FA Cup fourth round draw live: Arsenal, Liverpool, Man City and more discover fate
The draw will be held before Liverpool face Barnsley in the third round tonight
Macclesfield must upstage another Premier League side if they are to continue their fairytale FA Cup run after drawing Brentford in the fourth round. The National League North team produced one of the greatest upsets in the competition's history when they defeated holders Crystal Palace 2-1 at Moss Rose on Saturday.
There is plenty of scope for upsets in the fourth round with seven Premier League teams travelling to lower league opposition. Among them is Chelsea's visit to Hull that will see new Blues boss Liam Rosenior return to the club where his managerial career began in earnest in 2022.
West Ham are currently stuck in the relegation zone and they must travel to League One outfit Burton in a fixture fraught with danger. The Hammers' 2-1 win against QPR in the third round was their first success since November 8.
Fulham, Sunderland, Leeds and Wolves also face banana skin games when they take on Stoke, Oxford, Birmingham and Grimsby respectively. Manchester City are at home for their tie against Salford or Swindon, who meet on January 20, while the FA Cup's most successful side Arsenal take on League One club Wigan at Emirates Stadium.
Liverpool FC will face Brighton after the Reds beat Barnsley in their third-round clash, and there is an all-Premier League clash between Aston Villa and Newcastle. Follow all the updates from the fourth round draw with our live blog below:
Non-league Macclesfield to face Brentford after FA Cup heroics as Arsenal welcome Wigan Athletic
Non-league club Macclesfield will face another Premier League side at the Moss Rose Stadium when they welcome Brentford in the FA Cup fourth round. John Rooney’s side provided the biggest shock of the competition and, statistically, the heaviest upset in FA Cup history when they defeated top-flight side and holders Crystal Palace at the weekend.
Macclesfield won 2-1 after goals from captain Paul Dawson and Isaac Buckley-Rickett on a historic day for the Silkmen who will hope to replicate that result when they take on the Bees in February.
Non-league Macclesfield to face Brentford in fourth round after FA Cup heroics
FA Cup fourth round draw live
On his winning goal, Buckley-Ricketts says: “I saw the ball come across and my first thought was to maybe let it bounce and get a strike off, but in my peripheral vision I saw the keeper rushing out. So then I thought, let me get a good contact on it.
“It wasn't as good as I wanted, and because of the slow motion it felt like it took four hours in my head. But a goal is a goal for me.”
FA Cup fourth round draw live
Buckley-Ricketts continues: “We would have expected maybe one of the bigger boys, City, Chelsea. But Brentford at home, they are a Premier League team themselves.
“We have shown already what we can do at home, so why can't we do it again?”
FA Cup fourth round draw live
Macclesfield’s Isaac Buckley-Ricketts has been speaking to BBC Radio 5 Live about their brilliant win over Crystal Palace in the third round.
He says: “Honestly, it's surreal. It has set in a bit more now because we have spent time with our families, we have seen all of the posts, people are calling.
“It's very humbling. A moment like that brings so many people together, brings so much joy and does a lot for the club and for football.”
FA Cup matchdays in full
Here are the dates for the remaining rounds of FA Cup action.
Fourth round: Saturday 14 February 2026
Fifth round: Saturday 7 March 2026
Quarter-finals: Saturday 4 April 2026
Semi-finals: Saturday 25 April 2026
Final: Saturday 16 May 2026
When will the FA Cup fourth round take place?
The fixtures revealed in tonight’s draw will be played around the weekend of Saturday 14 February and Sunday 15 February.
'Another Premier League side is incredible' - John Rooney
Macclesfield manager John Rooney has reacted to his side drawing Brentford at home in the fourth round.
He says: “We said before that we would have liked to get Liverpool, Chelsea, or Arsenal but another Premier League side is incredible.”
Another upset brewing at Moss Rose?
All-Premier League tie
There is just one all-Premier League tie, although that could become two if Liverpool see off Barnsley to set up a game against Brighton.
Aston Villa vs Newcastle
Premier League sides away from home
Seven Premier League sides have been drawn to non-top flight opposition away from home - could any of these sides spring an upset?
One interesting tie is Hull City v Chelsea, in a clash of Liam Rosenior’s sides past and present.
Stoke City v Fulham
Oxford United v Sunderland
Hull City v Chelsea
Burton Albion v West Ham
Grimsby Town v Wolves,
Macclesfield v Brentford
Birmingham City v Leeds United.
They could potentially be joined by Barnsley v Brighton, if the Tykes beat Liverpool tonight.
Dream tie for Macclesfield
Non-league minnows Macclesfield will have another shot at a giant-killing after their fairytale win over Crystal Palace.
They’ll be playing at home once again to another Premier League side, Brentford.
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