The FA Cup returns this weekend with 32 teams in action across four days in the fourth round of the competition.
Macclesfield FC were the talk of the country in the third round after they knocked out holders Crystal Palace in one of the greatest FA Cup shocks in history. Now they are back bidding to boot out Brentford.
The fourth round also sees Liam Rosenior reunite with former club Hull, neighbours Manchester City and Salford meet for the second successive season, and Arsenal – void of a fifth round appearance since 2019-20 – host 2013 victors Wigan, who are now in League one.
Read on for the stats you might see from a selection of FA Cup fourth round fixtures.
Stats you might see
Hull vs Chelsea
- Chelsea could set a new record for the best 100% progress rate over one team in FA Cup history.
Liam Rosenior takes his new employers, Chelsea, to the home of his former employers, Hull City, on Friday night in a fixture that Chelsea have absolutely dominated with 26 wins and just one defeat from 35 meetings in all competitions.
It’s been even more one-sided in the FA Cup, where Chelsea have emerged victorious in all eight meetings, which is currently the joint best 100% progress rate by a team against another in FA Cup history, along with Leicester City against Birmingham City – meaning another win on Friday will set a new outright record.
On top of that, it’s worth noting that Chelsea have progressed from 62 of their last 64 FA Cup ties against sides from outside the Premier League.
Wrexham vs Ipswich
- Wrexham are looking to progress through to the FA Cup fifth round for the first time since 1996-97.
Two Championship promotion rivals lock horns in the FA Cup on Friday night, when Wrexham host Ipswich Town.
Wrexham head into the game looking to book their place in the FA Cup fifth round for the first time since the 1996-97 season, when they reached the quarter-finals.
The Red Dragons can draw on a fantastic recent home record in the competition, having gone nine FA Cup ties unbeaten in front of their home fans since 2013, including a penalty shoot-out triumph over Nottingham Forest in the previous round.
Manchester City vs Salford City
- Salford City are bidding to become the first fourth-division-or-lower club to knock out a top-three top-flight side since 1971.
Manchester City and neighbours Salford City look horns for the second successive season. City crushed the League Two side 8-0 in the third-round last term and another one-sided contest seems likely, especially considering that City have won each of their last 20 FA Cup matches against sides outside the Premier League, including all 11 at home.
However, if Salford – who are appearing in the fourth round for the first time – conjure up the shock of shocks, they will become the first fourth-division (or lower) team to knock out a top-three top-flight side since Colchester stunned Leeds in 1971.
Liverpool vs Brighton
- If Liverpool lose they will extend their unwanted record of being eliminated in the fourth round the most times – currently 13 – of any club in the Premier League era.
Liverpool host Brighton at Anfield this weekend, with the visitors seeking a much-needed lift after a disappointing run in the league. The Seagulls can draw confidence from their victory over Manchester United at Old Trafford in the third round, which was their seventh win in their last eight FA Cup away days.
The fourth round has often proved somewhat troublesome for Liverpool. The Reds have been knocked out in six of their last nine FA Cup ties at this stage, including last season’s shock defeat to Plymouth.
In fact, Liverpool have suffered 13 fourth round eliminations in the Premier League era, which is more than any other top-flight club.
Arsenal vs Wigan Athletic
- Arsenal are gunning to reach the FA Cup fifth round for the first time since 2019-20, when they went on to lift the trophy.
Arsenal remain in contention to win an unprecedented Quadruple and are as short as 1/12 to beat League One strugglers Wigan at the Emirates on Sunday afternoon.
Arsenal have won the most FA Cups in history, with a record 14 in their trophy cabinet. However, the Gunners have notably struggled in recent years, failing to progress through to the fifth round since 2019-20, when they last lifted the trophy.
Macclesfield FC vs Brentford
- Macclesfield FC could become the first non-league team to knock out two top-flight sides in one FA Cup season since Millwall in 1913-14.
Macclesfield FC produced one of, if not the greatest, shock in FA Cup history after they stunned holders Crystal Palace in the third round. The National League North side is now bidding to whip up another giant killing in the fourth round on Monday night when they take on another Premier League side in Brentford.
Only twice in FA Cup history have top-flight sides lost to non-league sides in the fourth round – Sunderland against Yeovil in 1948-49 and Norwich against Luton in 2012-13 – so history is stacked against the hosts.
However, Macclesfield will feel like anything is possible and, if they do achieve the unthinkable, they will become the first non-league team to knock out two top-flight sides in one FA Cup season since Millwall way back in 1913-14.
