There is a strong presence of Premier League clubs in all eight ties from the fifth round of the FA Cup this weekend with nine teams from the top flight looking to book a place in the quarter-finals.
The weekend, however, sees just one all-Premier clash which will be played at the Stadium of Light where Sunderland host Arsenal.
There are five Championship teams still in competition with the other two contenders hailing from League One and Two.
Sunderland and Arsenal faced each other in the league last weekend. The Gunners took the honours when they struck a last-minute winner through Thierry Henry to take an away 2-1 win.
That was the Gunners’ second success over Sunderland in the league this season following the 2-1 win at the Emirates in October.
The duo have met on six occasions in the FA Cup previously and the outcome is a balanced affair with each side winning three each:
1997 (3rd round): Sunderland-Arsenal 0-2 (replay after a 1-1 draw).
1991 (3rd round): Arsenal-Sunderland 2-1.
1973 (semi-final): Sunderland-Arsenal 2-1.
1961 (3rd round): Sunderland-Arsenal 2-1.
1906 (3rd round): Arsenal-Sunderland 5-0.
1893 (1st round): Sunderland-Arsenal 6-0.
Today, Sunderland will be a fresher side than the Gunners who in midweek crashed to a 4-0 defeat by Milan in a Champions League, last 16, first leg at the San Siro.
With their Premier League chances looking slim, Chelsea will be keen to stay in contention for some silverware this season with victory over Birmingham today.
Manager Andre Villas-Boas is under a lot of pressure at the moment and speculation is rife that if results don’t improve the young Portuguese coach could suffer the same fate as one of his predecessors, Felipe Scolari. He was sacked midway though the season.
Tottenham, who stunned Newcastle 5-0 at White Hart Lane last weekend, travel to the Lamex Stadium to face Stevenage, of League One, tomorrow.
Harry Redknapp was in jubilant mood after seeing his boys produce a dominant display against the Magpies as the Spurs are still in the running for the league championship.
For Stevenage, this fixture has a lot of significance as it’s the first time they are playing a last 16 tie in the FA Cup.
Liverpool, in the final of the League Cup, entertain Brighton at home, tomorrow.
The Reds have already des-patched Brighton in the League Cup this season following a 2-1 win with Dirk Kuyt and Craig Bellamy netting the Reds’ goals.
Yet, Brighton have not been beaten in the three previous FA Cup ties at Anfield. Incidentally, all matches were from round four: 1991 − drew 2-2; 1983 won 2-1; and 1908 − drew 1-1.
Crawley, who won the Conference for a place in League Two last season, beat Hull 1-0 in the previous round. This will be the first meeting for Crawley against a Premier League team as they host Stoke at Broadfield Stadium.
After the significant win over Chelsea, Everton will now shift focus to the FA Cup where they host Blackpool.
Last season, Blackpool dropped four points to Everton when playing in the top flight – Home 2-2, Away 3-5.
Bolton, who have sunk further into the mire of relegation after their upset to Wigan, hope to continue with their good run in the FA Cup when they travel to Millwall as Norwich take on Leicester at Carrow Road.
Fixtures and forecast
FA Cup fifth round
Chelsea-Birmingham - 12:30 - 1
Everton-Blackpool - 1
Millwall-Bolton Wanderers - X
Norwich-Leicester - 1
Sunderland-Arsenal - 17:15 - X
Tomorrow:
Crawley-Stoke - 13:00 - 2
Stevenage-Tottenham - 15:00 - 2
Liverpool-Brighton - 17:30 - 1
The Championship
Barnsley-Portsmouth - 1
Crystal Palace-Watford - 1
Ipswich-Cardiff - X
Leeds United-Doncaster - 1
Nottm Forest-Coventry - 1
Peterborough-Bristol City - 1
Southampton-Derby - 1
League One
Chesterfield-Sheff. Wed. - 14:00 - 2
Exeter-Bury - 1
Hartlepool-Notts County - X
Leyton Orient-Scunthorpe - 1
MK Dons-Oldham - 1
Rochdale-Bournemouth - X
Sheff. United-Preston - 1
Tranmere-Charlton - 2
Walsall-Wycombe - 2
Yeovil-Colchester - X
Monday:
Brentford-Carlisle 20:45 - X
League Two
Accrington-Plymouth - 1
Wimbledon-Morecambe - X
Barnet-Shrewsbury - X
Bristol Rovers-Oxford Utd - X
Burton Albion-Rotherham - 1
Dagenham-Cheltenham - 2
Hereford-Swindon - 2
Macclesfield-Aldershot - X
Port Vale-Gillingham - 1
Southend-Crewe - 1
Torquay-Bradford - 1
Scottish Premier
Dundee Utd-St Mirren - 1
Dunfermline-Inverness CT - 2
Motherwell-Hearts - X
Rangers-Kilmarnock - 1
Tomorrow:
Aberdeen-St Johnstone 13:45 - 1
Hibernian-Celtic 16:00 - 2
First Division
Hamilton-Falkirk - X
Livingston-Raith Rovers - 1
Partick Thistle-Morton - 1
Queen of the South-Dundee - 2
Ross County-Ayr - 1
Second Division
Airdrie Utd-Stenhousemuir - X
Arbroath-Cowdenbeath - X
Dumbarton-Albion - 1
East Fife-Forfar - X
Stirling-Brechin - 2
Third Division
Berwick-Annan Athletic - 2
East Stirling-Queens Park - 2
Elgin-Alloa - X
Montrose-Peterhead - X
Stranraer-Clyde - 1
Hot four
Southampton, MK Dons, Southend, Torquay.