Merseyside rivals go head-to-head in FA Cup

London, Jan 04: Premier League leaders Liverpool will face city rivals Everton in the fourth round of the English FA Cup after the Merseyside teams were the first two clubs selected in Sunday`s draw.The north-west giants met in the 1986 and 1989 FA Cup finals, Liverpool winning on both occasions.

Meanwhile Nottingham Forest`s reward for knocking out Premier League Manchester City was a fourth round clash with East Midlands rivals Derby, who also play in the second-tier Championship. Third-tier Hartlepool, conquerors of Stoke in the third round, will have the chance to inflict further Cup misery on a Premier League side when they welcome West Ham to the north-east. Manchester United will be up against Premier League rivals Tottenham after they beat Southampton, in a repeat of the 1976 final, later Sunday. Holders Portsmouth, who must first get past Bristol City after a goalless draw at Fratton Park, could face either non-league Histon or Swansea, whose third round clash was postponed because of a frozen pitch. Cardiff, last season`s losing finalists, are up against Arsenal in a repeat of the 1927 final which the Welsh club won to become the only non-English side to lift the FA Cup. Cheltenham or Doncaster can now look forward to playing Aston Villa after the Premier League high-flyers won 2-1 away to Gillingham earlier Sunday. Sunderland will have an all top-flight clash against Blackburn Rovers provided their Premier League rivals get past non-league Blyth Spartans in Monday`s third round tie. Non-league Kettering are at home to Premier League Fulham while Torquay, the other non-league team left in the draw, will be at home to 1987 Cup winners Coventry City. Ties will be played on the weekend of January 24-25, with third round replays due to take place on January 13.FA Cup 4th rd draw: Liverpool v Everton Manchester United v Tottenham Hotspur Hull or Newcastle v Millwall or Crewe Sunderland v Blyth Spartans or Blackburn Rovers Hartlepool v West Ham Leyton Orient or Sheffield United v Charlton or Norwich Cardiff v Arsenal Portsmouth or Bristol City v Histon or Swansea Chelsea or Southend v Ipswich Cheltenham or Doncaster v Aston Villa West Brom or Peterborough v QPR or Burnley Torquay v Coventry Kettering v Fulham Watford v Leicester or Crystal Palace Derby v Nottingham Forest Birmingham or Wolverhampton v Middlesbrough Ties to be played over the weekend of Jan 24-25 Third round replays Jan 13 Bureau Report