Alan Shearer, the renowned BBC Match of the Day pundit, has made some bold predictions for this weekend's FA Cup fourth round ties. According to him, Premier League giants Tottenham and Chelsea could be heading towards an early exit.
Tottenham faced severe criticism from pundits following their lackluster performance against Liverpool in the Carabao Cup semi-finals. The 4-0 thrashing at Anfield not only led to their elimination but also set up a final showdown between Liverpool and Newcastle - a team close to Shearer's heart. The defeat has increased pressure on Ange Postecoglou, who will lead his side against Aston Villa this Saturday. Known for his impressive record of winning a trophy during his second season with clubs, Postecoglou is expected to face another challenging match.
Shearer believes that Unai Emery and Co are likely to inflict more cup pain on Spurs and Postecoglou.
Alan Shearer, Newcastle United legend, said:
"Spurs didn't make it through to the League Cup final and now they have another huge, important cup game. They're going to another tough ground which is tough to get a result from and with the new players that Aston Villa have signed, they'll be looking to get off to a good start.
"With Villa getting into the top eight in the Champions League I think it will affect Emery's thinking as they won't have a game next week, so he'll be able to put out a stronger side than perhaps he would've if they were having a play-off game. So, I'll say Aston Villa will win here and get through to the next round."
Tough games for Chelsea and Newcastle
Chelsea is also predicted by Shearer to have a difficult tie against Brighton. He suggests that Enzo Maresca's side might find it tough playing away from home. In one of the most anticipated cup ties this weekend, Newcastle will be facing Birmingham City - currently leading League One table. After their recent victory over Spurs in midweek, Shearer predicts another big win for the Magpies.
Alan Shearer added:
"This is absolutely a potential banana skin. It'll be a tough game for Newcastle. I've not got good memories of Birmingham and St Andrews myself. I went there, never scored and missed a penalty so I'm hoping that Newcastle get better luck than the last time I was there."
While these are just predictions based on current form and past performances, they provide an interesting perspective ahead of what promises to be an exciting weekend of football action in the FA Cup fourth round ties.
