1) Saddles out to prove the point
Walsall manager Michael Flynn was extremely unhappy about the news that his team’s clash with Leicester City would not be broadcast on a major UK channel. “I think it’s a disgrace our game wasn’t picked, that’s what happened FA cup is everything,” he said. His argument is more than a fair one when Manchester United v Reading are available on Saturday night. League Two clubs like Walsall rely more heavily on TV money from cup runs to help with finances, than the likes of United top their coffers. It’s up to Flynn and his team to prove TV bosses wrong by pulling off a surprise inside the packed Bescot Stadium on Saturday.TV companies need to acknowledge what the FA Cup is all about. will unwin
2) The Reds return to Brighton
Jurgen Klopp was adamant about making progress after Liverpool’s goalless draw at home to Chelsea, but a truer test awaits the hosts when they return to the Amex Stadium. Brighton Liverpool rip In the Premier League two weeks ago, when Klopp described his side’s 3-0 defeat as one of the worst performances of his managerial career. Fabinho, Jordan Henderson, Joel Matip and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain were all pulled into a four-way substitution midway through the second half against Roberto De Zerbi’s polished side. None of them have started in the two games since. Eighteen-year-old Stefan Bagcetic seized his opportunity in midfield, injecting energy and bite previously lacking, while Ibrahima Konate and Joe Gomez capitalized on the improvement in front of them. Both managers must act aggressively with no midweek games to worry about. Klopp must hope De Zerby finds Liverpool unrecognizable. Andy Hunter
3) The No Distraction Cup for Wrexham
The focus at Wrexham lately has been off the field, which is unsurprising given the Hollywood stature of Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhinney. On the pitch, they were unlucky to fall back from promotion last season, finishing second to Stockport in the league. Things were slowly building up in North Wales due to the investment of the owners, who know the National League is the toughest division to get out of and to do that they need goals, which is why Paul Mullen was brought in at great cost. Some might think the trophy is a distraction from the all-important battle for promotion, but nobody in a Wrexham shirt on Sunday would. Instead, it will be a chance for the players to show they can compete with Sheffield United’s top three Championship side, as they have already proven. In Coventry last round. They will be desperate to show that the result was not a fluke. WU
4) Sudden blows of hammers
David Moyes is still in the post Beating Everton last week But this hasn’t been an entirely positive week for the West Ham manager. The victory came at a cost. As if losing Danny Ings for a few weeks was bad enough after the new signing He suffered a knee injury for the first time After being introduced from the bench, West Ham also found out that Kurt Zouma would miss two matches. Once again, Moyes will be forced into a reshuffle at centre-back. He welcomed Zouma back from knee surgery and could have done so without the defender hurting himself. West Ham’s options are limited following Craig Dawson’s move to Wolves and they will need to be careful when they visit the Derby. The promoted League One side – who are unbeaten in 14 matches – will certainly be encouraged by the absence of Ings, who has been signed to solve West Ham’s goal-scoring woes. With Zouma missing, it could be an uncomfortable evening for Moyes. Jacob Steinberg
5) Does Ken need a rest?
Playing against a team in the league below could be the perfect opportunity for Harry Kane to overtake Jimmy Greaves’ goalscoring record at Tottenham. No. 9 Tottenham drew a club legend Monday win at Fulham, which means that his next strike will go down in history in North London. However, Antonio Conte needs to balance Kane, who is indispensable in the Spurs squad – in the league at least – and rarely gets a chance to rest. He has scored three times as many goals this season as Son Heung-min, who is second in the club’s tables. Richarlison, who needs minutes on the pitch, has led the line admirably for Brazil at the World Cup and would be a good option for Conte to start at Deepdale if he decides Kane can’t play every minute of every game. WU
6) Weghorst is in the spotlight
The latest evidence of Midas’ obvious touch for Erik ten Hag came in Wout Weghorst’s goal at Manchester United. 3-0 dismantling Nottingham Forest – As this was his first goal in only a third appearance since joining temporarily. The 6ft 5in bowler is supposed to be Anthony Martial’s vice-ninth in those games where Marcus Rashford’s pace doesn’t need to replace the back-to-back injured Frenchman up the middle. But herein lies the big unknown as the second half of the season begins: when he’s in the squad, will Weghorst’s slow pace cost Ten Hag Champions League qualification points and a progression in the knockout competition? If so, this would highlight how United’s owners, the Glazers, failed to support the manager in the same way Arsenal’s owners did Mikel Arteta. He would cast Weghorst as a sticky addition unless, of course, the manager could conjure up a steady contribution from the 30-year-old. Further evidence would be given if (as might be expected) Weghorst started against Reading at Old Trafford. Jimmy Jackson
7) Bamford back to Leeds?
