FA Cup fourth round: Burton v West Ham, Man City v Salford, Villa v Newcastle and Liverpool v Brighton headline ties
The FA Cup fourth round delivers a mouthwatering mix of top-flight clashes and potential shocks, with a set of ties that promise narrative-packed encounters and the usual cup drama. High-profile Premier League sides travel to test lower-league resilience, while punditry has taken an unexpectedly surreal turn ahead of the weekend.
Tie-by-tie spotlight: where the biggest stories lie
Some ties stand out for rivalry, squad depth tests and upset potential. Manchester City’s trip to face Salford City remains a classic cup talking point: elite resources and star power pitted against the focused intensity of a smaller club accustomed to punching above its weight. The gulf on paper is obvious, but history and the FA Cup’s appetite for surprise ensure the fixture will be watched closely.
West Ham’s away trip to Burton Albion is another clash with an underdog storyline. Burton will look to exploit home advantage and the scrappy, organised approach lower-league teams often bring to these fixtures. For West Ham, squad rotation and fresh legs will be key if they want to avoid an embarrassing exit.
Aston Villa hosting Newcastle United promises a high-stakes Premier League shootout disguised as a cup tie. Both sides have European and domestic ambitions that can complicate team selection, so the tie could hinge on bench strength and tactical tweaks from the managers.
Meanwhile, Liverpool v Brighton at Anfield mixes attacking flair against a disciplined, tactical visiting side. This clash could reveal which club treats the cup as a priority and which opts to conserve resources for the league and continental competitions.
Across the round there are also classic David v Goliath narratives and midweek fixture congestion to consider — all ingredients that make the FA Cup uniquely unpredictable.
Punditry gets surreal: Daffy Duck, Porky Pig and AI join the prediction party
Pre-match analysis has taken an unorthodox turn this week. A well-known former professional and pundit brought along two unexpected guests to offer predictions: Looney Tunes favourites Daffy Duck and Porky Pig. The cartoon duo’s playful contributions underline the light-hearted side of cup football, with Daffy delivering bombastic declarations and Porky offering a stammering, earnest take on sportsmanship.
Daffy’s exuberant style made for colourful commentary — at one point he exclaimed he was "tho exthited" about the matches and hinted at theatrical confidence in picking winners. Porky leaned into good-natured fairness, reminding viewers it’s "how you p-p-play the game" that matters. Alongside them, an AI-generated set of predictions added a modern twist, offering algorithmic score forecasts to balance the cartoon chaos and human insight.
The mix of old-school punditry, animated mischief and data-driven picks captures the spectrum of contemporary football coverage: passionate, playful and increasingly technological.
What to expect and where upsets could happen
The defining theme of this round is opportunity: for elite clubs, the chance to deepen squad usage and maintain momentum; for lower-league sides, a rare spotlight and a path to national attention. Expect managers to rotate, for fringe players to seek spotlight moments, and for underdogs to adopt low-block defensive shapes and quick transition tactics.
Key variables include set-piece quality, how coaches manage fitness with congested calendars, and refereeing moments that typically swing cup ties. Historic cup upsets are reminders that form books are advisory, not definitive — and that makes the fourth round must-watch television for neutrals and devoted supporters alike.
Whether the weekend produces expected progressions for the big clubs or fresh giant-killing headlines, the FA Cup remains a competition where narratives are written in 90, 120 and sometimes 180 minutes. Expect drama, emotion and a few surprises.
Coverage intensifies as matchday approaches; teams, pundits and the odd cartoon duck will all offer their verdicts, but on the pitch is where the final word will be delivered.
