This is a key week in the English football domestic season with a number of very important games to take place across Tuesday and Wednesday evening this week.
First up, we have the full FA Cup Fifth Round taking place across both nights, with all eight games in the competition set to be played to a conclusion on the night.
In addition to that, due to a number of postponements earlier in the season, there will be two crucial Premier League games taking place on Wednesday Night, which means with the weekend’s games thrown in too, four teams will be going for a crucial six points at this important juncture of the season.
Those points could have a significant impact at both ends of the Premier League table.
If you are keen to have a wager on one or more of the games taking place tonight then it is worth remembering that bet365 Sport offers a wide selection of promotions on football games, plus extensive pre-match and in-play betting options too.
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Let’s now take a look at the eight FA Cup Firth Round games taking place with a quick reminder of how the rules change at this stage of the tournament.
We’ll then take a closer look at the two Premier League games taking place Wednesday.
FA Cup Fifth Round Ties
The 5th Round of the FA Cup sees a slight change to the replay rules.
Unlike the 3rd and 4th Rounds, no replays will be played in the competition from here on.
Instead, if teams finish level at 90 minutes, 30 minutes of extra time will be played and then if required, a penalty shootout will take place to decide who reaches the quarterfinals.
Please also note that all odds shown were correct at the time of writing with bet365 but may change following the publication of this post.
Kick off times are shown in brackets.
Tuesday 28th February
Stoke City v Brighton & Hove Albion (7.15pm)
League Form Comparison
Stoke City – Championship – 17th, P34, 40pts (-2)
Brighton – Premier League – 8th, P22, 35pts (+10)
Current Form
Stoke City – W2, D1, L2:
Brighton & Hove Albion – W2, D2, L1
Last Meeting
February 2018 – Stoke City 1-1 Brighton (Premier League)
Head-To-Head Record
Games Played – 41
Stoke City Wins – 16
Brighton Wins – 9
Draws – 16
Identifiable Trends- Stoke v Brighton?
Brighton have won just one of last 18 games between the two.
In four of the last 5 between the two, there has been Over 2.5 goals scored.
Both the last two games finished in score draws (2-2 and 1-1)
Five of the last eight games has seen just one team score.
The last 0-0 draw between the two was back in March 1982 (at Stoke)
Our Betting Tip – Stoke City v Brighton
Brighton’s form this season is such that you can only give Stoke City a slim chance here. Take Brighton to win to nil, which is 5/4 with bet365.
Leicester City v Blackburn Rovers (7.30pm)
League Form Comparison
Leicester City – Premier League – 14th, P24, 24pts (-6)
Blackburn Rovers – Championship – 4th, P34, 55pts (0)
Current Form
Leicester City – W2, D1, L2:
Blackburn Rovers – W3, D2, L0
Last Meeting
March 2014 – Blackburn Rovers 1-1 Leicester City (Championship)
Head-To-Head Record
Games Played – 98
Leicester Wins – 35
Blackburn Wins – 38
Draws – 25
Identifiable Trends- Leicester v Blackburn?
Leicester City unbeaten in last three games between the two (Won 2, drawn 1)
In 3 of the last 4 games, both teams have scored.
The teams have met in the FA Cup four times, Blackburn winning just once.
Last 12 games between the two have seen under 2.5 goals on 8 occasions.
Blackburn’s last win away to Leicester came back in January 1991 (a 3-1 victory)
Our Betting Tip – Leicester v Blackburn
Take the bet365 Bet Boost offer of Leicester to win, Kelechi Iheanacho to score any time and over 2 goals in the match which is a 5/2 offer on the site.
Fulham v Leeds United (7.45pm)
League Form Comparison
Fulham – Premier League – 6th, P25, 39pts (+5)
Leeds Utd – Premier League – 17th – P24, 22pts (-10)
Current Form
Fulham – W2, D2, L1:
Leeds Utd – W1, D1, L3
Last Meeting
October 2022 – Leeds United 2-3 Fulham (Premier League)
Head-To-Head Record
Games Played – 61
Fulham Wins – 20
Leeds Utd Wins – 26
Draws – 15
Identifiable Trends- Fulham v Leeds?
Both teams have scored in four of the last six games between the two teams.
