In a dramatic draw for the FA Cup fourth round, holders Manchester City find themselves facing a formidable challenge to continue their title defense. The draw pits them against Tottenham Hotspur, and notably, City has struggled in their previous visits to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, failing to secure a victory in five attempts since the stadium’s opening in 2019.
Tottenham, coming off a hard-fought 1-0 win over Burnley, had a memorable clash against Manchester City in December, securing a 3-3 draw with a late goal at the Etihad. The upcoming encounter promises to be a showdown between two football giants, with City eager to break their goal-scoring drought at Spurs’ home ground.
Meanwhile, Manchester United, fresh from a 3-0 victory over Wigan, awaits the outcome of the clash between non-league side Eastleigh and League Two’s Newport County. The two teams are set for a third-round replay on January 16, and the winner will face the Red Devils in the fourth round.
The draw also features an enticing match between Chelsea and Aston Villa, adding another layer of excitement to the upcoming FA Cup fourth round fixtures. Chelsea, a force to be reckoned with, will be tested by the resilience of Aston Villa in what promises to be a thrilling encounter.
Maidstone, the only other non-league side still in contention, embarks on a journey to face Championship high-flyers Ipswich, setting the stage for a captivating clash between the underdogs and a strong second-tier team.
The draw in full reveals several intriguing matchups, including Premier League leaders Liverpool hosting either Norwich or Bristol Rovers. Liverpool, having secured a 2-0 victory over Arsenal in the third round, is set to face a challenging opponent in the next stage.
FA Cup fourth round draw
The FA Cup fourth round ties are scheduled to take place over the weekend of January 26-29. Football enthusiasts can anticipate an action-packed weekend with top-tier teams battling for supremacy and potential upsets brewing in the background. The road to FA Cup glory intensifies, and fans are in for a treat as the competition progresses.
Watford v Southampton.
Blackburn v Wrexham
Bournemouth v Swansea.
West Brom v Brentford or Wolves
West Ham or Bristol City v Nottingham Forest or Blackpool.
Leicester v Hull or Birmingham.
Sheffield Wednesday v Coventry.
Chelsea v Aston Villa
Ipswich v Maidstone.
Liverpool v Norwich or Bristol Rovers.
Tottenham v Manchester City
Leeds v Plymouth
Crystal Palace or Everton v Luton or Bolton
Newport or Eastleigh v Wigan or Manchester United
Sheffield United v Brighton
Fulham v Newcastle.
Editors pick