Patrick Bamford hasn’t started for Leeds since 2-0 defeat at Leicester in October. The injury kept him out of action from the end of that month until the loss to Aston Villa in mid-January, when he came off the bench to score a consolation goal. Leeds’ goalless draw against Brentford last weekend showed Jesse Marsh’s side were lacking in the number 9. Despite this, the boss kept Bamford running back and new record signing, Georginho Rutter, back. Bamford entered for 10 minutes, while Rutter remained unused. Saturday’s trip to Accrington looks like the perfect opportunity to get as many minutes under Bamford’s belt as possible and bring him closer to full match fitness level, as he will be very important for Leeds in the first round if they are to avoid a relegation battle. Rodrigo has done well in the midfield, but the greater variety in the forward roles will be a useful asset to Marsh. WU
8) Sailors to call the Bedouins
Grimsby striker Danilo Orsi-D’Aduomo had a nomadic career. He started in London at Cockfosters before moving to the United States to play college football. Eventually, he came home to a host of non-league stints in the south-east with East Thurrock United, Hungerford Town and Hampton & Richmond, before a stellar season with Maidenhead led to him being snapped up by Harrogate Town in 2021. Since then, However, he struggled to find the net and was allowed to join Grimsby last summer. Again, he wasn’t a regular, starting three times for the Mariners without scoring, but Paul Hurst is suffering from a striker crisis due to injury and ineligibility, and will need to call up Orci for the trip to Luton. Orsi’s tale is the story of an underdog and the FA Cup loves a story. WU
9) Solomon’s chance at Fulham
Fulham needs a response after two narrow defeats to Newcastle and Tottenham. They didn’t play bad and didn’t get very lucky. Aleksandar Mitrovic’s penalty shoot-out error proved costly against Newcastle and there was much to like about Fulham’s overall game against Tottenham. But where Marco Silva’s team was lacking came in the final third. They didn’t create enough chances against Spurs, though Manor Solomon came off the bench positive. The Israeli winger was resplendent after taking the lead, closing in with a curved shot, and hoping for a chance against Sunderland. Suleiman, who joined from Shakhtar Donetsk last summer, needs matches. He had an extended period on the sidelines after suffering a knee injury on the opening day of the season and was limited to four substitute appearances. Could this be the moment Silva will let him loose from the start? youth
10) The trainee is a master of challenges
Under the Etihad Stadium lights, this clash could be described as a potential titanic struggle against the cadet. Manchester City, led by Pep Guardiola, face Arsenal, led by Mikel Arteta, in a match that serves as a prelude to the Premier League matches in February and April between the champions and the leaders. The Arsenal board’s intent to end their 19-year title drought was underlined by spending €50m in January on Leonardo Trossard and Jacob Kuewer, in a move that also underscores just how exciting the hierarchy has been for how Arteta, Guardiola’s assistant, has put together a worthy side with a feature five. Points on previous employers. But the Catalan, his now sporting opponent, is a man driven to win, and despite the gap in the Premier League and recent criticism of his players, Guardiola’s men are starting as favourites. But, just – and it’s a sign of how much Arteta and his team love the term. g