The fifth round of the FA Cup isn't quite over yet but attention is already turning to the quarter-final draw with a host of the Premier League big boys still in the conversation to claim the trophy
FA Cup
The draw for the quarter-finals of the FA Cup takes place on Monday
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Image: Getty Images)
The has reached its final stages, with a Wembley trip firmly in sight for the teams involved.
The fifth round of the competition took place at the weekend. big boys, , and all safely progressed and will no doubt be aiming to add some more silverware to their trophy cabinets.
They have been joined in the quarter-finals by and . League One side , having beaten Sunderland in one of the shocks of the fifth round. They will of course be eyeing a glamour tie.
There is still one team to be decided, with and due to do battle at the London Stadium on Monday.
Before that game, the draw for the quarter-finals will take place. Mirror Football will bring you all of the coverage from the draw, as well as plenty of reaction so stay tuned...
Nearly time
We are just seconds away from coverage getting underway, so do stick with us. We will balls in the bowl shortly!
One last word on Port Vale then before the draw gets underway.
Mike Baggaley, our Port Vale correspondent, can shed some light on more light on just how much that win meant for the fans and everyone associated with the club.
Here's an extract from his piece looking at that (which you can read in full ) to give you a taster of the magic the cup is still bringing to people after all these years...
Ben Waine as Port Vale's FA Cup hero again vs Sunderland
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Image:
Gareth Copley)
"As you’d expect, the home support nearly took the roof off. The Vale have had some great days, and nights, in the FA Cup, beating Spurs in 1988 and Everton in 1996 under John Rudge.
"But the last time supporters saw their team win an FA Cup fifth round tie was way back in 1954 when they knocked out holders Blackpool and Stan Matthews in one of the club’s most famous games.
"You could feel the emotion in the stadium in the closing stages on Sunday, and not just jubilation.
"Supporters have told us they were thinking of family and friends who have shared the highs and lows of following the Vale over the years. For them, the final whistle was a personal moment as well as a collective one.
"Back to 1954 and the Vale went all the way to the semi finals that year. They couldn’t do that again, could they? We can dream."
Nearly KO time...
Just in case you missed it, tonight's draw is coined to start just after 7pm.
You know how these draws can get though, so whether we kick-off on time is another matter entirely...
A repeat of the Carabao Cup final?
Arsenal and Manchester City will meet in the Carabao Cup final later this month and will also meet again in what could b a crunch Premier League title decider weeks later.
But could tonight's FA Cup draw throw up another match between the Prem's two big-hitters?
There's every chance that could be the case. If not now, then maybe another Wembley meeting could be on the cards...
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Image:
Arsenal FC via Getty Images)
The FA Cup quarter-final draw is set to cause a fixture pile-up for both and Port Vale - with the two non-Premier League sides needing to find new slots for rearranged games.
The eight teams still in the tournament will play their quarter-final clashes on the weekend of April 4 - putting their scheduled league games for that weekend on hold. Top flight sides are accustomed to moving games for outings, as is the case every year.
But clubs further down the pyramid may find in harder to source a new date.
Read the full story .
Ben Waine of Port Vale celebrates after scoring against Sunderland (
Image:
Nick Potts/PA Wire)
Port Vale may not have had much to shout about in League One this season, but the FA Cup has proven to be an entirely different story.
A postponement meant they were unable to even officially claim their place in the fifth round of the tournament until just days before Sunday's big game with Sunderland.
But Ben Waine - the matchwinner against Bristol City - struck to sink Sunderland and send Vale to their first FA Cup quarter-final in 72 years.
Ben Waine and Jon Brady were all smiles after dumping Sunderland out of the FA Cup (
Image:
James Gill/Danehouse)
Here are those all important numbers if you are keeping track at home:
1 - Southampton
2 - Port Vale
3 - Manchester City
4 - Leeds United
5 - Arsenal
6 - Liverpool
7 - Chelsea
8 - West Ham or Brentford
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Image:
Robbie Jay Barratt - AMA/Getty Images)
As mentioned earlier, we know most of the quarter-final line-up. But there will be one 'either or' in this evening's draw.
West Ham and Brentford meet in an all-Premier League shootout for a quarter-final spot.
The Hammers face a fight for their lives between now and May, while Brentford are dreaming of Europe. But the magic of the cup means the form book - and league tables - essentially go out of the window...
It's an all-Premier League affair in the FA Cup (
Image:
Julian Finney/Getty Images)
That's the reality for Port Vale after they stunned Premier League Sunderland yesterday.
Yes, we may be in familiar territory for your Arsenals, your Chelseas etc. But for Port Vale, who are by no means guaranteed to avoid relegation to League Two, what a fairytale run they've enjoyed.
And they are now just one more big result away from a day out at the national stadium.
Who will they get next? Well, that could be the big story from tonight's draw...
Port Vale players celebrate after knocking Sunderland out of the FA Cup (
Image:
Carl Recine)
Good evening and welcome to our live blog ahead of the draw for the FA Cup quarter-finals.
We know the majority of the teams involved and, prior to Brentford v West Ham later this evening, we will know the lay of the land for everybody. So stick with us for all the updates and build-up!