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Swansea-Manchester City Preview: FA Cup Returns

By J.C. Gonzalez

LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 07: Rodri of Manchester City runs with the ball during the Premier League match between Liverpool and Manchester City at Anfield on February 07, 2021 in Liverpool, England. Sporting stadiums around the UK remain under strict restrictions due to the Coronavirus Pandemic as Government social distancing laws prohibit fans inside venues resulting in games being played behind closed doors. (Photo by Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images)
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 07: Rodri of Manchester City runs with the ball during the Premier League match between Liverpool and Manchester City at Anfield on February 07, 2021 in Liverpool, England. Sporting stadiums around the UK remain under strict restrictions due to the Coronavirus Pandemic as Government social distancing laws prohibit fans inside venues resulting in games being played behind closed doors. (Photo by Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images) /
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Manchester City will head to Wales to face Championship side Swansea City at the Liberty Stadium in the FA Cup fifth round. The Citizens have the chance to make history in this match, as they have won 14 consecutive games across all competitions, which has equaled the all-time English top-flight record.

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Overall, City are unbeaten across their last 21 and look clearly to be the country’s most in-form side, and will be massive favorites. The Blues have had a close encounter with Swansea in the FA Cup as recently as 2019, where City trailed 2-0 after 29 minutes at the Liberty Stadium before mounting a furious comeback to save their eventual domestic quadruple-winning year.

City are in top form and remain alive in all four major competitions. The FA Cup is hardly the team’s top priority this season, but regaining the trophy following their shock exit at the semi-final stage a year ago would be another impressive achievement for this season’s arrival.

Swansea currently sit third in the Championship and just two points off the league summit with a game in hand. They are well in the mix to return to the Premier League for the first time since their relegation in 2017-18, and will surely give City a fight at home. Given the fixtures continuing at a blistering pace, it could be an opportunity for City to give some rotational players a run in the side while still remaining favorites.

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Predicted XI: Zack Steffen (GK), João Cancelo (RB), John Stones (CB), Aymeric Laporte (CB), Benjamin Mendy (LB), Fernandinho (CDM), Rodri (CDM), Bernardo Silva (CAM), Ferran Torres (RW), Gabriel Jesus (ST), Raheem Sterling (LW)