Manchester City were the first side to book their place in the fifth round of the FA Cup on Friday night with a hard-fought 1-0 home win over Premier League title rivals Arsenal.
City, who are currently five points behind the Londoners in the table, got the job done thanks to a composed second-half finish from defender Nathan Ake. The Dutchman's second goal of the season was just enough to seal Pep Guardiola's side's place in the next round, keeping their hopes of a first FA Cup triumph since 2019 alive.
City, just 24 hours later, were joined in the hat for the fifth-round draw by neighbours Manchester United, who beat Championship side Reading 3-1 at Old Trafford. After a goalless first half, United turned up the heat after the interval and sealed their passage to the next round, courtesy of two goals from Casemiro and one from substitute Fred.
Follow the FA Cup fifth round draw LIVE with our blog as it happens
City and United, who will no doubt both be hoping to avoid each other in the draw, have been joined in the hat by fellow Premier League heavyweights Tottenham Hotspur. They cruised past Preston North End on Saturday evening, winning 3-0 at Deepdale.
Holders Liverpool, however, bowed out of the competition on Sunday afternoon, losing 2-1 to Brighton & Hove Albion at the Amex Stadium. Meanwhile, Wrexham, who were the lowest-ranked side left in round four, are still in the competition after playing out a thrilling 3-3 draw with Sheffield United on Sunday and will now require a replay at Bramall Lane next week.
Ahead of the real draw for the fifth round of the FA Cup taking place just after 7pm this evening, MEN Sport ran a quick simulator of the draw to see what ties could come out of the hat and here are the results:
Simulated FA Cup fifth round draw:
- Bristol City vs Southampton
- Manchester City vs Ipswich Town/Burnley
- Tottenham Hotspur vs Wrexham/Sheffield United
- Manchester United vs Fulham/Sunderland
- Luton Town/Grimsby Town vs Stoke City
- Sheffield Wednesday/Fleetwood Town vs Blackburn Rovers/Birmingham City
- Brighton & Hove Albion vs Derby County/West Ham United
- Leeds United vs Leicester City
As you can see from the simulated draw above, City will face lower-league opposition in the next round, regardless of who comes out on top in the replay between Burnley and Ipswich Town at Turf Moor. United will host Premier League opposition if Fulham get the better of Sunderland in their replay at the Stadium of Light.
All but one of the 16 fourth-round ties have already been played, with Derby County facing West Ham United at Pride Park in the final tie of the round this evening, kick-off 7:45pm.
The real draw will take place live on BBC One shortly after 7pm tonight. Fifth-round ties will be played midweek in the week commencing February 28.
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