Holders Chelsea will face a rejuvenated Manchester United in the Fifth Round of the FA Cup with both club’s under pressure to win the competition after falling out of contention in the Premier League title race.
Neither Chelsea manager Maurizio Sarri or his United counter part Ole Gunnar Solskjaer will welcome the draw. United are the top flight’s in form team and have already beaten Arsenal away from home to advance this far, while Chelsea, who beat United in last year’s final, have been through a sticky patch since Christmas before a comfortable win over Sheffield Wednesday last weekend
The pairing of two members of the so-called Big Six means Manchester City will remain the bookies favourites to lift the trophy, particularly as they will take on lower league opposition, awaiting the outcome of a replay between Championship promotion chasers Middlesbrough and League Two Newport County.
Wimbledon’s reward for their brilliant victory over West Ham is a home tie against Championship strugglers Millwall, a south London derby which, although not the glamour tie the League One’s bottom club will have wanted, gives them every chance of reaching the quarter finals.
The third South London side left in the competition, Crystal Palace, will travel to League One outfit Doncaster and will be confident of reaching the last eight for the second time in three years, having lost to Manchester United in the final in 2016.
Brighton will be at home to Frank Lampard’s Derby County if they can beat West Bromwich Albion in a replay next week, while Watford, who will be many people’s dark horses given their excellent league campaign, will travel to Portsmouth after their impressive win at Newcastle United.
The will be challenged for the dark horses tag, however, by Wolverhampton Wanderers who, having survived a scare against Shrewsbury Town, will take on Bristol City if they can get through a replay.
All fifth round ties will take place between 15-18 February.
Bristol City vs Shrewsbury OR Wolves
AFC Wimbledon vs Millwall
Doncaster Rovers vs Crystal Palace
Middlesbrough OR Newport vs Manchester City
Chelsea vs Manchester United
Swansea City vs Barnet OR Brentford
Portsmouth OR QPR vs Watford
Brighton OR West Brom vs Derby County