FA Cup Fourth Round Betting Tips: 13-16 February 2026

Key takeaways (TL;DR)

• Wrexham’s Championship momentum meets Ipswich’s promotion push – a tight affair is expected.
• Hull City hope to end an 38‑year winless run against Chelsea.
• Liverpool v Brighton could be lively; recent Anfield scoring trends remain strong.
• Aston Villa carry Champions League hopes into their tie with inconsistent Newcastle.
• Macclesfield’s fairy‑tale run pits them against injury‑hit Brentford.
• Manchester City eye another straightforward win against League Two Salford.
• Arsenal face Wigan as injuries mount; Oxford host Sunderland in a potential upset.

Match previews and betting tips

Wrexham vs Ipswich Town – Hollywood hosts meet promotion hopefuls

Wrexham’s rise from National League darlings to Championship contenders has been nothing short of spectacular. The Red Dragons were promoted from League One last season and have adapted to life in the second tier so well that they sit inside the top six. Phil Parkinson’s side may rotate, but strength in depth and a raucous Racecourse Ground will make them tough opponents.

Ipswich Town are juggling a promotion chase with this Cup run. Kieran McKenna’s Tractor Boys strengthened in January by signing Anis Mehmeti and Dan Neil but failed to secure an extra striker. With Premier League return the priority, Ipswich could give fringe players a chance.

• Tip: Back the draw or Wrexham +0.5 in the Asian handicap. Both sides look evenly matched and may settle this after extra time.

Hull City vs Chelsea – returning boss tests the Tigers

Hull haven’t beaten Chelsea since 1988 and have avoided defeat in just two of their last 16 meetings. The Tigers’ home form has dipped – they followed four straight wins with a draw and a defeat. Injuries to key defenders Semi Ajayi, Mohamed Belloumi and Cody Drameh further weaken them, but strikers Oli McBurnie and Joe Gelhardt, who have scored 12 and 10 league goals respectively, along with full‑back Ryan Giles’ eight assists, offer attacking threat.

Chelsea’s Liam Rosenior returns to his former club with his Blues side recovering from a disappointing draw with Leeds United. The Londoners have won seven of their last ten matches. Marc Cucurella, Levi Colwill and teenagers Dario Essugo and Jamie Gittens could miss out through injury, and Romeo Lavia is unlikely to be rushed back. Rotation could mean starts for Liam Delap or Alejandro Garnacho.

• Tip: Consider Chelsea to win and over 2.5 goals. The Blues have the historical edge and greater attacking depth.

Liverpool vs Brighton & Hove Albion – goals guaranteed?

Anfield is a fortress in this competition. Liverpool are unbeaten in their last ten FA Cup home matches, scoring at least twice in each of their past six meetings with Brighton (13 goals in total). The Reds edged Barnsley in round three and, despite inconsistent league results that include defeats to Manchester City and Bournemouth, they recently thrashed Qarabag 6‑0 and became the first team to beat Sunderland at the Stadium of Light this season. Wataru Endo’s injury is a blow, but Dominik Szoboszlai returns from suspension.

Brighton sacked manager Thomas Frank during a poor run that has yielded just two wins from 15 matches. They have eliminated Liverpool from the Cup on three previous occasions, but injuries to Solly March, Adam Webster and Stafanos Tzimas, plus doubts over Yasin Ayari and Mats Wieffer, suggest an uphill task.

• Tip: Both teams to score looks solid. Liverpool’s defence has wobbled lately and Brighton’s attacking style should create chances.

Aston Villa vs Newcastle United – Emery aims to stay on track

Aston Villa, third in the Premier League, ended a mini‑slump with a 1‑0 victory over Brighton thanks to an 86th‑minute own goal. Unai Emery’s side beat Tottenham 2‑1 in the third round but have not reached consecutive fifth rounds since 2010. Historically, the Villans have knocked Newcastle out of the FA Cup four times and are unbeaten in their last three meetings with the Magpies. Injuries to Youri Tielemans, John McGinn and Boubacar Kamara reduce midfield options, while right‑back Matty Cash is sidelined. Morgan Rogers has contributed three goals and an assist in five Cup starts.

Newcastle’s form remains erratic. They were booed off after a 3‑2 home defeat to Brentford but responded with a 2‑1 win away at Tottenham. Eddie Howe’s men have just one win in eight matches across competitions, conceding 15 goals, and have lost ten of their last 13 away Cup ties against Premier League opposition. Joelinton, Tino Livramento, Fabian Schar and Emil Krafth are out, while Bruno Guimarães and Lewis Miley are doubtful.

