Utd to face Reds as Cheltenham host City in FA Cup 4th round

Manchester United will face Liverpool in the blockbuster tie of the FA Cup fourth round, while League Two Cheltenham host Manchester City.

Liverpool and United will clash for two consecutive weekends with the top two also facing off in the Premier League on Sunday.

National League North side Chorley’s reward for their victory over a depleted Derby was a home tie with Premier League Wolves.

Chorley manager Jamie Vermiglio told BBC Sport: “That’s what we really wanted, Premier League opposition, great.

“And there’s a bit of history because in 1986, Chorley played against Wolves at home and beat them 3-0, so we just need to do that again.”

Should Chorley pull off another upset, they could face holders Arsenal in the fifth round.

League Two Crawley, who thrashed Leeds 3-0 in the third round, travel to Bournemouth.

The fourth round ties will be played across the weekend of January 22 to 25 with the fifth round taking place between February 9 to 11.

Meanwhile, West Ham needed Craig Dawson’s first goal for the club seven minutes from time to beat non-league Stockport 1-0 and reach the FA Cup fourth round on Monday.

Hazardous conditions under torrential rain helped the National League side bravely hold out against the Hammers, who are just three points off the top four of the Premier League.

David Moyes named a strong side containing seven internationals, but the fireworks off the pitch that momentarily halted play outdid the action on it in the first-half.

Michail Antonio and Said Benrahma were guilty of missing big chances as the visitors cranked the pressure up in the second-half.

West Ham were finally rewarded when Dawson met Jarrod Bowen’s cross with a powerful header to set up a fourth-round meeting with Doncaster.

Elsewhere, Crystal Palace winger Eberechi Eze has admitted “an error of judgement” by attending former club Queens Park Rangers’ FA Cup tie against Fulham on Saturday in the latest breach of coronavirus regulations by a Premier League player.

Palace said they were unaware of QPR’s invitation to Eze and will speak to the England under-21 international after he was seen in the stands at Loftus Road without wearing a mask.

“QPR have acknowledged they made a mistake in hosting Eberechi Eze in the directors’ box at Saturday’s FA Cup match against Fulham without our knowledge,” Palace said in a statement on Monday.

“Whilst we recognise Eberechi’s desire to support his former team mates, he accepts it was an error of judgement to attend the match.

“We were also concerned to see pictures of Eberechi not wearing a mask at certain moments and are speaking to him about these apparent lapses, which will be dealt with internally.”

Palace captain Luka Milivojevic was among a host of Premier League stars, including Tottenham trio Erik Lamela, Sergio Reguilon and Giovani Lo Celso and Manchester City’s Benjamin Mendy pictured breaching Covid rules by attending parties over the festive period.

A record 40 positive cases were detected among Premier League players and staff last week.

Britain is back under national lockdown with infection rates soaring due to a new highly infectious strain of the virus. Elite sport has been allowed to continue despite the restrictions.

Aston Villa’s clash with Tottenham, scheduled for Wednesday, became the fifth Premier League match postponed in the last two months on Monday due to outbreaks.

However, Newcastle manager Steve Bruce is among those to have questioned whether it is morally right for football to continue given the current infection rate.

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta and Man City boss Pep Guardiola also questioned on Monday the privileged position offered to football.

“Morally, with the situation we have in this country and worldwide, to keep doing what we are doing is a little bit of a strange feeling,” said Arteta. “We know what we can bring to society if we are able to do it in safe way.”

Sheffield United manager Chris Wilder said he would not be surprised if the Premier League is forced to stop in the coming weeks.

“Everyone knows the situation and if it gets suspended I don’t think it’d be a surprise,” said Wilder.

“We’ll just go with what the Government and Premier League have to say and, if it’s the case to carry on, we’ll carry on.

“But I don’t think I’m being controversial if I say I don’t think anyone would be surprised if we don’t carry on with the way it’s sweeping through the country.”

Agencies