Key events
While we count down to Liverpool v Barnsley, there are some talking points to get through after a dramatic FA Cup weekend.
FA Cup third round: 10 talking points from the weekend’s football
FA Cup fourth-round draw in full
Premier League teams in bold
Liverpool or Barnsley v Brighton
Stoke v Fulham
Oxford v Sunderland
Southampton v Leicester
Wrexham v Ipswich
Arsenal v Wigan
Hull v Chelsea
Burton v West Ham
Burnley v Mansfield
Norwich v West Brom
Port Vale v Bristol City
Grimsby v Wolves
Aston Villa v Newcastle
Manchester City v Salford or Swindon
Macclesfield v Brentford
Birmingham v Leeds
Ties will be played from 13-16 February.
The Macclesfield manager John Rooney was a bit disappointed that he didn’t get Liverpool but he will settle for another Premier League target.
“We said before that we would have liked to get Liverpool, Chelsea, or Arsenal but another Premier League side is incredible,” he said.
Liam Rosenior heading back to Hull City with his powerful Chelsea team is nice story … and the FA Cup does love a tale.
Birmingham City v Leeds United – that’s a tasty one! That concludes the draw. Macclesfield v Brentford is a fine reward for the Palace tie while City v potentially Salford is interesting while Villa v Newcastle could well be the tie of the round. Wrexham v Ipswich is another really interesting one
No 30!! Macclesfield v Brentford. John Rooney: ‘We’ll settle for that’
Manchester City (boos from the crowd) could take on Salford if they beat Swindon
Aston Villa – a much-fancied side – get a home draw against Newcastle. That’s a decent one…
Grimsby, in League Two, will welcome Rob Edwards’s Wolves
Mansfield Town heading to Premier League Burnley
Burton Albion will welcome West Ham United
Liam Rosenior heading back to Hull City with Chelsea
Arsenal at home to Wigan Athletic
Everton-beating Sunderland will heading to Oxford
Stoke City v Fulham next up
First one: Liverpool/Barnsley (home draw cheers!) v Brighton & Hove Albion
Seems to be Steve McManaman and Joleon Lescott picking out the balls … a reminder of the numbers to look out for
30 Macclesfield
20 Salford City/Swindon Town
22 Grimsby Town
7 Wrexham
8 Chelsea
9 Manchester City
14 Liverpool/Barnsley
17 Arsenal
And spare a thought for Palace fans after this weekend … Wembley glory in May and despair in January …
News filtering through that Arne Slot will be taking this game seriously, rather than this time last year when he was run over by Jolly Green Giants.
I guess with Xabi on the market, he could do with some results.
Bit of an age-old debate with a pal of mine and it probably smacks of the effect of the Premier League/Champions League riches. If you were given the two options would you prefer a top-four place and the money from the Champions League or win the FA Cup? Tricky one …
Talking of Anfield, here’s the man of the moment waiting for the 6.35pm draw.
One of the subplots at Anfield tonight will be the former Liverpool academy players in the Barnsley side, Adam Phillips and Vimal Yoganathan. The pair came through the youth system, with Yoganathan spending seven years at the club and Phillips eight before they were released.
When the draw was made and Phillips knew he was heading back to Anfield, he told BBC Sport: “I ran upstairs screaming at my missus. I couldn’t believe it, I’m still a massive Liverpool fan. I’ll get goosebumps when You’ll Never Walk Alone is played. The dream was always to play for Liverpool but not many make it, so I’m happy to play there for Barnsley. It’ll be a special experience.”
The grand old Cup may have its detractors but one of the most attractive qualities it currently offers is a lack of VARness. Suddenly, you can actually celebrate a goal without fear of those lines or 10-minute delays while players work on their muscle injuries while standing around in the cold. VAR comes into play for every tie from the fifth round and will be available for the quarter-finals, semi-finals and the final.
Also, semi-automated offside technology (SAOT as some people like to call it) will not be used until the fifth round and then only at Premier League grounds.
The breaking news of Xabi Alonso being axed by Real Madrid may not immediately remind you of the FA Cup … but he was in the Liverpool team the last time the eight-time Cup winners played Barnsley at Anfield and suffered a shock 2-1 defeat in 2008. Everything today revolves around the FA Cup, apparently. Reflecting on that loss, this is quite a fun read from Andy Hunter – 17 years ago! Gulp
Barnsley, bird and fortune conspire to nail Benítez
And if you’re not Macc-ed out, this is another view from lifelong fan Richard Snape …
‘It’s just surreal’: jubilant Macclesfield fans reflect on FA Cup heroics
While we are in the FA Cup universe, if anybody missed this piece over the weekend, it’s worth a read from Mr Macclesfield himself John Brewin.
Macclesfield realise impossible dream in rise from ashes to a day of historic glory
‘From extinction to the impossible dream of becoming the greatest FA Cup giantkillers of all, Macclesfield’s story reminds that community will forever be football’s greatest asset.’
Preamble
Evening all, and welcome to the draw for the fourth round of the FA Cup. After a weekend of sublime shocks and ridiculous results, all eyes are on Anfield for the 6.35pm draw before Liverpool take on League One strugglers Barnsley. Reds legend Steven Gerrard and Joe Cole will be pulling out the balls with obvious attention on those Silkmen, 40 miles down the road, after their astonishing 2-1 win over the holders Crystal Palace.
Apart from the heroes from Moss Rose, there are banana skins still lurking for the 14 remaining top-flight teams. League Two’s Salford and Swindon feature after their third-round tie was frozen off while Grimsby will be eyeing another giant-killing effort following their Carabao Cup glory at the expense of Manchester United back in August (that feels like years ago now but that was THIS SEASON).
Some numbers to look out for:
30 Macclesfield
20 Salford City/Swindon Town
22 Grimsby Town
7 Wrexham
8 Chelsea
9 Manchester City
14 Liverpool/Barnsley
17 Arsenal
