Matt Scott
Gerard Houllier and Bobby Robson were yesterday handed the sort of pressure tie they had both hoped to avoid as Liverpool were drawn to play Newcastle at Anfield in the FA Cup fourth round. Set against their stuttering campaigns to be among next year's Champions League qualifiers, the fixture will be a microcosm of all the strain of a season.
Both managers have received public warnings from their chairmen regarding their teams' unsatisfactory recent performances and each will have considered a long and lucrative run in the FA Cup as a means of pacifying their disgruntled directors and supporters. That will not now be possible for one of the two clubs, and the former Liverpool striker Ian Rush, who also had a brief spell at Newcastle, believes it is currently advantage to Houllier.
"The most important thing is to get a home tie," said Rush. "Newcastle are a big side but I think it's great for football as they are both attacking sides."
Following the exits of five Premiership sides at the weekend, with Chelsea, Wolves, Manchester City and Leicester also facing replays next Tuesday and Wednesday four more from the top flight are certain to be knocked out before the fifth round of the competition.
The holders Arsenal will face Middlesbrough, Fulham travel to Everton and the winner of the Manchester City-Leicester replay will meet Tottenham at White Hart Lane. Arsenal were also drawn against Middlesbrough in the League Cup semi-final, prompting a period of increasing familiarity between the two clubs and their fans.
Along with their Premiership meeting on Saturday, their FA Cup tie ensures the two teams will meet each other four times in 18 days. The surviving non-league teams - Telford, Accrington Stanley and Scarborough - will have mixed feelings about their fourth-round draws.
The Conference sides Accrington and Scarborough must first progress from replays with Colchester and Southend respectively, but could have the opportunity to play former FA Cup winners if they succeed. Scarborough would face the side that emerges from the replay between the three-times winners Chelsea and the 1984 runners-up Watford, with Accrington heading to the home of the 1987 winners, first division Coventry.
Telford, who knocked out first division Crewe at Gresty Road on Saturday and disposed of second division Bournemouth in the second round, found little to celebrate in their draw at home to Millwall.
"I am a bit disappointed," said the Telford midfielder Fitzroy Simpson. "Obviously we were looking for a Premiership team like Manchester United or Liverpool. You always want one of the big boys but we're looking forward to it."
Kidderminster, who must travel to Molineux for their replay with Wolves next Tuesday, will get the chance for revenge if they progress to a fourth-round tie with West Ham. Ten years ago Harriers were the last non-league team to reach the FA Cup fifth round, from which they were knocked out by the London club.
Guardian Service
FACupOdds
3-1 Arsenal, Manchester Utd; 10-3 Chelsea; 12-1 Liverpool; 14-1 Birmingham City; 20-1 Everton, Newcastle Utd, Tottenham; 25-1 Bolton Wanderers; 28-1 Fulham, Portsmouth; 33-1 Manchester City; 40-1 Ipswich, Leicester City, West Ham; 50-1 Middlesbrough, Millwall; 66-1 Nottingham Forest, Sheffield Utd, Wolverhampton; 80-1 Burnley, Sunderland; 100-1 Coventry, Gillingham, Reading; 150-1 Stoke; 200-1 Preston; 250-1 Luton, Swansea; 300-1 Barnsley, Tranmere, Wimbledon; 500-1 Colchester, Scunthorpe; 750-1 Watford; 1,000-1 Kidderminster, Rotherham, Telford; 1,500-1 Southend; 2,000-1 Accrington Stanley, Northampton; 2,500-1 Scarborough.
