FA Cup 4th Rd : Dramatic cup draw sets up race row replays
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Fourth Round draw
Man Utd land Liverpool trip
January 8, 2012By ESPNsoccernet staffManchester United's reward for beating Manchester City in the FA Cup was a Fourth Round trip to Anfield to take on Liverpool.
More to follow...
The ties will be played on January 28, 29 and 30.
Brighton or Wrexham v Newcastle
Sunderland v Middlesbrough
Dagenham & Redbridge or Millwall v Southampton
Hull City v Crawley Town
MK Dons or QPR v Chelsea
West Brom v Norwich
Blackpool v Sheffield Wednesday
Arsenal or Leeds v Aston Villa
Stevenage v Notts County
Watford v Tottenham
Liverpool v Manchester United
Derby v Stoke
Everton v Fulham
Macclesfield or Bolton v Swansea
Sheffield United v Birmingham or Wolves
Nottingham Forest or Leicester v Swindon
You could not make this up. It's Liverpool v Manchester United. Champagne corks will be popping at FA headquarters, you can be sure of that. Luis Suarez will be suspended. The games will take place on 28/29 January.
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Dramatic cup draw sets up race row replays in Manchester and London
Going round again: Sir Alex Ferguson and nKenny Dalglish will meet in the FA Cup fourth-roundManchester United were handed a potentially explosive FA Cup fourth-round tie at Liverpool.
The two clubs have been in open conflict since Liverpool striker Luis Suarez was banned for eight matches for racially abusing United captain Patrice Evra.
And, in another remarkable twist, if QPR beat MK Dons in a third-round replay, they must face Chelsea for the first time since John Terry was accused of racially abusing Rangers defender Anton Ferdinand last October.
Although Suarez will still be suspended for the tie at Anfield on the weekend of January 28 and 29, United legend Paddy Crerand fears the worst.
He said: ‘This is a dreadful draw - the last things the two clubs need. It will be a really nasty atmosphere. It will be a new level, beyond what we have seen before.
‘I love Kenny Dalglish but he has not handled this situation as well as he should have. He was raised in Glasgow among all that bigotry and he should have known better than to let Liverpool deal with this situation the way they have.
‘Liverpool are a great club, a really great club and their supporters are good, working-class people. But they will surely look back at this episode one day and realise it was wrong. I can’t even look forward to this game. It’s too soon. Feelings will still be running too high.
‘If people thought the tension and spite between City and United fans was bad this weekend then they haven’t seen anything yet.’
The two sides will face each other again in the Premier League at Old Trafford two weeks later when Suarez will be available.
Former Liverpool captain Phil Thompson urged the two clubs to show respect to each other, adding: ‘I actually think it is good to get it out of the way before Liverpool’s trip to Old Trafford on February 11.’
Terry’s return to Loftus Road would be particularly badly timed. He is facing a criminal charge of using racist language towards Ferdinand, an accusation he strongly denies. The case is due to open on February 1, just days after the game.
West Brom host Norwich and Everton welcome Fulham to Goodison Park.
United we stand: The Red side of Manchester were the ones left celebrating on third round weekend
Arsenal will be at home to Aston Villa if they can overcome Leeds at the Emirates Stadium, while Bolton will take on Swansea at the Reebok Stadium if they see off Macclesfield in a replay.
Tottenham, who last won the FA Cup 21 years ago, will play Watford at Vicarage Road.
Sunderland's reward for beating Peterborough is a home draw against local rivals Middlesbrough, while Newcastle will face the winner of the replay between Wrexham and Brighton.
Black Cats manager Martin O'Neill, reacting to the draw, said: 'It's a tough one but we're at home anyway. I wonder what (former Middlesbrough midfielder) Lee Cattermole thinks of it.
'It will mean something to the supporters who have stayed on here and cheered us off and maybe Lee himself.'
Heading through: Sunderland beat Peterborough on Sunday and now take on Middlesbrough in the fourth round