The Emirates FA Cup is back this weekend, with fourth round proper ties taking place across the weekend as clubs battle it out for a place in the fifth round proper draw.
And ahead of the action, we take a look at all 16 ties and some of the interesting facts and stats from our friends at Opta.
Hull City v Chelsea
● Hull have won one of their last 35 games against Chelsea in all competitions (D8 L26), a 3-0 win in October 1988 under Eddie Gray. They have lost their last eight games against the Blues.
● Chelsea have progressed from all eight of their FA Cup ties against Hull City – it’s the joint best 100 per cent progress rate by a team against another in FA Cup history, along with Leicester City against Birmingham City.
● Hull are looking to reach the FA Cup fifth round for the first time since 2017-18. However, the Tigers have been eliminated in their last 16 ties against top-flight teams while playing outside the top-flight themselves, since a 1-0 win against West Ham in 1972-73.
● Chelsea have progressed from 62 of their last 64 FA Cup ties against sides from outside the Premier League, although both defeats in this run have been against Yorkshire teams: 1-0 vs Barnsley in 2007-08 and 4-2 vs Bradford City in 2014-15.
● Enzo Fernández has been involved in five goals in seven FA Cup appearances for Chelsea (three goals, two assists), while he has four goals and two assists in eight domestic cup appearances against sides from a lower division.
Wrexham v Ipswich Town
● This will be just the second time that Wrexham and Ipswich Town have met in the FA Cup; the Welsh side won 2-1 at the Racecourse Ground in the third round in the 1994-95 season.
● Ipswich Town have faced Welsh opposition four times in the FA Cup, progressing from three of those; their 2-1 defeat vs Wrexham in January 1995 the only exception.
● Wrexham will be looking to reach the fifth round of the FA Cup for the first time since 1996-97, a season during which they beat Peterborough United 4-2 in the fourth round before losing 1-0 at the quarter-final stage against Chesterfield.
● Ipswich have been eliminated from ten of their last 12 FA Cup fourth round ties, though did win at this stage last season when they defeated Coventry City 4-1 away from home.
● Wrexham are unbeaten across their last nine home FA Cup proper ties (W5 D4), since a 2-1 defeat to Oxford United in the second round in December 2013. Each of the Welsh side’s last five home games in the competition have seen them score 3+ goals.
Burton Albion v West Ham United
● This is the first ever meeting between Burton Albion and West Ham United in any competition, with the Brewers becoming the 150th different side the Hammers have faced in a competitive game.
● West Ham United have progressed from each of their last five FA Cup ties against sides from League One or lower since losing 4-2 to AFC Wimbledon back in January 2019.
● Burton Albion are the leading scorers in the FA Cup this season with 14 goals (first round onwards). It’s the most goals scored by a side from the third tier of below across the first three rounds of the competition proper (excl. replays) since Oxford United in 1995-96 (also 14).
● West Ham United are looking to reach the FA Cup fifth round for the first time since 2022-23 – the Hammers have progressed from their last three ties at this stage since losing 1-0 to West Brom in 2019-20.
● West Ham’s Crysencio Summerville has been involved in five goals in his last four appearances in the FA Cup (two goals, three assists), scoring and assisting in the third round this season against QPR.
Burnley v Mansfield Town
● Burnley have eliminated Mansfield in their two previous FA Cup ties, winning 4-2 in the third round in 1934-35 and 2-0 in the third round in 2003-04.
● Mansfield are winless in their last 12 games against Burnley in all competitions (D3 L9) since a 1-0 win away at the Clarets in the Anglo-Scottish Cup back in November 1978.
● Burnley have won their last three home FA Cup matches and have won eight of their last ten home games in the competition against sides from outside the top two divisions (D1 L1). However, they did lose 1-0 to non-League Lincoln City in this run in February 2017.
● Mansfield have lost 17 of their 18 FA Cup games against top-flight opponents (W1), with this their first since a 2-1 loss to Liverpool in January 2013. Away from the home the Stags have lost all eight by an aggregate score of 18-2.
● Burnley’s Jaidon Anthony has been involved in four goals in his last four FA Cup appearances (two goals, two assists), scoring in their 5-1 win over Millwall in this season’s third round.
