Scouse Test on Wembley March

Fifth Round Draw
By Chris O'Brien
February 2 2006

Manchester United visit Anfield in the fifth round of the F.A Cup to face 'European Champions' Liverpool. The Red Devils are anxious to reach the final, hopefully to be staged at the new Wembley, and erase memories of last year's injustice at the Millennium Stadium.

Manchester United picked up, arguably, the worst possible but most eagerly anticipated tie in the draw for the fifth round of the F.A Cup. Sir Alex Ferguson's men have been paired against Liverpool at Anfield in a derby game that looks the headline clash of the round.

Rafael Benitez's Liverpool, who recently brought Robbie Fowler back to Merseyside, reached this stage of the famous competition with a hard-fought win at Portsmouth, whilst United comfortably brushed past Wolverhampton Wanderers with an emphatic 3-0 victory.

Between them, the two clubs have won the competition an amazing 17 times, and now meet in the last 16 both desperate to continue on the road to the new Wembley Stadium for May's final. United edged out the Scousers 1-0 in a recent Premiership clash, with Rio Ferdinand heading home the winner in stoppage time.

Colchester United and Brentford, the minnows of the draw, have both been handed away days at Premiership opposition. Promotion-chasing Colchester will visit the winners of a replay between Chelsea and Everton at Stamford Bridge, whilst the Bees journey across London to face Charlton Athletic at the Valley.

The complete draw is as follows, with ties to take place on the weekend of the 18th of February:

Preston/Crystal Palace v. Coventry/Middlesbrough
Newcastle United v. Southampton
Aston Villa v. Manchester City
Everton/Chelsea v. Colchester United
Charlton Athletic v. Brentford
Liverpool v. Manchester United
Bolton v. West Ham
Stoke City v. Reading/Birmingham City