FA Cup 4th Round Fixtures

by Matt Hodder⁽¹³⁾

This weekend sees the FA Cup reach the fourth round stage. With only 32 teams left in the competition we take a look at some of the key fixtures to look out for this weekend.

Liverpool v Manchester United

The key clash of this weekend’s fixtures has to be between two of England’s, and in fact Europe’s, greatest football teams.

With United having already dealt a blow to one major rival in the previous round, when they beat Manchester City 3-2 at the Etihad Stadium, they would have been praying the footballing Gods would have arranged a safe home tie against a Championship team.

That was not to be and a trip to Anfield to face one of their biggest rivals awaits them. In contrast, Liverpool sailed through their third round tie against League One’s Oldham Athletic, beating them 5-1.

With the local rivalry still simmering between these two since their altercation earlier in the season which saw Liverpool striker Luis Suarez banned for eight matches for racially abusing United defender Patrice Evra, this may prove to be the feistiest derby in recent memory.

Sunderland v Middlesbrough

Sunderland’s recent good form under new manager Martin O’Neill will be tested to the full when they meet Championship promotion hopefuls, and local rivals, Middlesbrough at the Stadium of Light.

Both teams had comfortable victories over lower league opposition in the third round. Sunderland travelled to London Road a beat Championship team Peterborough United 2-0, whilst Middlesbrough beat League Two’s Shrewsbury Town 1-0.

Can the recent good form of Sunderland forward Stephane Sessegnon be enough to propel the Premier league side into the fifth round?

Brighton v Newcastle United

Brighton scraped through into the fourth round draw by the narrowest of margins after over 200 minutes of third round action against Conference leaders Wrexham. The teams played out two entertaining 1-1 draws to ensure the match went to penalties at The Racecourse on a cold January evening. Brighton rose to the challenge by converting all five of their penalties, taking full advantage of Wrexham midfielder Dean Keates’s saved spot kick.

But now the south coast side host Newcastle United who’s form has been patchy of late. After an impressive run saw them record victories over Queens Park Rangers, Blackburn Rovers and Manchester United, they slipped to a surprising 5-2 defeat at the hands of Fulham last weekend.

Newcastle’s away form leaves a lot to be desired and with such a long way to travel to the impressive new American Express Community Stadium in Brighton, an upset may be on the cards.

FA Cup 4^th round fixtures in full:

Friday, 27 January 2012

Watford v Tottenham Hotspur

Everton v Fulham

Saturday, 28 January 2012

Queens Park Rangers v Chelsea

Liverpool v Manchester United

Blackpool v Sheffield Wednesday

Bolton Wanderers v Swansea City

Derby County v Stoke City

Hull v Crawley Town

Leicester City v Swindon Town

Millwall v Southampton

Sheffield United v Birmingham City

Stevenage v Notts County

West Brom v Norwich

Brighton v Newcastle United

Sunday, 29 January 2012

Sunderland v Middlesbrough

Arsenal v Aston Villa

Article submitted Tuesday, January 24, 2012 & read 142 times.

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