United host Liverpool in Cup cracker
THE greatest rivalry in English football will take centre stage in the fourth round of the FA Cup later this month.
Premier League champions Liverpool will tackle 12-time FA Cup winners Manchester United at Old Trafford.
The two giants are currently locked at the top of the league.
National League North side Chorley’s reward for their victory over a depleted Derby is a home tie with Premier League Wolves.
League Two Crawley, who dumped Leeds out on Sunday, face a trip to Championship promotion hopefuls Bournemouth.
Crawley’s fourth-tier counterparts Cheltenham have, meanwhile, been rewarded for their win over Mansfield with a home tie against Premier League giants Manchester City.
Tottenham, 5-0 third-round winners at Marine of the Northern Premier League North West Division, are on the road again, with Championship strugglers Wycombe this time providing the opposition.
Should Chorley pull off a shock against Wolves, they could have another big date ahead of them after the fifth round draw, also made last night, pitched the winners in battle with either Southampton, Shrewsbury or 14time winners Arsenal.
The victors in the Manchester United v Liverpool showdown will face West Ham or Doncaster, while either Wycombe or Tottenham will travel to the winners of the Everton v Sheffield Wednesday tie.
Reacting to the draw, Chorley manager Jamie Vermiglio admitted: “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.”
There was little time for Vermiglio and his players to dream about what might lie ahead, with this evening’s league clash with Leamington the immediate priority.
The manager added: “We’ll prepare for Leamington and then we’ve got a few other games, and then we’ve got to prepare for that.
“It’s just tough, though, to keep them focused on the league, which is our priority.”
Fourth round draw: Cheltenham v Manchester City, Bournemouth v Crawley, Swansea v Nottingham Forest, Manchester United v Liverpool, Southampton or Shrewsbury v Arsenal, Barnsley v Norwich, Chorley v Wolves, Millwall v Bristol City Brighton v Blackpool, Wycombe v Tottenham, Fulham v Burnley, Sheffield United v Plymouth, Chelsea v Luton, West Ham v Doncaster, Brentford v Leicester, Everton v Sheffield Wednesday. Ties to be played January 22-25
Fifth round draw: Fulham or Burnley v Bournemouth or Crawley, Manchester United or Liverpool v West Ham or Doncaster, Sheffield United or Plymouth v Millwall or Bristol City, Chorley or Wolves v Southampton or Shrewsbury or Arsenal, Barnsley or Norwich v Chelsea or Luton, Everton or Sheffield Wednesday v Wycombe or Tottenham, Swansea or Nottingham Forest v Cheltenham or Manchester City, Brentford or Leicester v Brighton or Blackpool. Ties to be played February 9-11.