Manchester City v Salford City
● This is the second ever meeting between Manchester City and Salford City, with the Citizens winning 8-0 in the FA Cup third round last season.
● Salford City have lost all three of their competitive meetings with Premier League sides by an aggregate score of 15-0.
● Manchester City have won their last 20 matches in the FA Cup against sides from outside the Premier League, scoring 82 goals. At home, they’ve won their last eleven of these matches by an aggregate score of 59-5, hammering Exeter City 10-1 in the third round at the Etihad.
● Salford City are playing in the fourth round of the FA Cup for the first time in their history. The last time a side from the fourth division or lower eliminated a team in the top three of the top-flight was February 1971, with Colchester United beating league leaders Leeds United in the fifth round.
● Man City’s Jérémy Doku has been involved in six goals in three FA Cup appearances against sides from outside the Premier League (three goals, three assists), scoring or assisting on average every 22 minutes in these games.
Norwich City v West Bromwich Albion
● Norwich City have lost three of their four FA Cup ties against West Brom, winning the other 2-1 at the Hawthorns in the fourth round in 2011-12.
● West Brom have already beaten Norwich at Carrow Road in the Championship this season. The Baggies last won two away games against an opponent in a season in 2007-08, winning twice away at both Coventry and Peterborough.
● Norwich won 5-1 against Walsall at Carrow Road in this season’s FA Cup third round but the Canaries haven’t won consecutive home games in the competition since January 2003.
● West Bromwich Albion are looking to reach the FA Cup fifth round for the first time since 2019-20 – they’ve lost their last two ties at this stage, 3-0 against Bristol City in 2022-23 and 2-0 against Wolves in 2023-24.
● Jovon Makama netted a hat-trick for Norwich in the third round against Walsall and he has scored in each of his last four FA Cup appearances, scoring six goals – no player in the last two seasons has scored more than Makama’s six.
Port Vale v Bristol City
● Port Vale and Bristol City have never previously faced each other in the FA Cup, with this the first meeting between the two sides since a 3-1 victory for the Robins in League One in February 2015.
● Bristol City have won eight of their last nine games against Port Vale (D1) – since the first game in this run in April 2005, their 89 per cent win-rate against the Valiants is their strongest against any side they’ve played more than three times.
● This is Port Vale’s first FA Cup fourth round tie since falling to a 3-1 defeat to Brighton in 2013-14. The Valiants have been eliminated from five of their last six ties at this stage of the competition, last progressing to the fifth round in 1995-96.
● Bristol City have progressed from five of their last six FA Cup ties against sides from a lower division, while they have won eight of their last ten away games in the competition against lower tier opponents.
● Emil Riis has been involved in five goals in four starts in the FA Cup (four goals, one assist), scoring a hat-trick for Bristol City in their 5-1 win in this season’s third round, their first FA Cup hat-trick since Phil Jevons in December 2006 against Gillingham.
Southampton v Leicester City
● This will be the eighth FA Cup tie between Southampton and Leicester City and first since the pair met at the semi-final stage in April 2021, with the Foxes winning 1-0 at Wembley that day before going on to lift the trophy with a final win over Chelsea.
● Leicester City have faced Southampton twice before in the FA Cup fourth round, winning a reply 4-2 in January 1970 before losing 1-0 to the Saints at this stage in January 2006.
● After losing their last home FA Cup game against Burnley 2-1 in January last year, Southampton will be looking to avoid losing consecutive FA Cup games on home soil for the first time since January 2016.
● Leicester have progressed from seven of their last nine FA Cup fourth round ties since 2014-15, though did lose at this stage last season 2-1 against Manchester United. The Foxes were last eliminated at this stage in successive seasons in 2001-02 and 2002-03.
● Leicester’s Stephy Mavididi has scored in all three of his FA Cup appearances for the club, scoring and assisting in their 2-0 third round win against Cheltenham this season.
Aston Villa v Newcastle United
● Aston Villa have knocked Newcastle out four times from the FA Cup (1894-95, 1896-97, 1904-05, 2000-01), losing the other two ties in the 1923-24 final and third round in 1951-52.
● In five of the previous six seasons Aston Villa and Newcastle have met in the FA Cup, either Villa (1895, 1897, 1905, 1924) or Newcastle (1905, 1924, 1952) have reached the final that year, with two of those seasons seeing the sides meet in the final (1904-05 and 1923-24).
