FA Cup

Romelu Lukaku scored twice as Manchester United booked their place in the quarter-finals of the FA Cup with a 2-0 win at Huddersfield Town on Saturday.

The striker scored in each half to secure the win, although there was more Video Assistant Referee (VAR) controversy when Juan Mata saw a goal disallowed for offside.

Jose Mourinho made six changes to his side, with Sergio Romero taking over in goal from David De Gea, while Victor Lindelof and Scott McTominay also started. Simon Peach at the Press Association shared the two teams:

The visitors opened the scoring after just three minutes. Mata sent Lukaku racing through on goal, and he checked back before firing a low shot past goalkeeper Jonas Lossl.

The goal means the striker maintained his record of scoring in every round of the competition for United this season:

Huddersfield responded well to going behind and forced United back, but they struggled to work Romero. The visitors, meanwhile, looked disorganised, and it was difficult to comprehend their game plan, according to football writer Liam Canning:

However, the Red Devils thought they had doubled their lead just before half-time when Ashley Young found Mata, who rounded Lossl and slotted home. 

United celebrated the goal, but referee Kevin Friend opted to refer the decision to the VAR, who ruled it offside. ESPN FC's Alex Shaw neatly summed up the process:

Football commentator Arlo White gave another view of the goal:

Mourinho's side then had another goal disallowed after Nemanja Matic stroked home Alexis Sanchez's free-kick from an offside position, but this time the decision was a lot easier for the officials.

Huddersfield continued to look the better side after the break but slipped 2-0 down after being caught on the counter. Sanchez fed Lukaku, who raced through and finished clinically despite the attention of Danny Williams.

ESPN FC's Rob Dawson showed how clinical the visitors had been:

The second goal seemed to drain the belief out of Huddersfield, and even though they enjoyed plenty of possession, United comfortably held them at bay.

It was a welcome victory for the Red Devils after their 1-0 defeat to Newcastle United last time out, and their hopes of ending the season with some domestic silverware were maintained.

Manchester United midfielder Paul Pogba did not take part in the Red Devils' FA Cup fifth-round match against Huddersfield Town on Saturday because of illness.

The club announced his absence via a statement on its official website. 

He was replaced in the squad by Scottish prospect Ethan Hamilton, who made his first trip with the senior team.

Pogba missed a portion of the season through injury between September and November, and the Red Devils struggled in his absence. The former Juventus man is widely regarded as one of the top midfielders in football, and his all-around skill set is almost impossible to replace.

The 24-year-old hasn't been in great form of late, and even if he had been healthy, there were plenty of pundits who thought he would be rested against Huddersfield.

Rob Dawson of ESPN FC believed the illness could be a blessing in disguise given what's on the horizon for United:

Pogba only featured in the recent Premier League win over the Terriers from the bench, suggesting the Red Devils should find a way past Huddersfield again without the France international—though they suffered their first Premier League defeat of the campaign at the John Smith's Stadium in October.

Manager Jose Mourinho played Nemanja Matic and starlet Scott McTominay through the centre in United's 2-0 win over Huddersfield on Feb. 3. Those two were joined in midfield by club captain Michael Carrick on Saturday.

Mourinho will be hoping Pogba is healthy soon, with fixtures against Sevilla in the UEFA Champions League and Chelsea in the Premier League to come before the month is out.

Chelsea defeated Hull 4-0 in the fifth round of the FA Cup on Friday as the Blues advanced after breaking the deadlock in the opening minute.

Willian gave the Premier League champions the perfect start at Stamford Bridge, and the hosts scored four goals before half-time to win the contest.

Leicester City sneaked past Sheffield United in their tie at the King Power Stadium as Jamie Vardy hit the back of the net for a 1-0 win.

