Rooney's Derby could face Man Utd in fifth round
Wayne Rooney has been handed the chance of facing his former club – if Derby County can overcome Northampton in their FA Cup fourth-round replay.
Manchester United were paired with a trip to either Rooney’s current Championship side or Keith Curle’s League Two Northampton in the fifth round draw. Rooney – after signing for Derby in the January window – has already had a hand in disposing of a Premier League side, playing a key role in the 1-0 third-round victory over Crystal Palace earlier this month.
United’s all-time top scorer enjoyed a glittering 13-year career at Old Trafford before returning to Everton in 2017. The FA Cup holders Manchester City will travel to Sheffield Wednesday while the runaway Premier League leaders Liverpool could face a trip to Stamford Bridge, if their second-string side can see off League One Shrewsbury at Anfield.
Jürgen Klopp confirmed on Sunday that he will play a young side in the February replay as the first team will be enjoying their winter break. Championship leaders West Brom’s reward for beating West Ham is a home tie against Newcastle or Oxford. Mark Dobson
FA Cup fifth-round draw
Sheffield Wednesday v Manchester City
Reading/Cardiff v Sheffield United
Chelsea v Shrewsbury/Liverpool
West Brom v Newcastle/Oxford
Leicester v Coventry/Birmingham
Northampton/Derby v Man Utd
Southampton/Tottenham v Norwich
Portsmouth v Arsenal
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And with that, this liveblog is concluded. Do join me for Bournemouth v Arsenal here. Bye!
So the fifth-round draw in full looks like this:
- Sheffield Wednesday v Manchester City
- Reading or Cardiff City v Sheffield United
- Chelsea v Shrewsbury Town or Liverpool
- West Bromwich Albion v Newcastle United or Oxford United
- Leicester City v Coventry City or Birmingham City
- Northampton Town or Derby County v Manchester United
- Southampton or Tottenham Hotspur v Norwich City
- Portsmouth v Bournemouth or Arsenal
Portsmouth will be at home to the winner’s of tonight’s game between Bournemouth or Arsenal.
In the round’s first guaranteed all-Premier League clash, Southampton or Tottenham are at home to Norwich City!
Northampton or Derby will host Manchester United in round five!
In a city-heavy clash Premier League Leicester City will be at home to Coventry City or Birmingham City.
West Bromwich Albion have been drawn at home to Newcastle United or Oxford United.
Potential big team clash alert! Chelsea are at home to Shrewsbury Town or Liverpool!
Next up, Reading/Cardiff v Sheffield United. Not hanging around, those Sheffield sides.
The first pairing is Sheffield Wednesday v Manchester City! One for the TV cameras, that one.
The draw is very much about to happen. Ball-pluckers Glen Johnson and Teddy Sheringham are being introduced as I type.
Confusingly, I’m also currently liveblogging the Bournemouth v Arsenal game. That’s here, should you wish to pop over at some point:
The FA Cup’s own live show is live on Twitter now. Currently, Shrewsbury’s Josh Laurent is being interviewed live from his sofa, clearly broadcasting from his phone and with his finger blocking most of the camera.
Hello world!
Teddy Sheringham and Glen Johnson will be tonight’s drawmasters. Will the fifth round bring a lovely day for your club? We can only hope it’s lovelier than this Lovely Day, from Sheringham’s last television appearance (that’s him in the tree suit):
You’ll be wanting to know which ball numbers to look out for, and here they all are:
1 Manchester United
2 Chelsea
3 Southampton or Tottenham Hotspur
4 Sheffield Wednesday
5 Bournemouth or Arsenal
6 Northampton Town or Derby County
7 Leicester City
8 Sheffield United
9 Reading or Cardiff City
10 West Bromwich Albion
11 Norwich City
12 Coventry City or Birmingham City
13 Manchester City
14 Newcastle United or Oxford United
15 Portsmouth
16 Shrewsbury Town or Liverpool
If you want to watch it yourself, it’s on the FA Cup’s Twitter channel (it’s the future, don’t you know) as well as BBC1 (not so much). But I’ll be doing by very best to tell you everything you need to know as quick as it could possibly be told. So welcome, drawlovers.
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