● Aston Villa knocked out Spurs in the FA Cup fourth round last season but haven’t gone beyond this stage in consecutive seasons since doing so between 2008-09 and 2010-11.
● Newcastle United have won six of their last eleven away games in the FA Cup (D2 L3), having gone 15 without a win on the road beforehand. The Magpies have lost ten of their last 13 away from home at Premier League opponents, however (W2 D1), failing to score in eight of their last nine.
● Morgan Rogers has been involved in four goals in five FA Cup starts for Aston Villa (three goals, one assist), scoring in their third round win over Spurs this season, while he scored and assisted against Spurs in last season’s fourth round.
Liverpool v Brighton and Hove Albion
● Liverpool have won four of their last five matches against Brighton in all competitions (L1), beating them 2-0 at Anfield earlier this season in the Premier League.
● This will be the seventh FA Cup between Liverpool and Brighton, with both sides progressing three times each – the Reds in 1907-08, 1990-91 and 2011-12 and the Seagulls in 1982-83, 1983-84 and 2022-23.
● Liverpool have been eliminated from six of their last nine FA Cup fourth round ties and were eliminated at this stage last season by Plymouth. In the Premier League era (1992-93 onwards), the Reds have suffered 13 eliminations at this stage – two more than other Premier League side (Spurs, eleven).
● Brighton have won their last three FA Cup fourth round ties, beating a Premier League side in each season. Indeed, since they were promoted to the Premier League in 2017, they’ve reached the fifth round six times, with only Man City (eight) and Man Utd (seven) doing so more often since 2017-18.
● Brighton have won seven of their last eight away matches in the FA Cup (L1) and since the start of the 2022-23 season have won more away games than any other side in the competition (first round onwards, seven).
Birmingham City v Leeds United
● Birmingham City have won three of their last four home matches against Leeds, all in the Championship and all without conceding. The other match in this run saw Leeds win 5-4 in December 2019 under Marcelo Bielsa.
● Leeds United have progressed from four of their five FA Cup ties against Birmingham, knocking them out in 1971-72, 1976-77, 1997-98 and 2012-13 – the other was a 3-0 win for the Blues in the third round in 2004-05.
● Birmingham are looking to reach the FA Cup fifth round for the first time since the 2019-20 campaign – they have been eliminated in six of their last seven ties at this stage.
● Leeds have now reached the FA Cup fourth round in the last four seasons – as many times as they’d managed in their previous 19 seasons combined. The Whites were knocked at this stage by Millwall last season but haven’t gone out in the fourth round in consecutive seasons since 1992-93 (vs Arsenal) and
1993-94 (vs Oxford).
● Since January 2000, Leeds have been drawn away from home in 37 of their 47 FA Cup ties, including 16 of their last 19 (including this tie). Among teams to play more than ten ties since 2000, Leeds have comfortably been drawn away in the highest percentage (79 per cent).
Grimsby Town v Wolverhampton Wanderers
● This is the first meeting between Grimsby Town and Wolves since the 2002-03 season, when Wolves won both league games in the second tier. They have won five of their last seven against the Mariners (D1 L1).
● Wolves have progressed from three of their four FA Cup ties against Grimsby Town, failing only in a 1-0 defeat in the first round in 1988-89. They have scored five or more goals in three of their five games (inc. replays) against the Mariners in the competition.
● Grimsby are looking to reach the FA Cup fifth round for a second time in four seasons, having gone to the quarter-final in 2022-23. Before this, they hadn’t reached that stage since 1995-96, when they drew 0-0 at home to Chelsea before losing the replay – the home game was the last time they hosted a Premier
League side before this tie.
● Wolves have progressed from five of their last six FA Cup fourth round ties, including in each of the last two seasons. They last reached the fifth round in three consecutive campaigns between 1979 and 1981.
● Grimsby Town’s last two FA Cup games have been against teams beginning with W – Wealdstone in the second round and Weston-super-Mare in the third round. This century, there’s been two occasions a team has faced three W teams in a season and both times they’ve knocked out all three teams – Fulham in
2001-02 (Wycombe, Walsall, West Brom) and Southampton in 2017-18 (Watford, West Brom, Wigan).