Here are Friday's results and the upcoming cup ties:

Friday Results 

Leicester City 1-0 Sheffield United

Chelsea 4-0 Hull City

Saturday, Feb. 17

12:30 p.m. GMT/7:30 a.m. ET, Sheffield Wednesday vs. Swansea City

3 p.m. GMT/10 a.m. ET, Brighton & Hove Albion vs. Coventry City

3 p.m. GMT/10 a.m. ET, West Bromwich Albion vs. Southampton

5:30 p.m. GMT/12:20 p.m. ET, Huddersfield Town vs. Manchester United

Sunday, Feb. 18

4 p.m. GMT/11 a.m. ET, Rochdale vs. Tottenham Hotspur

Monday, Feb. 19

7:55 p.m. GMT/2:55 p.m. ET, Wigan Athletic vs. Manchester City

Friday Recap

Chelsea were comfortable as they skipped into the next round of the FA Cup. Willian shone for the home side.

The Brazilian broke the deadlock after the opening minute, and there was no way back for Hull as the game quickly slipped away from them.

Pedro doubled the advantage after 27 minutes as he slipped his shot inside the post, and Willian claimed his brace five minutes later.

There was joy for new Blues striker Olivier Giroud, who capped a fine performance with a goal just before the interval after being involved in all of his team's strikes on the night.

Hull's David Meyler could not beat goalkeeper Willy Caballero from the penalty spot in the second half, but the Tigers gave a better account of themselves as Chelsea took their foot off the gas.

Willian should have completed his hat-trick after missing two good chances, but manager Antonio Conte appeared content as he clapped his team off at the final whistle.

Sheffield United held Leicester until the 66th minute of their game at the King Power, but Vardy was the hero as the England international scored the winner.

Riyad Mahrez returned to the Foxes starting XI for the first time since failing to depart the club in the January transfer window, and the Algerian gained the assist as he helped his team to victory.

Willian scored twice as Chelsea reached the quarter-finals of the 2018 FA Cup after beating Championship side Hull City 4-0 in the fifth round at Stamford Bridge on Friday night. 

Pedro and Olivier Giroud were also on the scoresheet for the team beaten in last season's final.

Chelsea started January signings Giroud and Emerson Palmieri:

Meanwhile, the Tigers fielded a familiar side with David Meyler, Michael Dawson and Evandro all involved:

The hosts were in front in the second minute when Willian curled in a beauty. Giroud had played his role in the build-up, teeing up the Brazilian with a typically smart touch.

Scoring has become common for Willian when he's been given a chance by manager Antonio Conte, per OptaJoe:

Chelsea were in the ascendancy and produced some stylish football after the goal. It should have been 2-0 when Davide Zappacosta picked out Pedro, who lofted a beautiful pass to Giroud, but the big striker could only prod over.

The Blues continued to press and Cesc Fabregas was running the show at the heart of midfield. He picked out Pedro with an astute pass, but Hull goalkeeper David Marshall just did enough to put the forward off.

Giroud went close again moments later, when a fantastic one-two between Willian and Danny Drinkwater, released the latter, whose low cross narrowly evaded the centre-forward.

Chelsea's second came on 27 minutes when another smart lay-off from Giroud found Fabregas, who played Pedro through with a terrific first-time pass. The former Barcelona attacker didn't waste the chance, slotting calmly past Marshall.

Goal's Nizaar Kinsella felt Hull paid a suitably heavy price for not putting Fabregas under pressure:

Giroud was also busy for Chelsea's third when his run left Willian with room to take his shot early and make it 3-0 in 32 minutes.

There was still time for Giroud to get the goal his performance deserved before the end of the half. The ex-Arsenal man reacted quickly to turn in Emerson's low cross with his left foot.

Hull missed the chance to gain some consolation after the break when Willy Caballero denied Meyler from the penalty spot. Fabregas had given away the penalty, but Caballero's smart stop saved his blushes.

Chelsea tried to add to their tally, but Marshall produced a superb save to turn away Drinkwater's deflected volley with less than 15 minutes to go. Willian later missed out on his hat-trick when he hit the post in the 88th minute.

