Arsenal and Manchester City take a break from their battle for the top spot in the Premier League to try and keep their quadruple crown alive this weekend, while Wigan and Salford seek a big push in the FA Cup.
Aston Villa and Newcastle United are aiming to end their seven-year wait for the FA Cup title in this tie.
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Sixth-tier Macclesfield eliminated defending champions Crystal Palace in the previous round, causing arguably the biggest upset in Premier League history, and ushered in another Premier League victory against Brentford.
AFP Sport looks back at three topics ahead of the fourth round weekend:
Arsenal, Manchester City on track for unprecedented quadruple crown
Three years ago, City had equaled the greatest season in English football history, winning the Champions League, Premier League and FA Cup in the same season with Manchester United’s 1998/99 squad.
But no team has won all three and the League Cup.
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Arsenal and Manchester City will compete for their first trophy of the season next month, with both clubs also set to claim an unprecedented quadruple.
The Gunners are four points ahead of Pep Guardiola’s side in the Premier League but City have home advantage when the sides meet in April.
The two also advanced directly to the last 16 of the Champions League.
It would be a huge surprise if they didn’t make the list among the five players spotted on Monday.
The Gunners host 2013 FA Cup champions Wigan, who are currently in the league relegation zone.
Fourth-tier Salford, co-owned by Manchester United legends David Beckham and Gary Neville, travel to the Etihad Stadium hoping to avoid a repeat of last season’s 8-0 defeat to Manchester City.
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Can Villa end their trophy drought?
Villa are the best team in the Premier League after the top two but winning the title now becomes a distant dream with Unai Emery’s side aiming to end a 30-year wait to win a major trophy.
Villa last won the FA Cup in 1957, two years after Newcastle last lifted the trophy.
The Magpies won the League Cup last season, ending a 70-year domestic trophy drought.
Eddie Howe’s side are 10th in the Premier League and may need FA Cup glory to salvage an otherwise disappointing season.
However, Newcastle have struggled away from home all season and are likely to be without influential captain Bruno Guimarães due to a hamstring injury.
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Macclesfield seeks another ‘miracle’
The gap between National League North Macclesfield and Crystal Palace is 117 places, the largest gap ever overcome by an underdog in the history of the FA Cup.
But they could beat their own record on Monday when seventh-placed Brentford visit Moss Rose in the top flight.
Macclesfield boss John Rooney, brother of former England and Manchester United captain Wayne Rooney, said: “We went into the game against Crystal Palace thinking it was going to be a miracle, but the lads performed brilliantly that day and were deserved winners.”
“There will be more eyes on us in anticipation of our defeat but it’s a testament to the club, the players, the staff and everyone who made this day possible.”
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fixtures
Friday (all times are GMT)
Hull v Chelsea, Wrexham v Ipswich (both 1945)
Saturday
Burton v West Ham (1215), Burnley v Mansfield, Norwich City v West Brom, Manchester City v Salford, Southampton v Leicester, Port Vale v Bristol City (all 1500), Aston Villa v Newcastle (1745), Liverpool v Brighton (2000)
Sunday
Birmingham v Leeds United (1200), Grimsby v Wolves (1330), Stoke v Fulham, Oxford v Sunderland (1400), Arsenal v Wigan (1630)
on Monday
Macclesfield v Brentford (1930)
AFP