Chris Sutton’s FA Cup Fourth Round score predictions

Liverpool let victory slip away right at the end of their game with Newcastle on Wednesday, with Caoimhin Kelleher’s mistake proving costly.

But he has been excellent for them while Alisson has been out injured and I don’t think a draw at St James’ Park is a bad result.

Everton come into this game in better form following their win over Wolves, which was a huge result for Toffees boss Sean Dyche after the run they were on.

They can definitely make things difficult for Liverpool, and I suspect they will be fairly direct when they attack, but Arne Slot’s side should have too much quality for them.

Sutton’s prediction: 1-2

Dougie’s prediction: At the start of the week I thought Liverpool would absolutely pump Everton, but then Everton put four goals past Wolves. I still think Liverpool will win, but it won’t be as simple for them. 1-3

Dougie on the Premier League title race: I am so impressed by what Arne Slot has done at Liverpool. He has been so smart since replacing Jurgen Klopp – he is so cool and calm and he has not tried to impose his ego on the team. He has just tightened up certain things and they have this balance now. The position they are in, it feels like the title is theirs to lose now.

Crystal Palace’s win at Ipswich on Tuesday was huge for them, and it was comfortable enough in the end.

Manchester City finally returned to winning ways against Nottingham Forest – and it was a result they fully deserved – but are they really back?

What happens at Selhurst Park should give us an idea, and this is not an easy game for them. Forest had chances at the Etihad Stadium when the score was 1-0 and I am still not convinced by City’s defending.

They were much better going forward with Kevin de Bruyne and Jeremy Doku in the team against Forest, though.

Doku gave them the energy and ideas out wide that they have been missing and while he is not the finished article he is always a handful with his dynamism and the way he drives at teams.

On his day, he can be devastating and it might be a moment of magic from him that makes the difference here, and breaks down a stubborn Palace side.

Sutton’s prediction: 1-2

Dougie’s prediction: With De Bruyne back, City look like themselves again. I can see Erling Haaland scoring buckets of goals again soon, because he just looks so annoyed. 0-3

I saw Manchester United’s defeat by Arsenal as the easiest prediction of the week, and I was right.

That is not me taking aim at United boss Ruben Amorim, but with what he has to work with, getting anything against the very top teams is going to be really difficult. The magnitude of the job means that he will need months and months to really turn things around.

I don’t see this game as being straightforward for United, either. Forest have already won at Anfield this season and they created chances against City on Wednesday, so I am expecting more of the same from them here.

I am going to be a bit of a coward with my prediction, though. I backed Forest to get something at the Etihad Stadium, and I was wrong, so I am not brave enough to back them again on their return to Manchester.

I’m disappointed in myself with this prediction to be honest, although I do think Forest will score this time.

Sutton’s prediction: 2-1

Dougie’s prediction: Forest were the first poster on my wall and I have always had a soft spot for them. They are so entertaining to watch at the moment and of course ‘The Wood Chopper’ [Chris Wood] has been in unbelievable form, although he did miss a sitter against City. I just think Ruben Amorim is affecting United already, though. Marcus Rashford looks happier and Bruno Fernandes is going to come into his own. 2-1

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FULHAM v ARSENAL

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IPSWICH v BOURNEMOUTH

Tuesday night’s game at home to fellow strugglers Crystal Palace was big for Ipswich, and they came up short.

Kieran McKenna’s side are killing me in my predictions. So far they have been the kind of team that are always in games, but they have a little bit of softness about them that means they are not winning when I expect them to.

I have a feeling it could be a similar story here. It’s great to see sell-out crowds again at Portman Road after the club spent years in the wilderness but there is a reason they are still yet to win at home.

In contrast, Bournemouth have had a great week, absolutely battering Wolves and then backing it up by beating Spurs.

I have been backing Ipswich blindly but maybe I have to stop doing that now. They really need to recover after their result against Palace and maybe they can scramble something here, but I can’t see it.

Sutton’s prediction: 1-2

Dougie’s prediction: The Tractor Boys are another team I like watching, but I do worry for them. Bournemouth have had some excellent results recently and this one will be quite tight. 1-1

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LEICESTER v BRIGHTON

I am not fooled by what Leicester did against West Ham, as big a win as it was for them.

The Hammers wasted so many chances, and the Foxes’ defensive issues have clearly not gone away.

Well done to new Leicester boss Ruud van Nistelrooy, but he has got a hell of a job on his hands to keep them up.

I did not see Brighton’s defeat at Fulham coming, because the Seagulls have been so impressive. They will be angry after that performance, and looking to prove a point. Away win, no doubt about it.

Sutton’s prediction: 0-3

Dougie’s prediction: Leicester look like a different team under Ruud van Nistelrooy – it’s kind of like what’s happened with Amorim at United, where the players all look like they have just got out of jail. Brighton have really impressed me this season, and I feel like there could be some goals here. 2-2

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TOTTENHAM v CHELSEA

Tottenham boss Ange Postecoglou got a fair bit of flak after going over to speak to some Spurs fans following Thursday’s defeat by Bournemouth.

Football is a fickle business sometimes. It wasn’t a good result, but you only have to go back a week or two and they were cheering Ange off after winning at Etihad Stadium.

Usually I would expect a reaction from Spurs but they are so unpredictable that I don’t know what will happen. They could win this game 4-0 like they did against Manchester City, or lose it by the same scoreline.

So, I am going with Chelsea here. While I do wonder about their experience, I think Enzo Maresca’s side are title contenders even if he insists they aren’t.

Maresca may genuinely believe that, or he might be saying it to take the pressure off his players.

When I won the title with Blackburn in 1995, the club’s owner Jack Walker, always planned to win it the year after, but when you are in the title race and you keep winning then there is no reason why you shouldn’t embrace being ahead of schedule.

Everyone slammed Chelsea’s owners for spending so much on so many players and building such a big squad, but maybe there was a method in what people saw as madness.

They are playing with real confidence at the moment and look completely different to the team they were last season. Nicolas Jackson is an example of how much they have improved and, after being rested against Southampton in midweek, he will be refreshed and ready to go.

This was the game last year where Spurs went down to nine men and lost 4-1. If there is any element of doubt from their players in their style of play, then Chelsea could take them apart again this time too.

Sutton’s prediction: 1-3

Dougie’s prediction: Tottenham are almost as baffling as Rangers. I kind of love Ange and how it is a case of, ‘I just play like this and you can kind of like it or lump it’. They are great to watch because you just don’t know what to happen, it is just chaos theory.

As for Chelsea, well Maresca seems to have got a tune out of this gigantic squad. Jackson is looking fantastic, while Cole Palmer is next level. This could be anything, but Chelsea do look more dangerous at the moment. 2-3

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WEST HAM v WOLVES

This might end badly for O’Neil and Wolves and, while we are not seeing the West Ham we expected from Lopetegui, he may live to fight another day.

The last time Wolves went to London, at the end of November, they beat Fulham 4-1 and enjoyed themselves.

I can’t see the same happening here though, because of the number of goals they are conceding. The way they play under O’Neil, they are so open.

West Ham are going to get some chances and although they missed a few against Leicester, I am backing them to take them this time.

Sutton’s prediction: 3-1

Dougie’s prediction: This is like the ‘Sacked in the morning’ derby, isn’t it!?. West Ham have not been good, or good to watch either. Even the highlights on Match of the Day have left me thinking, ‘oh this is a bit turgid’.

With Wolves, I feel like they should be doing a lot better. They play some good stuff and Matheus Cunha has been great up front, but can’t stop conceding. I still have a feeling they will get something out of this, though. 1-2