The Blues didn't need a fifth goal, though, as they saw out the second half serenely to reach the last eight. On this form, last season's beaten finalists can go one better.

The FA Cup is surely Manchester United's best chance of claiming some silverware in the 2017-18 campaign.

The Premier League is effectively gone with leaders Manchester City 16 points clear, and although United should get past Sevilla in the last 16 of the UEFA Champions League, they arguably lack the quality to go all the way.

Jose Mourinho's side can reach the last eight of the FA Cup by beating Huddersfield Town on Saturday, but the John Smith's Stadium is not an easy place to go, as United discovered earlier this term.

Read on for a preview of the fifth-round clash, along with viewing details and scheduling information. 

Date: Saturday, Feb. 17 

Time: 5:30 p.m. GMT/12:30 p.m. ET

TV Info: BT Sport 2 (UK), Fox Sports 2 (U.S.)

Live Stream: BT Sport website, Fox Sports Go

Preview 

David Wagner's Terriers ended a rotten run of form in the Premier League with a 4-1 defeat of Bournemouth on Sunday.

Before the defeat of the Cherries, Huddersfield had lost five on the bounce in the league and gone eight games without a win.

They moved through to the fifth round of the world's oldest football competition thanks to a 4-1 defeat of Championship side Birmingham City in a fourth-round replay.

United, meanwhile, thrashed Yeovil Town in the last round and beat Huddersfield in the Premier League on February 3.

However, they were beaten at the John Smith's Stadium in October and go into Saturday's clash on the back of a 1-0 defeat to Newcastle United last time out.

After the loss to the Magpies, Mourinho bemoaned his side's lack of quality in front of goal, per BBC Sport:

The Red Devils can't afford to be similarly wasteful against Huddersfield, and given the calibre in their squad, Mourinho should be confident his side can rediscover their scoring touch.

Romelu Lukaku, Alexis Sanchez, Marcus Rashford, Jesse Lingard and Anthony Martial have all been impressive in attack at times this season.

If they can find their best form against Huddersfield, United should have no problem booking their spot in the next round.

However, early frustrations for the visitors on Saturday evening could set up the best chance for a Huddersfield victory.

United will be desperate for an early goal to calm the nerves after their struggles against Newcastle, and if Huddersfield can deny them that luxury, they could establish an edge in the encounter. 

Manchester City will continue their hunt for an unprecedented quadruple on Monday when they travel to Wigan Athletic in the fifth round of the FA Cup.

Manchester United will also hope to book a place in the quarter-finals of the competition when they face Huddersfield Town at the John Smith's Stadium.

Meanwhile, Tottenham Hotspur will be in action against Rochdale, and Leicester City host Sheffield United.

Chelsea welcome Hull City to Stamford Bridge, while Sheffield Wednesday play Swansea City. There are also ties between Brighton & Hove Albion and Coventry City, as well as West Bromwich Albion against Southampton.

Here is the complete schedule, including viewing information and score predictions:

Friday, Feb. 16

7:45 p.m. GMT/2:45 p.m. ET, Leicester City vs. Sheffield United (2-0)

8 p.m. GMT/3 p.m. ET, Chelsea vs. Hull City. BT Sport 2, Fox Sports 2 USA (3-1)

Saturday, Feb. 17

12:30 p.m. GMT/7:30 a.m. ET, Sheffield Wednesday vs. Swansea City. BT Sport 2, Fox Sports 1 USA (2-1)

3 p.m. GMT/10 a.m. ET, Brighton & Hove Albion vs. Coventry City (0-1)

3 p.m. GMT/10 a.m. ET, West Bromwich Albion vs. Southampton (1-0)

5:30 p.m. GMT/12:20 p.m. ET, Huddersfield Town vs. Manchester United. BT Sport 2, Fox Sports 2 USA (1-2)

Sunday, Feb. 18

4 p.m. GMT/11 a.m. ET, Rochdale vs. Tottenham Hotspur. BBC One, Fox Sports 1 USA (0-2)

Monday, Feb. 19

7:55 p.m. GMT/2:55 p.m. ET, Wigan Athletic vs. Manchester City. BBC One, Fox Sports 1 USA (1-3)

Relevant matches can be streamed live via BT Sport Player, BBC iPlayer and Fox Sports Go.

