Tuesday, January 08, 2008

Lower League Opposition Awaits If Liverpool Progress In FA Cup

Liverpool’s reward for a successful conclusion to their third round FA Cup tie against Luton Town will be a tie against Swansea City or the only non-league side left in the competition, Havant & Waterlooville.

In the draw today at Soho Square, conducted by Anfield legend John Aldridge, the Reds were paired with the winners of the tie between the League One team and the Blue Square Conference South side, who are based in Hampshire.

The sides drew 1-1 at Swansea's Liberty Stadium on Saturday with the 10-man visitors equalising late on to force a replay on Wednesday week at their West Leigh Park ground.

The Reds have not played non-league opposition in the FA Cup since Altrincham were seen off 4-1 in a 1981 third round tie but have been embarrassed by minnows before, famously losing to Worcester City in 1959.

Liverpool and Swansea City have met on five previous occasions in the FA Cup, the most recent being in 1990 when the Reds ran up an 8-0 scoreline in an Anfield replay following a goalless draw at the Vetch Field.

Liverpool also progressed after ties in 1936, 1971 and 1982 with Swansea's sole triumph coming in a 1964 quarter final.

With Bill Shankly's side striding towards their first championship under his reign, the then Second Division side stunned Anfield by winning 2-1 with left-back Ronnie Moran missing a penalty late on.

After semi-final defeat to Leicester City the previous season, it appeared Liverpool's FA Cup jinx would never end although it would only be another 12 months before the FA Cup finally resided at Anfield following victory over Leeds United at Wembley in 1965.


Full draw for the fourth round of the FA Cup

Arsenal v Stoke City/Newcastle

Coventry v Walsall/Millwall

Oldham v Huddersfield Town

Swindon/Barnet v Fulham/Bristol Rovers

Wigan v Chelsea

Luton/Liverpool v Swansea/Havant & Waterlooville

Southend v Barnsley

Southampton v Norwich/Bury

Man Utd v Tottenham/Reading

Portsmouth v Plymouth

Derby/Sheff Wed v Preston

Watford v Wolves

Peterborough v Charlton/West Brom

Sheff Utd v West Ham/Man City

Mansfield v Middlesbrough

Tranmere/Hereford v Cardiff

Ties to be played on 26 & 27 January



FA Cup third-round replay dates

Tuesday 15 January

West Brom v Charlton

Bury v Norwich

Barnet v Swindon

Reading v Tottenham

Millwall v Walsall

Bristol Rovers v Fulham

Sheffield Wednesday v Derby

Liverpool v Luton

Wednesday 16 January

Man City v West Ham

Havant & Waterlooville v Swansea

Newcastle v Stoke

Hereford v Tranmere

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