Oxford United v Sunderland
● This is the third FA Cup tie between Oxford and Sunderland – the U’s won 2-0 in a third round replay in 1988-89, while the Black Cats won 3-2 in the fourth round in 1991-92, eventually reaching the Final.
● Sunderland lost their last meeting with Oxford last April in the Championship but they have never lost consecutive games against the U’s in all competitions.
● Oxford United are looking to reach the FA Cup fifth round for just the second time this century, previously doing so in 2016-17. The U’s have been eliminated in ten of their last 12 fourth round ties.
● This is only Sunderland’s second FA Cup fourth round tie in the last eleven seasons – they were knocked out by Fulham in 2022-23 at this stage. They last reached the fifth round in the 2014-15 campaign.
● Oxford have been eliminated in eight of their last nine FA Cup ties against Premier League opponents, progressing only against Swansea City in 2015-16 in this run, beating them 3-2 in the third round.
Stoke City v Fulham
● Stoke City and Fulham have previously met once before in the FA Cup, with the Cottagers winning 3-0 in the fourth round in January 2007 at Craven Cottage.
● Fulham have progressed from each of their last seven FA Cup ties against sides from a lower division, since losing 2-1 at home to fourth tier Oldham Athletic in January 2019.
● Stoke have progressed from five of their seven FA Cup fourth round ties played on home soil this century, though they were beaten in a penalty shootout by Cardiff City in this round last season at the bet365 Stadium after a 3-3 draw.
● Fulham will be looking to reach the FA Cup fifth round for the second consecutive season, last achieving that feat in three seasons in a row between 2008-09 and 2010-11.
● Stoke have won each of their last five home FA Cup ties against sides from London, scoring 13 goals in total during that time which includes a 2-0 victory vs Leyton Orient in their last such match at the third round stage in January 2022.
Arsenal v Wigan Athletic
● This is the first meeting between Arsenal and Wigan since the 2013-14 FA Cup semi-final, which is their only previous FA Cup encounter. After a 1-1 draw, the Gunners won 4-2 on penalties with current boss Mikel Arteta netting in the shootout.
● Wigan have lost ten of their eleven away games against Arsenal in all competitions – the other was a 2-1 win in April 2012 in the Premier League under Roberto Martinez.
● Arsenal are looking to reach the FA Cup fifth round for the first time since 2019-20, when they went on to win the competition. This is only their third tie at this stage since then, losing 1-0 to Southampton in 2020-21 and 1-0 to Man City in 2022-23 previously.
● Wigan Athletic have won their last six away matches in the FA Cup, conceding just one goal in this run. They’ve already had one run of seven away wins in the competition from January 2013 to March 2014 – should they win here it would be just the fifth ever run of seven away wins in a row by a team in FA Cup
history (first round onwards) and two would have been achieved by the Latics.
● All four of Arsenal’s goals in the FA Cup third round 4-1 win over Portsmouth came via set pieces (three corners, one free-kick) – despite only playing this one game in 2025-26, no side has more set piece goals in the FA Cup this season than the Gunners (first round onwards).
Macclesfield v Brentford
● This is the first ever meeting between Macclesfield and Brentford – the Bees last faced a non-League side in 2018-19, needing a replay to beat Barnet at the fourth round stage.
● This is Brentford’s first ever FA Cup match as a top-flight side against a non-League opponent. At the fourth round stage, top-flight teams have progressed from 26 of 28 ties against non-League sides; the exceptions are Sunderland against Yeovil in 1948-49 and Norwich against Luton in 2012-13.
● Macclesfield knocked out Premier League side Crystal Palace in the third round – the last non-League team to knock out two top-flight sides in one FA Cup season was Millwall in 1913-14.
● Brentford have reached the FA Cup fourth round for the first time since 2021-22, when they lost 4-1 to Everton. In their last 19 seasons, the Bees have only reached the fifth round once, doing so in 2018-19.
● Macclesfield have won their first three matches in the FA Cup (first round onwards) – the last team to win their first four games in the competition were Rangers in the 1886-87 season, the only season they competed in the English FA Cup. Since 1925-26, no side has ever reached the fifth round in their debut season in the competition.
