Chelsea will face Port Vale in the FA Cup quarter-finals, a match steeped in history as the two teams last met in April 1929, when Port Vale secured a 1-0 victory. This time, Chelsea aims to continue their dominance, having never lost to Port Vale at home in seven previous encounters, with six wins and one draw.
Historically, Chelsea has been formidable in the FA Cup, progressing from 64 of their last 66 ties against teams outside the Premier League. They could reach the semi-finals without facing a top-flight opponent for the fourth time under the current format, a testament to their consistent performance in the tournament.
Port Vale, on the other hand, is looking to make history of their own. This marks their second appearance in the FA Cup quarter-finals, the first being in the 1953-54 season. They are aiming to eliminate two Premier League clubs in a single FA Cup campaign, a feat last achieved by Wigan Athletic in the 2017-18 season.
Chelsea’s João Pedro has been a standout player, scoring seven goals in his last seven FA Cup appearances, which could prove crucial in this knockout stage. Meanwhile, Port Vale will be keen to break their away game curse against Chelsea, having never won in their seven attempts at Stamford Bridge.
In another quarter-final matchup, Manchester City will host Liverpool, marking the seventh FA Cup tie between these two clubs. Manchester City has been in exceptional form, winning their last 17 home matches in the FA Cup and 31 consecutive matches outside of semi-finals and finals.
Liverpool, however, has a strong record in quarter-finals, having progressed from 17 of their last 19 ties. This sets the stage for a thrilling encounter as both teams vie for a spot in the semi-finals.
As the matches approach, observers are eager to see if Chelsea can maintain their historical edge over Port Vale and if Manchester City can continue their impressive streak against Liverpool. Details remain unconfirmed regarding the exact date and location of these fixtures.
