FA Cup fourth round roundup: Liverpool win as Mansfield, Newcastle and Man City advance
Sunday’s fa cup fixtures served up a blend of routine progressions and dramatic upsets. Premier League heavyweights Liverpool and Manchester City advanced without fuss, Newcastle battled through in a chaotic tie, and lower-league Mansfield produced a memorable cup upset over Burnley. Extra-time drama, straight red cards and spectacular goals ensured attention remained riveted on the competition.
Top-flight progress: Liverpool, Man City and Newcastle move on
Liverpool put daylight between themselves and Brighton, claiming a 3-0 victory propelled by Mohamed Salah, Dominik Szoboszlai and Curtis Jones. The win was clinical, leaving the visitors with little answer as Liverpool controlled large swathes of the tie and wrapped up the result before the final whistle.
Manchester City also advanced comfortably, beating Salford 2-0. The Citizens asserted their quality across the park and extended their run in the competition, with contributions from players seeking to make their mark in cup action.
Newcastle’s tie with Aston Villa produced the kind of stop-start drama the FA Cup is known for. Villa were reduced to 10 men, a decision that reshaped the contest, and Newcastle ultimately came from behind to secure their passage. Sandro Tonali’s influence in midfield was singled out as a catalyst for the comeback, helping tip the balance in Newcastle’s favor in a tie that swung in momentum more than once.
Lower-league shocks and late drama: Mansfield, West Ham, Norwich and Southampton
One of the night’s most talked-about results came from League One, where Mansfield overturned the odds to beat struggling Burnley. Mansfield fought back after conceding early, with a standout free-kick from Louis Reed among the decisive moments that sealed a famous progression for the home side.
Burnley boss Scott Parker acknowledged his team’s shortcomings after the upset, pointing to missed chances and fine margins that ultimately cost them progression. "When I analyse the game we missed too many chances today, glorious chances where we could have put the game out of sight, " he said. Parker defended his position at the club and underlined his confidence despite the defeat, adding that the team lacked a bit of quality when it mattered most.
West Ham were forced to withstand a nervy extra-time finish at Burton. Crysencio Summerville, introduced late from the bench, struck the decisive blow in extra time to spare the visitors further embarrassment and avoid penalties. The tie turned even stranger when a second-half sending-off saw Freddie Potts shown a red card 11 minutes into extra time for a heavy challenge, leaving West Ham to see out the closing stages with ten men. Burton came agonizingly close to forcing a different outcome deep into extra time, but were ultimately left to rue missed opportunities.
Southampton edged past Leicester 2-1 thanks to James Bree’s extra-time winner. The match featured an early penalty for Southampton converted by Cyle Larin and an audacious bicycle-kick equaliser from Oliver Skipp that dragged Leicester back into contention before Southampton found the decisive strike in the final period.
Norwich secured their spot in the fifth round with a 3-1 victory over West Brom. The Canaries benefited from late contributions, including a crucial intervention from substitute Ben Chrisene and a stoppage-time finish from Mo Toure, who continued a strong run of form.
Talking points and what’s next
Sunday’s ties reiterated the FA Cup’s appeal: big clubs navigating expected wins, underdogs seizing their moment, and individual moments of brilliance shaping outcomes. Set-piece quality, smart substitutions and disciplinary incidents all played a role across the fixtures. With the fifth round looming, teams will look to build on momentum while others will have to regroup quickly after surprising exits.
As the competition narrows, the remaining sides now turn their attention to the next batch of fa cup fixtures and the draw that will determine who faces whom in the last 16. For supporters, the drama of cup football remains intact: a place in the next round is reward for fine margins executed under pressure.