Fulham’s win in October broke a four-game losing streak to Leeds going back to June 2020.
Five of the last six games between the two have seen over 2.5 goals scored in them.
From Oct 2015 to Aug 2017, the teams drew five consecutive games (4 x 1-1, 1 x 0-0)
This is the first FA Cup tie (third cup tie in general) between the two teams in their history.
Our Betting Tip – Fulham v Leeds Utd
I like the 10/3 that is available with bet365 on Fulham to win the game and both teams to score.
Bristol City v Manchester City (8.00pm)
League Form Comparison
Bristol City – Championship – 13th, P33, 44pts (+2)
Manchester City – Premier League – 2nd, P25, 55pts (+39)
Current Form
Bristol City – W3, D2, L0:
Manchester City – W3, D1, L1
Last Meeting
January 2018 – Bristol City 2-3 Man City (League Cup Semi Final 2nd Leg)
Head-To-Head Record
Games Played – 25
Bristol City Wins – 10
Manchester City Wins – 9
Draws – 6
Identifiable Trends- Bristol City v Man City?
The last four games between the two has seen over 2.5 goals scored and both teams score.
Man City have won all those last four and six of the last nine, losing just once.
The teams have only met three times since April 1980.
Bristol City’s only two wins over Man City since 1928 were 1-0 home wins in 1977 and 1979.
The last 3 games between the two were league cup ties. This is their first ever FA Cup tie.
Our Betting Tip – Bristol City v Man City
Both teams have tended to score when these teams met most recently, so I am going for a Manchester City win and both teams to score which is a 6/4 shot at bet365.
Wednesday March 1st – FA Cup Fifth Round (Continued)
Southampton v Grimsby Town (7.15pm)
League Form Comparison
Southampton – Premier League – 20th, P24, 18pts (-22)
Grimsby Town – League Two – 16th, P30, 38pts (-4)
Current Form
Southampton – W1, D0, L4
Grimsby Town – W1, D2, L2
Last Meeting
January 1978 – Grimsby Town 1-4 Southampton (FA Cup 3rd Round, 2nd Replay)
Head-To-Head Record
Games Played – 29
Southampton Wins – 11
Grimsby Town Wins – 9
Draws – 9
Identifiable Trends- Southampton v Grimsby Town?
This will be the 6th FA Cup tie between the two. Saints won 2, 2 draws, Grimsby 1 win
The most recent 3 games all came in January 1978 in a 3rd Round FA Cup tie with 2 replays.
In the last 14 games between the two, 11 have seen both teams score.
Grimsby’s last win over Southampton was a 4-1 win back in December 1962.
9 of the last 13 games between the two have seen 4 or more goals scored in each game.
Our Betting Tip – Southampton v Grimsby Town
Southampton are not in the best of form, but against a mid-table League Two side, they should have enough to claim the win. A 3-0 win for Southampton is 8/1 with bet365 and that looks a good bet.
Burnley v Fleetwood Town (7.30pm)
League Form Comparison
Burnley – Championship – 1st, P34, 76pts (+40)
Fleetwood Town – League One – 11th, P33, 42pts (+2)
Current Form
Burnley – W3, D2, L0:
Fleetwood Town – W4, D1, L0
Last Meeting
N/A – The two teams have never met previously.
Head-To-Head Record
Games Played – 0
Southampton Wins – 0
Grimsby Town Wins – 0
Draws – 0
Identifiable Trends- Burnley v Fleetwood Town?
Burnley are unbeaten in their last 14 games in all competitions.
No team has scored more than Burnley’s 68 goals in the league this season.
Fleetwood have won 5 of their last six, all by one goal (including four 1-0 wins)
Fleetwood have conceded just one goal in their last six games in all competitions.
Burnley are unbeaten at home this season, winning 13 drawing 5 league games.
Our Betting Tip – Burnley v Fleetwood Town
Fleetwood look strong and well-organised, but Burnley’s home form in a division above is dominant and as such, Burnley to win the game 2-0 at 5/1 looks a solid bet.
