Former Chelsea striker and football pundit Chris Sutton has forecast the results for the upcoming FA Cup fourth round, anticipating high-scoring victories for several top-flight clubs and dramatic finishes for others. The matches, scheduled across Friday through Monday, feature a mix of Premier League giants and lower-league contenders in the competition’s traditional ‘Magic of the Cup’ stage.
Sutton’s predictions, reported by BBC Sport, see Chelsea securing a comfortable 4-1 away win at Hull City. Manchester City are tipped for an emphatic 8-0 victory over League Two side Salford City. In other all-Premier League fixtures, Aston Villa is predicted to edge Newcastle United 2-1, while Arsenal are forecast to defeat Wigan Athletic 3-0.
The pundit also forecasts several matches going to penalty shootouts. Sutton expects Wrexham to draw 1-1 with Ipswich Town, with Ipswich prevailing on penalties. Similarly, he predicts Liverpool will require a shootout to overcome Brighton after a 1-1 draw, and Grimsby Town to advance past Wolverhampton Wanderers via penalties following a stalemate.
Other notable forecasts include West Ham United winning 2-1 at Burton Albion, Burnley overcoming Mansfield Town 3-2, and Sunderland defeating Oxford City 2-0. Fulham is tipped to beat Stoke City 2-0, Bristol City to win 2-0 at Port Vale, Southampton to narrowly defeat Leicester City 2-1, and Birmingham City to triumph 1-0 over Leeds United. Norwich City is predicted to beat West Bromwich Albion 2-0.
The FA Cup fourth round represents a critical juncture in the world’s oldest football competition, where the prospect of giant-killing results often captivates a global audience. Sutton’s projections highlight the expected gulf in class between many Premier League and lower-division sides, while also acknowledging the potential for tighter contests in more evenly matched pairings.
The matches will be played between Friday, January 26, and Monday, January 29, 2024. The outcomes will determine the quarter-final lineup, continuing the tournament’s path toward the final at Wembley Stadium in May. Sutton’s analysis provides one early perspective on how the weekend’s drama may unfold, underscoring the competition’s enduring capacity for both predictable dominance and unforeseen upheaval.
