Arsenal have been drawn
against Manchester United
or Preston North End in
the FA Cup quarter-finals,
with Liverpool set to host
Championship side
Blackburn Rovers.
The Red Devils take on Preston on Monday night
looking to avoid an upset, a feat achieved by the
other two Premier League giants who came
through fifth-round ties with Middlesbrough and
Crystal Palace unscathed. Sunderland were the
biggest casualties as they were knocked out by
Chelsea-tormentors Bradford City, who will now
take on Reading.
Should Louis van Gaal's men overcome their
League One opponents, they will host the FA Cup
holders at Old Trafford as they bid to end their
own 11-year wait for success in England's most
historic cup competition.
Arsenal have been in fine form in the 2014-15
competition, beating last season's final
opponents Hull City, Brighton and Hove Albion
and Middlesbrough with little fuss, though a
home defeat to Louis van Gaal's men already this
term will keep them sharp, as will the threat of
an upset if they face Preston.
Liverpool's reward for reaching this stage is a
home tie against Blackburn, who are ninth in the
Championship and struggling to keep pace in the
promotion race - though have pedigree in the
cup, having won it six times previously.
The Anfield club's quest to help Steven Gerrard
see off his Anfield career with a Wembley final
appearance remains alive. Gerrard, set to leave
for LA Galaxy in July, will turn 35 on the day of
the final and many of his team-mates have
already discussed wanting to secure the trophy
as a fitting send-off to the midfielder.
Blackburn will be no pushovers, though, after
showing their credentials at the weekend by
comfortably seeing off top-flight Stoke City 4-1
at Ewood Park.
Elsewhere, Tim Sherwood's Aston Villa have
been handed a West Midlands derby against
Tony Pulis's West Brom, while Bradford will
fancy their chances against Championship side
Reading, having already knocked out Chelsea and
Sunderland.
Bradford reached the League Cup final in 2013
and the League One outfit boast a proud record
of having never lost at home in a cup competition
under manager - and former Reading fan
favourite - Phil Parkinson, a sequence that was
extended to 12 matches following a 2-0 win over
Sunderland on Sunday.
DRAW IN FULL:
Liverpool v Blackburn Rovers
Bradford City v Reading
Preston or Manchester United v Arsenal
Aston Villa v West Brom
The ties will take place over the weekend of
March 7/8.