Manchester United v West Ham United (7.45pm)
League Form Comparison
Man Utd – Premier League – 3rd, P24, 49pts (+13)
West Ham – Premier League – 16th, P24, 23pts (-6)
Current Form
Man Utd – W3, D1, L1:
West Ham – W2, D2, L1
Last Meeting
October 2022 – Manchester United 1-0 West Ham (Premier League)
Head-To-Head Record
Games Played – 150
Man Utd Wins – 72
West Ham Wins – 46
Draws – 32
Identifiable Trends- Man Utd v West Ham?
Five of the last six games between the two finished 1-0 (four to Man Utd, one to West Ham)
Man Utd have won six of the last seven games between the two.
Both teams have scored in just one of the last six games between the two.
West Ham did beat Man Utd at Old Trafford by a 1-0 scoreline in the 2021/22 League Cup.
West Ham are yet to concede a goal in the FA Cup this season in their 2 games.
Our Betting Tip – Man Utd v West Ham
West Ham have enough quality to cause Manchester United problems, but I am backing the home side to win here. Take Man Utd to win and both teams to score at 12/5.
Sheffield United v Tottenham Hotspurs (7.55pm)
League Form Comparison
Sheff Utd – Championship – 2nd, P33, 64pts (+25)
Tottenham – Premier League – 4th, P25, 45pts (+11)
Current Form
Sheff Utd – W2, D1, L2:
Tottenham – W4, D0, L1
Last Meeting
May 2021 – Tottenham Hotspurs 4-0 Sheffield United (Premier League)
Head-To-Head Record
Games Played – 94
Sheff Utd Wins – 29
Tottenham Wins – 38
Draws – 27
Identifiable Trends- Sheff Utd v Tottenham?
In 4 of last 5 between the two, we’ve seen over 2.5 goals and both teams scoring.
All of Spurs last four defeats to Sheff Utd have come at Bramall Lane.
Three of the last four draws between the two teams have been by a 2-2 scoreline.
Sheff Utd have lost just 3 league games at home this season.
Spurs have won three of their last four away games.
Our Betting Tip – Sheff Utd v Tottenham
Sheff Utd have more than enough to worry Spurs, but I think the Premier League team will prevail. Back Tottenham to win and both teams to score at 5/2.
Wednesday 1st March – Premier League
Arsenal v Everton (7.45pm)
League Form Comparison
Arsenal – Premier League – 1st, P24, 57pts (+29)
Everton – Premier League – 18th, P24, 21pts (-15)
Current Form
Arsenal – W2, D1, L2:
Everton – W2, D0, L3
Last Meeting
Jan 2023 – Everton 1-0 Arsenal (Premier League)
Head-To-Head Record
Games Played – 220
Arsenal Wins – 109
Everton Wins – 65
Draws – 46
Identifiable Trends- Arsenal v Everton?
Everton have the better recent record between the two winning 4 of the last 5.
Only one of those wins though came away from Goodison Park.
Everton have won just one away game all season. Arsenal 8 wins from 11 at home.
Last season Arsenal were 5-1 winners in this fixture.
Four of the last six games have seen over 2.5 goals scored.
Our Betting Tip – Arsenal v Everton
This could be a tricky one to predict exactly, so I am going to go for Arsenal’s Bukayo Saka as an anytime goalscorer here at 15/8.
Liverpool v Wolverhampton Wanderers (8.00pm)
League Form Comparison
Liverpool – Premier League – 7th, P23, 36pts (+10)
Wolves – Premier League – 15th, P24, 24pts (-15)
Current Form
Liverpool – W2, D2, L1:
Wolves – W2, D1, L2
Last Meeting
Feb 2023 – Wolves 3-0 Liverpool (Premier League)
Head-To-Head Record
Games Played – 113
Liverpool Wins – 58
Wolves Wins – 37
Draws – 27
Identifiable Trends- Liverpool v Wolves?
Both teams have scored in just 3 of the last 9 games between the two teams.
Wolves 3-0 win in February as their first win over Liverpool in 11 games.
Four of the last nine games has seen a 1-0 scoreline in favour of one of the teams.
Only Man City (+28) have a better home goal difference than Liverpool (+16)
Four of Wolves last five wins over Liverpool have come at Anfield.
Our Betting Tip – Liverpool v Wolves
The fourth meeting since Jan 7th between the two will be a close affair I feel with Liverpool edging it by a 2-1 scoreline which is an 8/1 shot at bet365.