• Tip: Aston Villa to qualify. Home form and Newcastle’s away woes point towards the hosts progressing, though a narrow margin is likely.

Manchester City vs Salford City – derby in name only

Manchester City have shifted focus from the title race to Cup duty. The holders scored 10 goals in their demolition of Exeter and have won their last 20 FA Cup ties against lower‑division opponents. Recent league wins over Liverpool and Fulham keep them within three points of leaders Arsenal. However, injuries to Josko Gvardiol and Mateo Kovacic persist, and Pep Guardiola may rest Erling Haaland due to niggles.

Salford City sit sixth in League Two and have lost only two of their last 13 games. They reached the fourth round for the first time in club history by beating Swindon 3‑2, but previous meetings with Premier League clubs have ended in heavy defeats. Injuries to Jay Bird and Tom Edwards, along with doubts over Haji Mnoga and Brandon Cooper, leave manager Karl Robinson short‑handed.

• Tip: Man City to win with a clean sheet. Their defensive discipline against lower‑tier sides should stifle Salford’s spirit.

Macclesfield vs Brentford – can the Silkmen slay another giant?

Macclesfield’s phoenix club story has captured the country’s imagination. Starting from the second qualifying round, they thumped AFC Totton 6‑3 and then produced an historic 2‑1 win over holders Crystal Palace to reach the fourth round for the first time. However, star striker Danny Elliott is out for the season, though winger Brandon Lee recently returned from injury.

Brentford dispatched Sheffield Wednesday 2‑0 in the previous round thanks to goals from Keane Lewis‑Potter and Mathias Jensen. Head coach Keith Andrews plans to take the Cup seriously, but he must cope without Josh Dasilva, Fábio Carvalho and Antoni Milambo (all long‑term injuries) and will also miss suspended winger Kevin Schade.

• Tip: Both teams to score. Macclesfield play fearless attacking football, while Brentford’s quality should see them through in an entertaining match.

Arsenal vs Wigan Athletic – injury worries for the Gunners

Arsenal remain top of the Premier League despite a recent 1‑1 draw with Brentford. They eased past Portsmouth 4‑1 in the third round and now seek their first FA Cup triumph since 2020. But Mikel Arteta has problems: William Saliba is a minor doubt through illness, Martin Ødegaard faces a knee issue, and Kai Havertz, Mikel Merino and Max Dowman are ruled out. After beating them 2‑1 in the 2013‑14 semi‑final, the Gunners know Wigan pose a cup threat.

Wigan arrive under interim managers Glenn Whelan and Graham Barrow following Ryan Lowe’s departure. The Latics have lost five straight league games but travel with a fully fit squad and no suspensions. They have won six consecutive FA Cup away ties, conceding just once, and will hope to channel their 2013 Wembley magic.

• Tip: Both teams to score again appeals. Arsenal’s patched‑up midfield could leave space for Wigan’s counter‑attacks.

Oxford United vs Sunderland – can the U’s cause a stir?

This tie pits Championship strugglers against a mid‑table Premier League side. Oxford United are 23rd in the Championship, four points from safety, and have lost three of their last four matches. Manager Matt Bloomfield replaced Gary Rowett recently, but his six‑win side were hammered 3‑0 by Norwich. They did, however, edge MK Dons on penalties in the last round.

Sunderland, under Régis Le Bris, are 11th in the Premier League despite a midweek loss to Liverpool. They also required penalties to see off Everton in the previous round. The Black Cats have depth thanks to recent spending and have won 21 of their 40 head‑to‑head meetings with Oxford. The last meeting at the Kassam in 2025 ended in a 2‑0 home win for the U’s.

• Tip: Sunderland to win. Their superior quality and Oxford’s relegation worries tilt this tie toward the visitors.

What is FA Cup betting?

FA Cup betting means predicting the outcomes of matches in England’s historic knockout competition by weighing up form, injuries, cup pedigree and the magic of potential giant‑killings.

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Picking the right bet – what should you consider?

Punters often wonder how to find an edge in the Cup. You know what? The trick lies in balancing romance with reality. Check recent league form and head‑to‑head records, note suspensions and injuries, and consider how seriously each manager treats the competition. For even deeper reading, our sport betting guide breaks down the basics of bankroll management and market selection.

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