English FA Cup action will take centre stage this weekend as two all Premier League clashes should have fans at the edge of their seats. Firstly, defending champions Manchester City will host Newcastle, then the following day, old rivals Manchester United and Liverpool should treat fans to a sumptuous Sunday delight.

Event # 1 –FA Cup– Man City vs Newcastle– 12:30 PM

Following a thrilling and eventful 1-1 draw against Liverpool at Anfield last weekend, Manchester City will turn their attention to FA Cup action as they welcome Newcastle to the Etihad. Indeed, Man City will be aiming for revenge as they were knocked out of this season’s Carabao Cup by Newcastle.

Currently sitting third in the Premier League and not a sure winner for the title, Man City will be aiming to maintain their irresistible FA Cup form, having thrashed Luton 6-2 in the previous round, as they look to add a seventh FA Cup trophy to their collection. In the last five seasons of the FA Cup, City have made it to the semi-finals, winning it twice during this impressive run.

Newcastle enter this clash off the back of a 2-3 loss to Chelsea in their last league game and will be aiming to get back to winning ways. They will be confident of securing a result against Man City given that they knocked them out of the Carabao Cup earlier this season.

Newcastle have lifted this trophy on four occasions but not since 1955. In fact, since winning the title in 1955, their most recent finals appearance was in 1999, where they lost to Manchester United 2-0. Since 1999, they have made the semi-final once, in 2005, where they were again beaten by Man United 4-1.

KEY STATS

● Man City – have kept a clean sheet in their last five FA Cup home matches and have scored at least three goals in four of their last five FA Cup home matches.

● Newcastle – the last time Newcastle defeated Manchester City away from home was in 2014.

● Both sides – Manchester City have lost just one of their last five matches against Newcastle in all competitions.

The Betting Tip. Man City Win

Event # 2 FA Cup – Manchester United vs Liverpool– 10:30 AM

Manchester United welcome hated rivals Liverpool to Old Trafford this Sunday for a FA Cup quarter-final clash, with both teams looking to book a semi-final spot.

Sitting sixth in the Premier League table, Manchester United will see this competition as a chance of winning silverware this season. The Red Devils, Manchester United, have had a relatively good 2024, having won eight of their 11 matches in all competitions, three of those wins came in the FA Cup, with wins over Wigan, Newport, and Nottingham Forest.

The Red Devils have an excellent record in the FA Cup, having lifted this trophy on 11 occasions. Incredibly, Man United have played in nine other finals and lost, including last season’s final where they lost 2-1 to Manchester City and the 2018 final where they lost 1-0 to Chelsea.

Liverpool are in excellent form at the moment, sitting second in the Premier League, just one point behind Arsenal, and will be aiming to continue their excellent run of form, plus they will be high on confidence following their dominant second-half display against Manchester City last weekend.

Much like Manchester United, Liverpool have done well in the FA Cup, lifting the trophy on eight occasions, and making it to the finals another six times. Most recently they defeated Chelsea 6-5 on penalties to lift the cup in 2022.

Interestingly, this month is the one-year anniversary of Liverpool’s 7-0 mauling of Manchester United at Anfield, and based on form, the Red Devils’ fans might be worrying about a repeat.

Having already bagged the League Cup earlier this season, Liverpool’s winning mentality could prove the difference this weekend when the two English giants go head-to-head.

KEY STATS

● Man United – have won three and lost two of their last five matches in all competitions.

• Liverpool – have won their last three away matches in all competitions and have won four and drawn one of their last five matches.

Both sides – Manchester United have failed to score in four of their last five games against Liverpool, while Liverpool have scored at least three goals in four of their last six games against Man United.

The Betting Tip. Liverpool win.