FA Cup/Premier League team news

A look ahead to the weekend's matches

Arsenal v Blackburn

The visitors, beaten 7-1 here last season, might hope the Gunners will be distracted by Tuesday’s visit of Bayern Munich. Wenger intends to select Thomas Vermaelen after recent ankle problems, with the cavalry waiting in the wings if required. Rovers will need resilience and pray Jordan Rhodes is offered a glimpse of goal.

Odds Arsenal 3-10 Blackburn 23-2 Draw 21-4

Oldham v Everton

Fourth bottom of League One, Oldham Athletic will be hoping to send Everton the same way as Liverpool in the previous round. Tony Philliskirk will be in charge for this one as caretaker. David Moyes’s team will be entitled to harbour a few concerns; the last time these sides met in the FA Cup, in 2008, it ended as a 1-0 win – to Oldham.

Odds Oldham 10-1 Everton 4-11 Draw 4-1

Manchester C v Leeds

Manchester City’s last win was January 26th, knocking Stoke out in the previous round. Since then some patchy displays – plus last week’s 3-1 capitulation at Southampton – have allowed Manchester United to romp to a 12-point lead in the league. For the sake of his own long-term future, Roberto Mancini dare not lose this one.

Odds Man City 2-9 Leeds 14-1 Draw 6-1

MK Dons v Barnsley

Barnsley manager David Flitcroft retains his enthusiasm for the Cup, despite the possible distraction for a side battling relegation from the Championship. His opposite number at MK Dons, Karl Robinson, would swap it all for a place in the automatic promotion spots. Wishful thinking, perhaps, for the manager.

Odds MK Dons 7-5 Barnsley 2-1 Draw 12-5

Liverpool v Swansea

Life could become even more uncomfortable for Brendan Rodgers should Michael Laudrup’s team repeat their win earlier in the season here. Two losses in four days to West Brom and Zenit have undermined talk of progress at Liverpool – though Daniel Sturridge, missing for both, will be back on – and Swansea are above Rodgers’ team.

Odds Liverpool 4-7 Swansea 5-1 Draw 3-1

Luton v Milwall

Luton have the chance to become the first non-League to reach the sixth round in a little under a century. Paul Buckle’s side will not be lacking motivation, then, although they come into this tie out of form, as do Millwall, who have lost three successive league games since dumping Aston Villa out of this cup last month.

Odds Luton 3-1 Millwall 11-10 Draw 12-5

Chelsea v Brentford

Uwe Rosler’s League One team gave the European champions an almighty fright at Griffin Park and only a late Fernando Torres goal salvaged this replay. Rafael Benítez can look forward to a better pitch and he has called for his players to be focused and take nothing for granted. As usual, he has everything to lose.

Odds Chelsea 1-6 Brentford 18-1 Draw 7-1

Huddersfield v Wigan

Mark Robins has already been knocked out of the FA Cup once this season – at Tottenham with Coventry – but his first game as Huddersfield’s manager offers the former Manchester United striker a second chance. With both sides in relegation peril, no one should be surprised by multiple changes to the two lineups.

Odds Huddersfield 14-5 Wigan 6-5 Draw 13-5