The 2025-26 FA Cup ventures into the fifth round on Friday, when Wolves and Liverpool kick-off the action at Molineux, where they meet for the second time in the space of four days.
In total, 16 clubs are in action across four days, including Arsenal and Manchester City, who both still have hopes of winning a famous Quadruple, while Wrexham will be gunning to knock out another Premier League opponent in Liam Rosenior’s Chelsea.
Read on for the best of the potential stats in the last-16.
Stats you might see
Wolves vs Liverpool
- Liverpool could lose three successive away matches in the FA Cup for the first time since 1951 to 1954 (4).
Wolves and Liverpool reunite at Molineux on Friday night, and home fans will be hoping for more of the same following their superb 2-1 victory in the Premier League.
You never know quite what you’re going to get with Arne Slot’s side this season. Just as they look to have turned a corner, they suffer another setback, and a defeat at Wolves for the second time this week would condemn the Reds to three straight FA Cup away defeats for the first time since they lost four on the spin between January 1951 and January 1954.
Worse still, it’s Wolves who hold the favourable record in this fixture, having progressed in five of the previous eight FA Cup ties between the sides, and came out on top 3-1 the last time they locked horns with each other in the fifth round back in 1948-49.
Mansfield Town vs Arsenal
- If Mansfield Town beat Arsenal they will reach the FA Cup quarter-finals for the first time since 1968-69.
League One’s Mansfield Town will be hoping to conjure up a stunning upset at home to Premier League leaders Arsenal as the teams prepare to face each other for the first time in 97 years, dating back to 1929.
The odds are stacked against Nigel Clough’s Stags, but if they do achieve the unthinkable, they will progress into the quarter-finals of the competition for the first time since 1968-69, and only the second time ever.
Arsenal haven’t been knocked out in the fifth round since their manager, Mikel Arteta, was a Gunners player back in the 2012-13 season.
Wrexham vs Chelsea
- Chelsea have progressed from each of their last 24 FA Cup ties against lower-division teams and will be hoping to extend that streak to 25 against Wrexham.
Wrexham and Chelsea go head-to-head for the first time since 1982 in a game that was won 1-0 by the Welsh side. The Red Dragons, who are making their first last-16 appearance since 1996-97, have already knocked out one Premier League side, Nottingham Forest in the third round, and would love nothing more than a huge scalp over World Champions Chelsea.
The Blues, meanwhile, will be looking to extend their record of progressing from 25 straight FA Cup ties against lower-division sides, which is the third-best run of its kind after Man United (30 games between 1985 and 2009) and Arsenal (28 games between 1998 and 2013).
Newcastle United vs Manchester City
- Manchester City could become the third club to knock Newcastle out of both domestic cup competitions in the same season.
St James’ Park stages an all-Premier League clash between Newcastle and Manchester City, in a repeat of this season’s Carabao Cup semi-final tie that City won 5-1 on aggregate.
City, who have progressed from the last two FA Cup meetings against Newcastle, now have the chance to become just the third club to eliminate the Toon from both domestic cup competitions in the same season after Wimbledon in 1987-88 and Arsenal in 2007-08.
Pep Guardiola’s side have not lost an FA Cup match outside of the final since 2021-22, when they were beaten by Liverpool in the semi-finals, and have reached at least the last four in each of the past seven seasons.
Fulham vs Southampton
- Fulham are aiming to reach the FA Cup quarter-finals for the third time in four seasons.
Fulham have never lifted the FA Cup, coming closest with a runners-up finish to West Ham in 1974-75. In recent years, however, they’ve made a couple of deep runs in the competition, reaching the quarter-finals in two of the last three seasons. They’ll now fancy their chances of making it a third last-eight appearance in four years when they host Championship side Southampton in the last-16.
Since winning the FA Cup in 1975-76 as a second-tier team, the Saints have managed just one victory in their last eight FA Cup ties against top-flight opponents while playing outside the top division themselves.
Port Vale vs Sunderland
- Port Vale will be hoping to reach the FA Cup quarter-finals for just the second time in their history, and first since 1953-54.
Port Vale may be enduring a poor league campaign – they are rooted to the foot of the third-tier and 10 points adrift of safety – but come Sunday, they have the opportunity to reach the FA Cup quarter-finals for just the second time in their history, and first since 1953-54.
Vale’s FA Cup journey started way back in November, since which they have overcome four different opponents, including both Bristol clubs, to reach the fifth round for the first time in 30 years. All four wins have come at home, and they will now hope to use that advantage again as they attempt to upset Premier League side Sunderland.
Leeds United vs Norwich City
- Leeds can reach the quarter-finals for the first time since 2002-03.
1971-72 winners Leeds haven’t had the best FA Cup record in the 21st century, reaching the quarter-finals only once in this period, in 2002/03.
Leeds, who have lost each of their last four fifth round games, will be looking to end this drought on Sunday when they host Championship Norwich in the last-16.
Norwich have been on a great run of late, but face a tough task at Elland Road. The Canaries have failed to progress from their last 14 FA Cup ties against top-flight teams while playing outside the top division themselves, dating back to 1981-82.
West Ham United vs Brentford
- Crysencio Summerville will be looking to score for the eighth game in his last 11 appearances in all competitions.
Can Crysencio Summerville’s scoring spree continue when West Ham host Brentford on Monday? The in-form winger has been in sensational form of late, finding the back of the net in seven of his last 10 appearances across all competitions.
Summerville boasts an impressive FA Cup record too, registering six goal involvements in his last six matches in the competition. That includes a goal and an assist in this season’s third round win over QPR, followed by the only goal of the game in the fourth round victory against Burton.
