Top sides to prove their pedigree

Brighton 0 Arsenal 2
Certain victories live in the memory for years. Like their wins away to Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund, Arsenal’s 2-0 win over Manchester City last Sunday falls in that category. The Gunners were combative, combustible, aggressive and proactive as they proved they are no pushovers. A similar spirit will be enough to condemn Championship strugglers Brighton to defeat.
Chelsea 3 Bradford 0
Chelsea have lost to lower division opposition just once in the last 15 years. Blues coach Jose Mourinho is expected to use squad players Kurt Zouma, Ramirez, Didier Drogba and Loic Remy as he keeps his team fresh for the Capital One Cup second leg at Anfield on Tuesday. This is a dyed-in-the-wool handicap victory for the Premier League leaders.
Sunderland 2 Fulham 1
Jermaine Defoe has made a career plundering goals against clueless defensive outfits like Fulham. All the same, for the former England international to thrive, Gustavo Poyet must try to play Defoe in a three-pronged attack with Stephen Fletcher and Adam Johnson. The gap in class between the Premier League and Championship will prove the difference.

Southampton 2 Palace 1
Crystal Palace are enjoying the bounce that comes with a switch of manager. Alan Pardew has confounded the form-book by master-minding victories in tricky fixtures at home to Spurs and at Burnley. Enamored by the arrival of free-dribbling, free-scoring Dutch wing wizard Eljero Elia, Ronald Koeman’s Saints will prove to be a completely different ketttle of fish for the Londoners.

Man City 2 Boro 0
Aitor Karanka is doing a decent job trying to earn promotion with Boro. Nevertheless, asking the Championship high flyers to get anything from the Ettihad would be stretching it. Manuel Pellegrini will use this game to try to bring the recuperating Vincent Kompany and Sergio Aguero to full fitness. The Premiership champions should cruise to victory at a canter.

Spurs 2 Leicester 1
Tottenham are experts at snatching late victories. Christian Eriksen’s 89th minute winner in the EPL game with Sunderland, was the seventh time they have won 2-1. Mauricio Pochettino’s rotated squad will be pushed by the Foxes but I am backing Roberto Soldado, Nacer Chadli and forgotten wingers Andros Townsend and Aaron Lennon to make a difference.
Blackburn 1 Swansea 1
Swansea are hoping to use the trip to Ewood Park to wipe the humiliating 0-5 whitewash at the hands of Chelsea out of their system. Although Blackburn Rovers are a far cry from the team that illuminated English football in the mid-nineties, they have the ability to at least force a replay against a stuttering Swans squad.

Liverpool 3 Bolton 1
Despite the fixture congestion that entails back to back Capital One Cup semi-finals against Chelsea, Liverpool should have too much in the tank for Championship strugglers Bolton Wanderers. Lucas Leiva’s introduction into holding midfield is proving to be a masterstroke for the struggling English giants, who have now lost just one of the last ten matches in all competitions.

Bristol City 1 West Ham 2
The comfort of top half security means Sam Allardyce’s Hammers will be relaxed as they confront League One leaders Bristol City. West Ham have a star performer in each of the pitch, with Winston Reid, Alexander Song and Andy Carrol all doing the business for West Ham. The Premier League side will edge this feisty FA Cup encounter.

Aston Villa 1 Bournemouth 1
Bournemouth are flying high in the Championship, and will have no fear as they travel to Villa Park for this FA Cup tie. The fixture will be a contrast of styles as notoriously goal-shy Aston Villa face a Bournemouth side that scores goals for fun. I am calling for a stalemate as the lower division side causes ripples.