The fourth round of the FA Cup will be played this weekend and the only two all-Premier League club clashes involve the Manchester sides – Manchester United vs Fulham and Stoke vs Manchester City.
United and Fulham already met once this season, in a league fixture at Old Trafford where the Red Devils won 3-2.
In the title race, United saw their lead on neighbours City dwindle to five points after a 1-1 draw at Tottenham as City beat Fulham 2-0 at home the previous day.
United boss Alex Ferguson was left fuming at White Hart Lane for what he thought was a penalty that was not given to his team. Yet, he admitted that United should have played better and avoided Clint Dempsey’s last-minute equaliser.
This will be the 14th meeting between United and Fulham in the FA Cup with the Mancunians holding the upperhand on seven occasions. They lost twice to the Cottagers and the other four matches were draws.
In the 1958 cup semi-final, the tie finished 2-2. United then won the replay 5-3. It was the year of the Munich air disaster and in the final United fielded only four crash survivors, along with various new-comers. They lost 2-0 to Bolton.
At the Britannia Stadium, Stoke City clash with Manchester City in a repeat of the 2011 final, won by the Blues 1-0.
This season, Manchester City have claimed four points from their Premier League meetings against the Potters – away: 1-1; home: 3-0.
Man. City assistant coach David Platt claims the Premier League title is United’s to lose but warned that the race is not over yet.
For the first time this season Stoke suffered three defeats on the bounce in the league − 1-3 at Norwich, at home to Chelsea 0-4 and at Manchester City 0-3.
Two non-League sides are still in the competition – Macclesfield Town and Luton Town.
Macclesfield will be playing hosts to Premier League strugglers Wigan and Luton are away at Chris Hughton’s Norwich City.
In the previous round, Luton saw off Wolves at home and Macclesfield tamed Championship leaders Cardiff 2-1.
Cup holders Chelsea will be in action at Brentford tomorrow.
Left-back Ashley Cole pledged his future to the Blues earlier this week but the side received another setback on the field of play on Wednesday night as they were eliminated from the League Cup semi-finals by Swansea City, 2-0 on aggregate.
Also tomorrow, beaten finalists Liverpool play Oldham away in a repeat of last year’s clash between the two teams at the same round of the competition.
Twelve months ago, Oldham scored the first goal at Anfield but they eventually lost the tie 5-1.
In clashes between clubs from the Premier and those from the Championship, Tottenham travel north to take on Leeds, Everton play at Bolton and Arsenal are also away at Brighton.
Premier League trophy
• The English Premier League trophy, won by Manchester City last year, will be on show at the Manchester City Supporters Club – Malta premises (Cactus Bar), in Buġibba, tomorrow.
Those wishing to view the trophy may do so between noon and 6pm.
Fixtures and forecast
Fa Cup Fourth Round
Bolton-Everton 2
Brighton-Arsenal 2
Derby-Blackburn 1
Huddersfield-Leicester 2
Hull City-Barnsley 1
Macclesfield-Wigan 2
Man. Utd-Fulham (18:30)1
Middlesbrough-Aldershot 1
Norwich-Luton Town1
Qpr-Mk Dons 1
Reading-Sheffield United1
Stoke-Man. City (13:45) 2
Tomorrow
Brentford-Chelsea (13:00) 2
Leeds-Tottenham (15:00) 2
Oldham-Liverpool (17:00) 2
The Championship
Bristol City-Ipswich 2
Burnley-Birmingham 1
Charlton-Sheffield Wed. 1
Nottm Forest-Watford X
Wolves-Blackpool X
League One
Bournemouth-Crewe 1
Carlisle-Scunthorpe 1
Colchester-Walsall X
Leyton Orient-Notts Co X
Portsmouth-Hartlepool X
Preston-Coventry X
Shrewsbury-Bury 1
Tranmere-Swindon Pp
League Two
Bradford-Wycombe Pp
Burton Albion-Barnet 1
Chesterfield-Southend X
Dagenham-Morecambe X
Fleetwood-Oxford Utd 1
Gillingham-York City 1
Plymouth-Accrington 1
Rotherham-Bristol Rovers 1
Hot Four
Burnley, Charlton, Bournemouth, Shrewsbury.