FA Cup quarter-final draw: Man City face Liverpool as Port Vale earn trip to Chelsea
The draw was made on Monday evening after the fifth-round programme wrapped up over the weekend. Four ties were pulled out of the hat, and the standout is Man City hosting Liverpool at the Etihad on the weekend of April 4-5.
The full draw
Southampton vs Arsenal. Chelsea vs Port Vale. Manchester City vs Liverpool. West Ham vs Leeds United. All four ties will be played across the weekend of April 4-5, with exact kick-off times to be confirmed by broadcasters.
City and Liverpool meet again
City and Liverpool have become familiar opponents in the knockout rounds of domestic cups over recent seasons. Liverpool beat Wolves 3-1 in the fifth round on March 6, but their league form has been patchy, with a 2-1 defeat at Molineux three days earlier. City knocked Newcastle out 3-1 in the fifth round and will fancy their chances at home, though Liverpool's record in Manchester has been strong in recent years.
Port Vale's reward
Port Vale's reward for shocking Sunderland in the fifth round is a trip to Stamford Bridge. The League One side have not been this far in the FA Cup since 1954, when they reached the semi-finals as a Third Division North club. Their run has captured the imagination. Chelsea, who needed extra time to beat Wrexham 4-2 in the fifth round, will be heavy favourites but cannot afford to take the visitors lightly.
Arsenal and West Ham in favourable spots
Arsenal travel to Southampton, who are in the Championship this season. Mikel Arteta's side sit seven points clear at the top of the Premier League and will view the trip to St Mary's as a chance to keep their quadruple push alive after Eberechi Eze's late strike rescued them 2-1 at Mansfield in the fifth round. West Ham host Leeds in the final tie, with both sides looking at the draw as a genuine path to the semi-finals at Wembley.