Odds to win the FA Cup, courtesy of Oddschecker:

• Man City: 2-1
• Man United: 4-1
• Chelsea: 9-2
• Tottenham: 9-2
• Leicester: 12-1
• Southampton: 25-1
• West Brom: 40-1
• Brighton: 50-1
• Swansea 50-1
• Huddersfield: 100-1
• Sheffield Wednesday: 150-1
• Sheffield United: 200-1
• Wigan: 250-1
• Hull: 500-1
• Coventry: 500-1
• Rochdale: 750-1

Huddersfield Town vs. Manchester United

United come into the match having lost two of their last three games, the most recent of which came against relegation-threatened Newcastle United, who upset the Red Devils 1-0 at St James' Park on Sunday.

Football writer Liam Canning and ESPN's Rob Dawson were critical of their showing:

United's defending in particular was unconvincing, and they were also fortunate not to give away a penalty in the clash.

Up front, through a combination of profligacy and a superb debut performance from Martin Dubravka in Newcastle's goal, they failed to take a number of good chances.

Despite their shaky recent form, the Red Devils will be encouraged by the fact they beat Huddersfield in the match prior to the Newcastle defeat.

It's likely to be tougher for them at the John Smith's Stadium than it was at Old Trafford, but United will be looking for a win here.

The FA Cup remains their best chance of silverware this season, so it's critical they progress.

Wigan Athletic vs. Manchester City

Man City's clash with Wigan is a repeat of the 2013 FA Cup final, which the Latics memorably won.

Wigan are two divisions lower than the Sky Blues now, and while they're flying high at the top of League One, they will be up against it to pull off another upset here.

City thrashed Leicester 5-1 in their last domestic outing, and manager Pep Guardiola won't let their standards slip despite the lower-quality opposition.

Sergio Aguero hit a stunning four-goal haul against the Foxes:

He had to share the headlines with team-mate Kevin De Bruyne, though, after he ran the show from start to finish, per Squawka Football:

If the Sky Blues' world-class playmaker and goalscorer are on song again, it should be a comfortable evening for City on Monday.

Even if they're not, City have the depth to ensure they still get the result they need.

With next to no chance of winning the Premier League and a UEFA Champions League tie with Barcelona to come, the FA Cup takes on increased significance for Chelsea this season.

Hull City are their opponents at Stamford Bridge in the fifth round, making the Blues big favourites to progress into the quarter-finals.

Having fallen at the final hurdle against Arsenal last season, you sense this is a competition head coach Antonio Conte will be desperate to succeed in.

In truth, it's a clash the Tigers could probably do without, as they are in a massive fight to keep their second-tier status intact. Manager Nigel Adkins will hope a strong performance can at least lift spirits.

The viewing details for the fixture are below, along with a preview of what promises to be an intriguing FA Cup encounter on Friday night.

Date: Friday, February 16

Time: 8 p.m. GMT/3 p.m. ET

TV Info: BT Sport 2 (UK), Fox Sports 2 (U.S.)

Live Stream: BT Sport website (UK), Fox Sports Go (U.S.)

Preview

There's a big battle on to finish in the top four in the Premier League, one that Chelsea is at the hub of. But this is a club that has been synonymous with winning silverware in recent years.

Conte will want to finish this turbulent term with some, too, and as things stand, this is the Blues' best chance of trophy success in 2017-18. They almost squandered it earlier in the competition, when penalties were needed to get the better of Norwich City at Stamford Bridge in a third-round replay.

Chelsea supporters will be hoping this assignment is a more straightforward one, and while Conte will surely make changes to the XI with the visit of Barcelona looming on Tuesday, the core of a strong XI will likely take to the field.

