By Harry Bamforth
Published: | Updated:
Advertisement
Chelsea starting XI – Poch makes FIVE changes
Who will play for Chelsea?
It will be interesting to see who Mauricio Pochettino goes with tonight.
It’s an important game for them, but after such a grueling battle this weekend, he can make a lot of changes.
Chelsea fans, who would you go with?
Team news is just moments away!
Wolves and Brighton starting to dream of Wembley?
Both Wolves and Brighton are just two places apart in the Premier League as they battle for a place in Europe next season.
However, this night will be big for both clubs for a different reason. Whoever wins at Molineux will start dreaming of Wembley.
The FA Cup is also another route into European football, which we know both teams will want next season.
Brighton emerged victorious in the league match at Wolverhampton in August, but Gary O’Neil has kept his Wolves side firing on all cylinders since then, so I can’t see that score happening tonight.
It will be an exciting affair, who else is looking forward to this?
Klopp’s farewell season continues
You could really see Jurgen Klopp’s emotional outburst after Sunday’s Carabao Cup win – it meant a lot to him.
The German manager even said ‘(It’s) by far the most special trophy (I’ve ever won)’ after the awards ceremony, and it’s easy to see why he believes that.
Klopp will not want this to be the last trophy he lifts for Liverpool. They are still fighting on three fronts, and he will no doubt want the Reds back at Wembley for the FA Cup final in May.
Well, the road to Saturday May 25 continues tonight at Anfield, a quick turnaround from their domestic cup win.
Whether Klopp’s farewell tour can continue in the same vein tonight, let’s see.
No replays in the fifth round
Tonight may be too late for all of us.
There are no replays in the FA Cup from the fifth round onwards, so if any of tonight’s matches end level there will be extra time and then penalties, if necessary.
Last night we saw Newcastle beat Blackburn on penalties after their match went the distance. It was an incredible watch.
There was also an extra-time winner from Abdul Fatawu for Leicester as they edged past Bournemouth 1-0 at the Vitality Stadium.
An extra half hour isn’t always the best thing to watch, but it was last week.
However, I’m sure both Chelsea and Liverpool will want to get it done in normal time.
Chelsea’s season is on the line
Tonight is huge for Chelsea.
Sunday’s final defeat to Liverpool in the Carabao Cup was a devastating blow for Mauricio Pochettino and his team. With all the injuries Liverpool had on the day, it was a glorious opportunity for the Blues to take silverware, but they just couldn’t take their chances.
Chelsea are 11th in the Premier League, so realistically the FA Cup is their last chance for success this season. It is also the most likely route to Europe.
I’m curious to see how they react tonight against the shooting Leeds United. In the extensions of the weekend they sometimes looked legless.
However, they will have to get out early again tonight!
FA Cup draw
Before the four FA Cup fifth round matches start tonight, we still have the small matter of the FA Cup quarter-final draw.
After an emphatic 6-2 win over Luton last night, Manchester City are the star performers in the draw, while Newcastle United, Leicester City and Coventry City have also secured their places in the last eight.
The draw will take place tonight at 7pm, and we’ll have a separate dedicated live blog for you to follow to see what mouthwatering ties we might get in the next round.
So, which ball numbers should you pay attention to? The teams are numbered from one to eight and are as follows:
2. Chelsea or Leeds United
4. Liverpool or Southampton
5. Nottingham Forest or Manchester United
6. Wolverhampton Wanderers or Brighton & Hove Albion
Tonight’s FA Cup schedule
It’s another big night of domestic football, and it’s not just Chelsea and Liverpool in action in the fifth round tonight.
So, what’s on tonight? Let’s see:
- FA Cup quarter-final draw, 7pm GMT
- Chelsea vs Leeds United, 7:30pm GMT
- Nottingham Forest vs Manchester United, 19:45 GMT
- Wolves vs Brighton, 19:45 GMT
- Liverpool vs Southampton, 20:00 GMT
In this live blog we’ll only cover the matches at Stamford Bridge, Anfield and Molineux, but if you want to see what’s happening at the City Ground, be sure to head over to our text commentary on Nottingham Forest vs Manchester United.
Good evening!
Another evening = more football!
It is now the fourth day in a row that domestic cup football is being played. It started with Liverpool versus Chelsea in the Carabao Cup final and ends with both teams aiming to progress to the quarter-finals of the FA Cup.
For the Blues, tonight is an important game to see how they can bounce back from the big disappointment of Sunday’s latest loss to the Reds.
Mauricio Pochettino’s side take on a Leeds United team who are absolutely flying in the Championship after an emphatic 3-1 win over leaders Leicester City. It will not be an easy task for the home team.
Meanwhile, Liverpool left Wembley Stadium jubilant after Virgil van Dijk’s 118th-minute winner, but they also left London with 13 senior players on the injury list.
With just four days having passed since the final, who will be fit enough to face Southampton tonight? Normally you’d expect a young side, but they could also be broken after several academy graduates were on display on Sunday!
Let’s not forget that we also have a Premier League match at Molineux tonight when Wolves take on Brighton.
How will all these parties fare tonight? Stay here to find out.
- Tonight’s FA Cup schedule
Share or comment on this article: Chelsea vs Leeds – FA Cup fifth round: Live score, team news and updates as Mauricio Pochettino’s side hope to bounce back from Carabao Cup final defeat as Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool take on Southampton