FA Cup Quarter-Finals Preview: From blockbuster tie at Etihad to underdog story at Stamford Bridge
With only eight teams left in the race, the FA Cup quarter-finals mark the moment when dreams start to feel tangible, with a heavily anticipated Wembley showpiece within reach.
A place in the semi-finals is up for grabs, and with reigning holders Crystal Palace out of the picture, football’s oldest cup competition is ready to crown a new champion this season.
One mammoth clash, one underdog story and two delicately poised ties promise a weekend of unparalleled drama.
Fresh off clinching a 2-0 win over Arsenal in the League Cup final, Manchester City continue their quest for a first domestic cup double since the 2018/19 season in what could be Pep Guardiola’s last year at the Etihad Stadium.
Elsewhere, Chelsea can salvage some pride amid a torrid campaign, with League One side Port Vale hoping to maintain their FA Cup fairytale with an unlikely win in West London.
Without further ado, let’s take a closer look at all four quarter-final ties.
Despite lagging nine points behind Arsenal in the Premier League standings and bowing out of the UEFA Champions League, Man City entered the international break in a buoyant mood.
Guardiola won his 19th major trophy in charge of the Cityzens just before the club season hit the pause button, as Nico O’Reilly’s second-half double toppled the Gunners in the League Cup final.
Guardiola’s future at the Etihad remains uncertain, as his charges gear up for a mouth-watering quarter-final showdown against familiar foes Liverpool.
Mohamed Salah’s farewell tour at the Reds kicks off with this blockbuster fixture, with Arne Slot’s team looking to build some momentum ahead of a heavyweight clash against Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League quarter-finals.
Slot’s job at Anfield is hanging by a thread, and it’s questionable whether lifting a ninth FA Cup title would be enough to salvage his future on Merseyside, but there’s no doubt that it would be a good start.
However, Liverpool have already lost both league matches against Man City this season, including a horrendous 3-0 defeat at this venue in November.
As a result, they face the risk of suffering three consecutive losses against last season’s FA Cup runners-up for the first time since 1947.
Arguably the only true ‘David vs Goliath’ tie in the FA Cup quarter-finals sees Premier League top-four hopefuls Chelsea FC take on third-tier Port Vale FC at Stamford Bridge for the first time since 1929.
Dumped out of the Champions League and fighting for a top-four finish in the Premier League, Liam Rosenior’s charges turn to the oldest cup competition in world football as their last chance to avoid a trophyless season.
The Blues gear up for their 37th quarter-final appearance in this competition, looking to maintain their impressive run of winning each of their last six last-eight ties since losing to Everton in 2016.
Further confidence stems from Chelsea’s indomitable streak of 37 consecutive cup ties against lower-league opponents. It’s also worth noting that they’ve scored in their last 48 home FA Cup matches against teams from lower divisions.
Although Chelsea’s intimidating record against non-Premier League rivals paints a bleak picture for Port Vale, the visitors won’t go down without a fight, having already pulled off one upset in the previous round.
Indeed, Jon Brady’s side secured a hard-earned 1-0 win over Sunderland to set up their first FA Cup quarter-final appearance since the 1953/54 season, though this could prove a step too far for the Valiants.
Keen to turn the page after a heartbreaking defeat in the League Cup final, Arsenal head to St Mary’s Stadium to lock horns with second-tier Southampton, who are looking to reach the FA Cup semi-finals for the first time since 2020/21.
The Saints have already overcome one top-flight team en route to the quarter-finals, squeezing past Fulham in the last round, courtesy of Ross Stewart’s 91st-minute penalty.
Despite their underdog status in this match-up, Tonda Eckert’s side can take heart from their eye-catching 14-game unbeaten run in all competitions, bookended by three successive Championship wins.
However, Southampton have won just once in their last seven games against Arsenal since beating them in the 2020/21 FA Cup round of 32, but their recent record at St Mary’s can inspire confidence.
The Gunners have emerged victorious from just three of their last eight visits to the South Coast, meaning Mikel Arteta cannot afford to take anything for granted if he is to keep Arsenal in contention for a coveted treble.
Myles Lewis-Skelly’s return has handed Arsenal a fitness boost amid a full-blown injury crisis, as they aim to take one step closer towards winning a record-extending 15th FA Cup trophy.
West Ham United vs Leeds United
London Stadium sets the stage for an evenly poised tie between Premier League season-long strugglers and genuine relegation candidates West Ham United and Leeds United.
While both teams fight to stave off relegation, they must temporarily park their league ambitions and focus on their FA Cup quest, with a place in the semi-finals at stake.
Stuck in the bottom three, Nuno Espirito Santo’s men sit only a point adrift of safety, but the lure of hoisting the first FA Cup title since 1980 could be too tempting to resist amid rising pressure in their fight for survival.
Although the Whites sit in a more comfortable position, boasting a four-point lead over the Hammers in the Premier League, Daniel Farke must set his priorities straight to avoid another swift return to the Championship.
Still, Leeds should arrive in the capital in high spirits, having avoided defeat in their last three competitive outings, including a landslide 3-0 victory over Norwich City in the FA Cup round of 16.
However, London Stadium has not been a happy hunting ground for the visitors, who have lost three of their last four away matches against West Ham, with one of those defeats coming in the FA Cup back in 2022.
How To Watch FA Cup Games in 2025/26
Live FA Cup games on TV are shown on BBC and TNT Sports in the UK. While the BBC only shows select fixtures up to the quarter finals (and then 1 semi final and the final), TNT Sports has live coverage from the first round and shows every match live from the third round onwards (excluding 3pm Saturday kickoffs). TNT Sports is currently available in the UK through HBO Max.
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