Liverpool will face a difficult trip to Manchester City in the quarter-finals of the FA Cup after the draw was confirmed on Monday night.
The Reds will travel to the Etihad Stadium for the last-eight clash, while Arsenal head to Southampton. Elsewhere, Chelsea host Port Vale, and the winner of the tie between West Ham United and Brentford will welcome Leeds United.
The quarter-final matches are scheduled to take place across the weekend of April 4. Liverpool reached this stage after wins over Barnsley, Brighton & Hove Albion and Wolverhampton Wanderers.
Their most recent victory came on Friday night with a 3-1 triumph at Molineux, where Andy Robertson opened the scoring early in the second half before setting up Mohamed Salah moments later. Curtis Jones added a third goal, while Hwang Hee-chan grabbed a late consolation for the hosts.
Liverpool have already progressed further than they did last season, when Plymouth Argyle knocked them out in a shock defeat. The Reds have lifted the FA Cup eight times in their history, most recently in 2022.
Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola will not be on the touchline for the quarter-final clash after receiving a two-game touchline ban. The City manager was booked for the sixth time this season during the FA Cup victory over Newcastle United after confronting fourth official Lewis Smith following a challenge by Kieran Trippier on Jeremy Doku.
Under current regulations, managers receive a one-game ban for every three yellow cards, while a sixth booking results in a two-match suspension.
Guardiola will therefore miss City’s Premier League clash with West Ham United and the FA Cup quarter-final against Liverpool. However, he will still be able to take charge for the EFL Cup Final on March 22, where Man City face title rivals Arsenal.
Reacting to his two-game touchline suspension, Guardiola said in his press conference: “I will tell you something – we have all the records in this country, all of them, despite everything.
“We have the record of the manager with the most yellow cards. I want all records and now I have it. Two-game ban now and I will go on holidays the next two games. There are things after 10 years I cannot understand. “Review the action. Of course I’m going to defend Doku and all my teams.”
Former Liverpool assistant coach Pep Lijnders will be the man in the dugout for Man City when they face Liverpool in the FA Cup quarter-final.
Lijnders replaced Juanma Lillo as Pep Guardiola’s assistant last summer after six successful years working under Jurgen Klopp at Anfield, as well as a short spell as head coach of Red Bull Salzburg.
The Dutchman left Liverpool when Klopp departed at the end of the 2023–24 season, having played a key role in helping the club win major honours, including the Premier League and the UEFA Champions League.
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