There's a proud reputation for the Blues to protect in this competition, too. As we can see courtesy of Sachin Nakrani of the Guardian, Chelsea have a brilliant record in the FA Cup:

It's rare to have such a favourable tie at this stage of the tournament, and you sense a strong Chelsea side would get this won handily, potentially giving Conte the chance to tinker late on, especially if Hull make a number of changes themselves given their plight in the Championship.

The Tigers managed to earn a vital win against Nottingham Forest at the weekend to push them out of the relegation zone into 21st, but they are just a point clear of the drop zone.

As noted by Philip Buckingham of the Hull Daily Mail, the points and performance were a shock at the City Ground:

After the clash with Chelsea, Hull face a trip to Middlesbrough on Tuesday night, so Adkins may opt to prioritise that encounter.

With progression in the FA Cup in mind and Barcelona to come in the Champions League, it's about as ideal a fixture as the Blues could have at this point. They should dominate the ball, shouldn't face too much firepower from the visitors and should make this into a routine run-out.

Hull will take a decent following, and those on the field for them will surely raise their game in line with the occasion. However, the travelling support will head back north with second-tier survival their sole focus for the remainder of the season.

BT Sport decided the amount of time added on during Liverpool's 3-2 defeat to West Bromwich Albion in the FA Cup on Saturday, according to Reds boss Jurgen Klopp. 

The German approached fourth official Jon Moss after just four minutes were added onto the end of the first half, despite numerous delays which included the use of the Video Assistant Referee.

According to Klopp, Moss said BT Sport—which broadcasted the game—was responsible. Per the Mirror's David Maddock, he said:

"What I heard was that the actual extra time in the first half should have been 10 minutes. It was only four minutes. I heard that television said it's not longer than four minutes.

"That is the situation, what can I say? Of course that's not possible, you can't cut match time because there is something else to broadcast. I don't know what was afterwards, maybe the news or something.

"It was 10 minutes and so you need to play 10 minutes longer. You cannot say it's now a little bit too long."

It was an action-packed first half, as BBC Sport demonstrated:

However, the Reds manager was right to take issue with the amount of time added on, as talkSPORTDrive revealed on Twitter:

According to Maddock, a spokesman for BT denied Klopp's suggestion and said the company has no power over added time given by the officials.

BT Sport presenter Jake Humphrey also took issue with the coach's comments:

It's clear more time was needed during the first half.

Along with the consultation of VAR on three occasions—to disallow Craig Dawson's goal, award the Reds a penalty after Mohamed Salah was fouled and ensure Joel Matip's own goal correctly stood—there were four goals and two substitutions.

Referees typically add 30 seconds on for each goal or substitution, so they should have accounted for around three extra minutes in the half.

As for VAR, it's evident the system can cause lengthy delays to matches, but it was only it's sixth use in English football—it's still in a trial period and teething problems are to be expected, and delays will likely be reduced as the use of it is refined.

Until then, though, it could mean plenty of time needs to be added on during games and officials must allow for that.

The Premier League's top teams all avoided each other in the draw for the fifth round of the FA Cup on Monday.

Manchester United will face the winner of the replay between Huddersfield Town and Birmingham City, Manchester City make the short trip to Wigan Athletic, and Tottenham Hotspur go up against Millwall or Rochdale if they can get past their own replay against Newport County.

Here are the fifth-round matchups:

Sheffield Wednesday vs. Notts County/Swansea City

West Bromwich Albion vs. Southampton

Chelsea vs. Hull City

Leicester City vs. Sheffield United

Huddersfield Town/Birmingham City vs. Manchester United

Millwall/Rochdale vs. Newport County/Tottenham Hotspur

Brighton & Hove Albion vs. Coventry City

Wigan Athletic vs. Manchester City

The fifth-round fixtures will be played during the weekend of February 17 and 18.

