This weekend’s FA Cup fifth-round fixtures see Arsenal travel to Mansfield Town, Chelsea visit Wrexham, and Liverpool head back to Wolverhampton Wanderers, with all three Premier League sides determined to avoid embarrassing upsets. AFP Sport highlights three talking points ahead of the action:

Wrexham Get Taste of the Big Time

Owned by Hollywood stars Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney, Wrexham are used to the spotlight, but Saturday’s visit from eight-time FA Cup winners Chelsea at the Racecourse Ground gives them a chance to measure themselves against elite opposition.

Wrexham, currently sixth in the Championship, are chasing a fourth successive promotion since Reynolds and McElhenney took over in 2020. A win against Chelsea would be a landmark moment for manager Phil Parkinson’s side, who have already beaten Nottingham Forest in the third round this season.

“I think you’ve got to go into every game believing, and if not you may as well not turn up,” Parkinson said. “We’ve got to go in with belief but also an understanding of the underdog mentality and what boxes we’ve got to tick to make it as difficult as possible for Chelsea.”

Mansfield Hunting Arsenal Upset

Mansfield Town boss Nigel Clough, son of legendary manager Brian Clough, has the chance to create FA Cup history when Premier League leaders Arsenal visit Field Mill on Saturday.

Nigel Clough has guided Mansfield to the last 16 of the FA Cup for the first time in 51 years after a fourth-round win over Burnley. Currently 16th in League One, Mansfield would achieve a remarkable feat by knocking out the league leaders.

“We actually drew them in the Youth Cup here earlier this season, and they won 4-0. There were two or three players playing that night that would cause us problems in our first team, such is the quality that they have,” Clough said.

Liverpool Must Bite Back at Wolves

Liverpool return to Wolverhampton Wanderers on Friday aiming to bounce back after a shock 2-1 Premier League defeat. Captain Virgil van Dijk branded the performance “slow and predictable” following Wolves’ rare win this season, secured by a late strike from Andre.

Despite spending £450 million on new signings, Liverpool’s title defence has faltered, leaving the FA Cup and Champions League as their last opportunities for silverware. Sixth in the league, they have been hampered by injuries, with manager Arne Slot acknowledging the challenges: “It’s the model that we don’t have 25 players over here. Then it hurts even more if you have three or four long-term injuries at the moment.”

The Reds will be desperate to right the wrongs of their recent defeat and keep their FA Cup hopes alive.