The 18 teams left in the FA Cup found out their fifth-round fate when the draw for the last eight took place at Wembley Stadium this evening.
There were teams from the first three tiers of English football involved and the standout ties came right at the pinnacle as the top four sides drew each other.
Read how it all unfolded in our minute-by-minute updates below.
Evening folks! For the 18 teams left in the competition, the excitement of the draw is soon to be upon us. Who will YOUR team get in the next round?
Let's get straight to the teams in the hat. All 16 fourth round games have now been played after Chelsea progressed as expected with a narrow 1-0 win over Stoke City. Read about that win here.
THE NUMBERS! Here are the all important numbers that each team has been assigned for the draw, which is taking place at Wembley Stadium:
1 Sunderland 2 Cardiff City 3 Southampton 4 Charlton Athletic 5 Brighton & Hove Albion 6 Nottingham Forest or Preston North End 7 Hull City 8 Sheffield Wednesday 9 Arsenal 10 Everton 11 Wigan Athletic 12 Chelsea 13 Manchester City 14 Liverpool 15 Swansea City 16 Sheffield United or Fulham
1 Sunderland 2 Cardiff City 3 Southampton 4 Charlton Athletic 5 Brighton & Hove Albion 6 Nottingham Forest or Preston North End 7 Hull City 8 Sheffield Wednesday 9 Arsenal 10 Everton 11 Wigan Athletic 12 Chelsea 13 Manchester City 14 Liverpool 15 Swansea City 16 Sheffield United or Fulham
So, what stands out there? Well, the possibility of derbies on Merseyside and in Sheffield catch the eye the most. If Liverpool drew Everton and Sheffield Wednesday got Sheffield United fans in those cities would be licking their lips!
We're just about ready to go at the national stadium, where the draw will be made by father-and-son duo Andros and Troy Townsend.
#England and @SpursOfficial winger @andros_townsend and his dad Troy are ready for the #FACup draw @wembleystadium. pic.twitter.com/KSY3rfECHk — The FA (@FA) January 26, 2014
Here we go...
MANCHESTER CITY vs. CHELSEA!!
ARSENAL vs. LIVERPOOL!!
Two huge draws so far!
SHEFFIELD WEDNESDAY vs. CHARLTON ATHLETIC
EVERTON vs. SWANSEA CITY
AND THERE WE HAVE IT! WHAT A DRAW!
Ties will be played on the weekend of February 15, 16.
Without a doubt, the two standout ties come at the Etihad and Emirates as the top four of the Premier League are drawn against each other. Man City will play Chelsea while Arsenal host Liverpool. Pretty good considering neither Sheffield or Merseyside derbies came up like I hoped!
Elsewhere, the lowest-ranked side left in the competition, Sheffield United, will play Nottingham Forest or Preston if they can upset Fulham in their fourth round replay.
There will also be at least one Championship side in the quarter-finals after Sheffield Wednesday got a home tie against fellow second-tier side Charlton Athletic. Neither side is having a great season in the league so a cup run might be just the remedy.
Finally before I go, defending champions Wigan will continue the defence of the cup at struggling Premier League side Cardiff City. Uwe Rosler's side will certainly feel that they have a great chance of progressing to the last eight.
Thanks for joining SM for updates. A reminder that those eight games take place in three weeks' time. Can't wait!
Written by
Pascal Lemesre
Pascal Lemesre
