The FA Cup fourth round has delivered a pair of eye-catching all-Premier League clashes after Monday night’s draw, with Liverpool hosting Brighton & Hove Albion and
Aston Villa welcoming Newcastle United to Villa Park.
The draw, made at Anfield ahead of Liverpool’s emphatic 4–1 third-round win over Barnsley, leaves 14 Premier League clubs still battling for a place in English football’s oldest and most famous cup competition.
Big Premier League clashes confirmed
Liverpool and Brighton will meet at Anfield in what promises to be one of the standout ties of the round, while Aston Villa and Newcastle renew their rivalry in Birmingham. Those two fixtures ensure that at least two top-flight sides will exit the competition before the fifth round.
Elsewhere, Arsenal, who continue to challenge at the top of the Premier League, have been handed a home tie against Wigan Athletic, while Manchester City will host either Salford City or Swindon Town, whose third-round replay takes place on 20 January. City were runners-up in last season’s FA Cup final, losing to Crystal Palace.
Chelsea face a tricky away trip to Hull City, and West Ham travel to Burton Albion.
Third-round shocks still fresh
The fourth-round draw follows a dramatic third round that saw several Premier League sides fall. Aston Villa, Brighton, Newcastle and Sunderland all progressed at the expense of Tottenham Hotspur, Manchester United, Bournemouth and Everton respectively.
There were further surprises as Crystal Palace were eliminated by non-league Macclesfield, while Nottingham Forest were beaten on penalties by Wrexham, who now host Ipswich Town in the next round.
Full FA Cup fourth-round draw
- Liverpool v Brighton
- Stoke City v Fulham
- Oxford United v Sunderland
- Southampton v Leicester City
- Wrexham v Ipswich Town
- Arsenal v Wigan Athletic
- Hull City v Chelsea
- Burton Albion v West Ham
- Burnley v Mansfield Town
- Norwich City v West Brom
- Port Vale v Bristol City
- Grimsby v Wolves
- Aston Villa v Newcastle
- Man City v Salford City or Swindon Town
- Macclesfield v Brentford
- Birmingham City v Leeds United
Salford City vs Swindon Town third-round tie to be played on 20 January.
When are the matches?
The fourth-round ties will be played over the weekend of Saturday 14 and Sunday 15 February, fitting between Premier League Matchweeks 26 and 27.
As in previous rounds, there will be no replays. Any match level after 90 minutes will go to extra time and, if required, a penalty shootout.
The road to Wembley
- Fourth round: 14 February
- Fifth round: 7 March
- Quarter-finals: 4 April
- Semi-finals: 25 April
- Final: 16 May
The FA Cup winners will earn automatic qualification for the UEFA Europa League, adding further incentive as the competition moves into its decisive stages. Photo by Jstirling95, Wikimedia commons.