FA Cup LIVE! Burton vs West Ham, Man City vs Salford, Villa vs Newcastle and Liverpool vs Brighton headline fourth round
The fourth round of the FA Cup delivers a compelling mix of heavyweight Premier League showdowns and classic upset opportunities. High-profile ties such as Manchester City against Salford, Liverpool versus Brighton, Aston Villa taking on Newcastle and West Ham travelling to Burton promise drama, while lower-league sides will be dreaming of giant-killings across a packed weekend of fixtures (kick-offs across Saturday and Sunday, ET).
Big-name clashes promise tactical sparks and star turns
Top-flight meetings lead the bill. Manchester City are overwhelming favourites to brush aside Salford in what on paper is a mismatch, but cup football routinely forces teams to sharpen focus and avoid complacency. The tie will be a test of depth and rotation for City, while Salford will aim to produce a disciplined, low-block performance and hit on the break.
Liverpool's tie against Brighton sets up a compelling tactical battle: a free-flowing, attack-minded Liverpool side against a well-organised, possession-oriented Brighton. Expect a fast tempo and probing football from both benches, and the tie could hinge on set-piece efficiency or a moment of individual brilliance.
Aston Villa versus Newcastle is arguably the standout top-tier clash. Both sides possess attacking quality and defensive frailties, meaning the fixture could swing on midfield control and tactical flexibility. Managers will weigh squad rotation with the cup's prestige and the lure of progression to the last 16.
West Ham's trip to Burton is a reminder that the Cup's romance often plays out away from the bright lights. Lower-league hosts will hope that fierce home support and a compact formation can unsettle their Premier League visitors. Cup ties like this frequently place pressure on favourites to find cutting edge against teams who treat the fixture as the season's biggest game.
David vs Goliath: where giant-killings can reshape a weekend
The FA Cup has always been fertile ground for shocks, and this fourth round retains that unpredictable spirit. Non-league and lower-league clubs face a unique opportunity: a single inspired performance can write a new chapter in a club’s history. Teams from League One and Two will back themselves to frustrate elite opposition, forcing high-tempo, high-pressure scenarios where a single set-piece, red card or penalty can change everything.
For managers of Premier League sides, squad management becomes critical. The temptation to rotate can clash with the need to avoid an embarrassing exit. Those who underestimate their opponents will be reminded that the Cup often rewards application, organisation and belief more than depth alone.
Predictions, pundit quirks and an unexpected dose of cartoon optimism
Alongside conventional pundit analysis and data-led projections, this round has attracted a lighter side of prediction culture. A well-known former player has been joined by unlikely companions — animated characters famous for their comic misadventures — to pick scores across the fourth-round board. One of the cartoon guests offered an exuberant, mangled take on his excitement, while the other delivered a good-natured, stammering plea for fair play and fun. Even artificial-intelligence outputs have been invoked to supply probabilistic winners, giving fans alternative ways to choose a result from each tie.
Whether fans prefer expert analysis, statistical models or whimsical scorelines supplied by fictional characters, the fourth round will soon deliver clarity on which narratives survive: top-flight dominance, underdog triumphs or the occasional piece of lunchtime lunacy that the Cup is fond of producing.
Expect drama, late goals and the emotional highs that define the FA Cup. With 16 ties to be settled over the weekend (kick-offs across Saturday and Sunday, ET), the competition’s old magic looks set to provide another compelling chapter.
