FA Cup: Favourites set for easy progress after fifth round draw
Published:After defeating Manchester United in their fourth round game, Liverpool have been rewarded with a last 16 game against Championship side Brighton.
The Reds saw off United 2-1 on Saturday and now face the south coast side in the fifth round.
However, while Kenny Dalglish’s men will rightly be big favourites to progress, the Reds have lost two of their last three FA Cup home games against lower league opposition.
They lost to Barnsely in 2008 and Reading in 2010.
This is a Liverpool side who have performed well in all their cup games this season though and they should have more than enough to go through.
Meanwhile, Harry Redknapp’s miserable week got a lot better after his Tottenham side were drawn out of the hat to play League One side Stevenage in their fifth round game.
Chelsea will host Championship side Birmingham after their narrow win over Queens Park Rangers on Saturday and, with the Blues’ brilliant FA Cup pedigree over recent years, they should sweep into the last 16.
Elsewhere, Crawley Town will travel to Stoke while the only potential all-Premier League tie will see the winners of the replay between Sunderland and Middleborough face the victors out of Arsenal’s fourth round game with Aston Villa.
With the likes of Manchester United and City out of the cup, this represents a great chance for the teams just below them to add some silverware this season and they should all have comfortable games in the next round.
FA Cup fifth round draw
Liverpool v Brighton
Everton v Blackpool or Sheffield Wednesday
Chelsea v Birmingham
Crawley Town v Stoke
Stevenage v Tottenham
Norwich v Leicester
Sunderland or Middlesbrough v Arsenal or Aston Villa
Millwall or Southampton v Bolton
