United net Southend, Chelsea face Aston Villa

Holders Manchester United were handed another potentially easy tie when they were drawn away to second division Southend United in the League Cup fourth round on Wednesday night.

Manager Alex Ferguson will, however, be wary of taking the opposition too lightly after his team only managed to subdue third division Crewe Alexandra 2-1 after extra-time in their third round clash earlier on Wednesday.

"I'm sure it will be a good game for us but I hope the boys will learn from tonight," Ferguson told Sky Sports after fielding several second string players at Crewe.

Substitute Kieran Lee spared United's blushes when he scored a minute from the end of extra-time to give them a 2-1 win at Crewe Alexandra.

Striker Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, United captain for the night, had put Alex Ferguson's side ahead before the half hour but Luke Varney scored a deserved equaliser 17 minutes from the end of regulation time.

Champions Chelsea were given another tough draw although they will be at home against Aston Villa, the only unbeaten team in the Premier League, after overcoming Blackburn Rovers 2-0 away in the third round.

England midfielder Joe Cole, back after a long injury lay-off, scored the first goal in Chelsea's win at Blackburn.

Cole struck in the 53rd minute to net a cross from Salomon Kalou, who added the second nine minutes from time off a rebound after keeper Brad Friedel parried Shaun Wright-Phillips' shot.

Arsenal play at Everton and Newcastle United visit Watford in two more all-Premier League ties.

Newcastle United's Peruvian Nolberto Solano scored twice, his first a fine diving header into the roof of the net from Damien Duff's far post cross, in a 3-0 win over Portsmouth on Wednesday.

Striker Giuseppe Rossi, on loan from Manchester United, had put Newcastle ahead with a turn and low shot in the 48th.

Third-division Chesterfield, who upset FA Cup runners-up West Ham United 2-1 on Tuesday, their second top-flight scalp in a row after beating Manchester City, are at home to the Premier League's bottom side Charlton Athletic.

"We're on a hat-trick," Chesterfield manager Roy McFarland enthused.

Port Vale, also of the third division, are away to Tottenham Hotspur who romped to a 5-0 win over fourth division MK Dons on Wednesday.

Spurs will be wary, however, of repeating their shock 2-1 defeat at Port Vale, then in the old third division, in an FA Cup fourth round tie in January 1988.

There will be at least one side from the lower leagues in the last 16 after the draw threw up a clash of fourth division sides with Notts County hosting Wycombe Wanderers.

Liverpool, seven-times winners, visit second division Birmingham City who they beat on penalties in the 2001 final.

Liverpool looked to be coasting against Reading at Anfield with a 3-0 lead and 15 minutes to go but in a frantic final quarter of an hour the visitors scored three times although Peter Crouch 77th minute goal ensured the home side won 4-3.

Robbie Fowler, with a fine opening strike, John Arne Riise and Argentine defender Gabriel Paletta, with his first goal for the club, scored Liverpool's first three goals.