OneFootball

The FA Cup looks increasingly likely to conjure a surprise winner with each passing round.

Over the last decade, Leicester City are the only side outside of the traditional 'big six' to have triumphed in the world's oldest cup competition, but the 2024/25 iteration has already eliminated Liverpool, Arsenal, Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur.

Of course, Manchester City and Manchester United still stand - the sides having contested the last two FA Cup finals - but the door has been left firmly ajar for one of the other remaining clubs to defy expectations and taste glory.

The upcoming fifth round will prove instrumental in deciding who makes it to the showpiece event at Wembley Stadium in May and there are some tantalising duels worth keeping close tabs on.

Plymouth Argyle seek another giant-killing

Plymouth have conquered two Premier League sides already / Dan Mullan/GettyImages

Plymouth Argyle have been the success story of this year's FA Cup. The south coast side have struggled throughout the Championship season and are still battling relegation, but that hasn't prevented them from conquering Premier League opposition on two separate occasions.

1-0 victories over Brentford and top flight leaders Liverpool have set up an immense challenge in the fifth round as Miron Muslic prepares for battle with Man City. The Cityzens have won the competition twice in the past six seasons and will have home advantage against the Pilgrims this Saturday.

Plymouth's journey to the last 16 will live on in memory for some time regardless of this weekend's outcome, but City's mixed form offers them a glimmer of hope at the Etihad Stadium. Pep Guardiola's side only squeezed past Leyton Orient in the previous round and have been uncharacteristically unpredictable this season.

It's an awful long shot but Plymouth will be relishing the challenge nonetheless.

More Manchester United misery?

Man Utd host Fulham this Sunday / Robbie Jay Barratt - AMA/GettyImages

Man Utd salvaged their largely woeful 2023/24 campaign with a surprise FA Cup triumph and Ruben Amorim will be hopeful of following the example set by predecessor Erik ten Hag following three miserable months in the Old Trafford dugout.

Victory at Arsenal in the FA Cup third round was one of the few high points for United during Amorim's reign, with an 'offside' winner against Leicester City required to escape the fourth round. Supporters will be fearing the worst when welcoming Fulham to Old Trafford.

The Cottagers may not have a strong record against the Red Devils - losing both meetings 1-0 this season - but they did taste victory at Old Trafford last term. They are a side capable of mixing it with the best on their day - as Liverpool, Arsenal, Chelsea, Spurs and Newcastle have discovered this season.

Fulham have never won the FA Cup and have only reached the quarter-finals once in the past 15 seasons. They have an excellent chance to capitalise on United uncertainty and continue their journey this year.

London rivalry renewed

Crystal Palace host fellow capital side Millwall / Sebastian Frej/MB Media/GettyImages

Crystal Palace and Millwall have always shared an intense rivalry but fixtures between the two London sides have been few and far between in recent seasons. Their FA Cup clash in 2022 - the Eagles winning 2-1 in the third round - was their first meeting since 2013 and they are unlikely to be playing in the same division next term.

Extra weight will be attached to Saturday's battle at Selhurst Park as a result, with Palace understandably overwhelming favourites to knock their Championship opposition out of the competition.

Neither side are prolific scorers but there should be some much-needed bite in a retro-feeling capital affair this weekend. Can Millwall grind out an enormous scalp?

Excitement on Tyneside

Brighton make the long trip to Newcastle / Matt McNulty/GettyImages

Half of the FA Cup fifth round ties are all-Premier League clashes and Sunday's meeting between Newcastle United and Brighton & Hove Albion has the capacity to be the most enjoyable.

Both sides have proven unpredictable this season but are strong in the final third - evidenced by four-goal performances last weekend. Newcastle's seven-goal thriller with Nottingham Forest showcased the best and worst of Eddie Howe's team, while Brighton's thrashing of Southampton was another example of their capabilities in attack.

The Premier League battle earlier in the season was only graced by a single Brighton goal but Sunday's encounter should be more of a rollercoaster ride. Rotation is possible and excitement likely as the Seagulls make the lengthy trip to St James' Park.

An all-Championship tie

Preston face Burnley in the fifth round / Lewis Storey/GettyImages

Seven of the eight fifth round encounters boast a Premier League outfit, with Saturday's meeting of Championship sides Preston North End and Burnley the only contest between two lower league sides.

The teams locked horns just two weeks ago in this exact fixture at Deepdale and it somewhat unsurprisingly finished in a goalless draw. After all, Preston are not big scorers - just 36 in 34 Championship games this term - and Burnley's astonishing defensive record under Scott Parker has seen them keep 13 clean sheets in their last 14 matches.

Hopefully, the FA Cup magic can rub off on this weekend's match-up, with at least one second division side guaranteed to be playing in this year's quarter-finals.