The fourth-round replays will be played on February 6 and 7. Birmingham take on Huddersfield, Rochdale face Millwall, and Swansea play Notts County on Tuesday, while Spurs and Newport County go head-to-head on Wednesday.

As for the fifth round, the potential match between Spurs and Millwall, two clubs from London who faced each other in 2017, could be another intense fixture. As reported by the London Evening Standard's Tom Powell, there were ugly scenes when fans of the two teams clashed.

Spurs will have to get past Newport County first, however, and Millwall also face a replay against Rochdale before progressing to the all-London tie.

Chelsea and Manchester City both drew teams from the lower leagues, which could be a blessing or a curse.

The Blues are in the midst of a tough battle for a top-four finish in the Premier League and could use the cup to rest some of their starters, but that could open the door for Hull, who have endured a nightmare campaign in the Championship and appear fully focused on the FA Cup.

Wigan lead the League One standings and have been in fine form of late. City may be running away with the Premier League title, but they'll have to focus on the UEFA Champions League match against FC Basel, and with fixtures against Arsenal, Chelsea and the Swiss giants right after their cup match, the Sky Blues may opt to rest their stars as well.

As shared by City Watch, recent history is on Wigan's side:

Manchester United will have to wait until Huddersfield and Birmingham finish their replay to learn their next opponents. The Terriers are battling for survival in the Premier League, while Blues rank near the bottom of the Championship.

Manchester City and Chelsea both cruised into the fifth round of the FA Cup after defeating Cardiff City and Newcastle United, respectively, on Sunday.

City beat Cardiff 2-0 in Wales, as Chelsea won 3-0 against Newcastle at Stamford Bridge.

The Premier League giants join the progressed sides, with the last-16 draw set to take place at 7 p.m. (GMT) on Monday evening during The One Show on BBC One.

Here are Sunday's confirmed results:

Chelsea 3-0 Newcastle

Cardiff 0-2 Manchester City

Recap

City eased into the fifth round as they won 2-0 on the road, but there was controversy in the first half as Bernardo Silva had a blockbuster strike ruled out for a contentious offside call.

The Sky Blues took the lead through Kevin De Bruyne's crafty free-kick after eight minutes, with the midfielder calmly rolling his effort under the jumping wall, but it appeared City had soon doubled their advantage as Silva's shot flew past goalkeeper Neil Etheridge from distance.

The linesman flagged for offside as Leroy Sane jogged across the sight of the Cardiff stopper, but there was huge confusion as referee Lee Mason debated the decision with his assistants and City's maddened players.

Silva's effort was chalked off, and with no Video Assistant Referee (VAR) system in place, the decision could not be reviewed.

TV cameras showed Sane was level with play and the clear need for VAR in the modern game:

BBC presenter Gary Lineker was assured in his opinion about the incident:

City quickly drew breath and got on with the job, with coach Pep Guardiola animated on the sideline, and it was soon 2-0 as Raheem Sterling's header found the net after 37 minutes.

Cardiff responded in the second half, and the hosts battled with City's composed midfield as they fought for opportunities.

Sterling twice had excellent chances to put the result to bed, but the winger made the wrong decisions at the vital moments.

Joe Bennett received a late second yellow card in injury time, reducing Cardiff to 10 men for the last minute.

Chelsea made no mistakes as they skipped past the Magpies at home, as Michy Batshuayi's improving form was shown as he grabbed a brace.

The Belgian has spent most of his career in England planted to the bench, but the striker netted twice before half-time.

The Blues laboured in the opening stages of the tie, with Newcastle holding their own against the Premier League champions.

However, Batshuayi scored twice in 13 minutes after opening the scoring midway through the first half.

The strikes offered the hosts insurance and confidence, and Newcastle didn't have the firepower to upset the odds after the interval.

There was a smile on Chelsea manager Antonio Conte's face as Marcos Alonso's free-kick crashed into the back of the net with 18 minutes remaining, giving the hosts a route into the fifth round.