Football: Liverpool to meet old icon

Giant-killing will be at a premium in the fourth round of the Coca-Cola Cup, after yesterday's draw pitted several of the leading Premiership sides against each other.

Newcastle, the Premiership leaders whose two late goals at St James' Park on Tuesday accounted for Manchester United's teen-packed side, will visit Manchester City, while Liverpool go to Blackburn Rovers for an encounter with their former player, manager and all- round hero, Kenny Dalglish.

Liverpool were beaten 3-2 at Ewood Park a fortnight ago, and will meet a side for whom recent inglorious Uefa Cup defeat to Trelleborgs will act only as a stimulus in the pursuit of European competition.

Newcastle, too, will find their visit to Maine Road more problematic than in recent times. City are unbeaten at home this season, with 18 goals in the last five games.

The holders Aston Villa, struggling in the League, will have no easy task against the renascent Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park. Arsenal, meanwhile, will set up a repeat of the 1993 final against Sheffield Wednesday, presuming they beat Oldham in their replay.

The giant-killers of the third round, Notts County, whose 3-0 victory over Tottenham brought nearer the likelihood of an exit for Ossie Ardiles, were rewarded with a tricky visit to the winners of the replay between Norwich and Tranmere.

The third-round replays - Arsenal v Oldham, Norwich v Tranmere and Swindon v Brighton - will all be played on Wednesday 9 November.

COCA-COLA CUP Fourth-round draw: Nottingham Forest v Millwall; Crystal Palace v Aston Villa; Oldham Athletic or Arsenal v Sheffield Wednesday; Blackburn Rovers v Liverpool; Manchester City v Newcastle; West Ham v Bolton; Tranmere or Norwich v Notts County; Brighton or Swindon v Derby County. (Ties to be played week commencing 28 November).