The magic of the cup. It’s a cliché that usually gets rolled out the moment a non-league team manages to draw against a Premier League giant, but honestly, looking at the results of the FA Cup fourth round draw, that sentiment actually feels earned this time. We’ve just come off a third round that saw the holders, Crystal Palace, get dumped out by sixth-tier Macclesfield. It’s the kind of result that makes you realize why we still bother with this competition in an era of super-clubs and predictable league tables.
Now that the balls have settled and the dust from Anfield has cleared—where Steven Gerrard and Joe Cole handled the honors—we have 16 ties that feel like a proper mix of high-stakes drama and "banana skin" potential. If you’re a fan of a certain club, you’re probably either planning a nervous away day or breathing a sigh of relief.
The Standout Ties You Can't Miss
Basically, if you only watch two games, make it the ones involving the heavy hitters facing real tests. Liverpool v Brighton & Hove Albion is the headline act. Brighton has become a persistent thorn in the side of the "Big Six," and seeing them head to Anfield for a knockout match is exactly what the FA Cup fourth round draw should be about. It’s a tactical chess match that usually ends in a 3-2 thriller.
Then there’s Aston Villa v Newcastle United. This is the only guaranteed all-Premier League clash (assuming Liverpool didn’t slip up against Barnsley in their replay). These are two clubs with massive ambitions and, frankly, they both need a trophy to justify the spending. Someone’s season is going to feel a lot emptier after this one.
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The Full Schedule for the Weekend of February 14
The FA has already confirmed the TV picks, and they’ve spread the love across the Valentine's Day weekend. It’s romantic, right? Watching a muddy tackle at Grimsby while your partner wonders why you aren't at dinner.
- Friday, February 13: Hull City v Chelsea (7:45pm, BBC One). This is the big homecoming for Liam Rosenior, who is returning to the MKM Stadium now as the Chelsea boss. Talk about a narrative.
- Friday, February 13: Wrexham v Ipswich Town (7:45pm, BBC Wales). The Hollywood story continues.
- Saturday, February 14: Burton Albion v West Ham United (12:15pm, TNT Sports). This has "upset" written all over it if the Hammers show up in their sleepy Saturday mode.
- Saturday, February 14: Aston Villa v Newcastle United (5:45pm, BBC One).
- Saturday, February 14: Liverpool v Brighton & Hove Albion (8:00pm, TNT Sports).
- Sunday, February 15: Birmingham City v Leeds United (12:00pm, TNT Sports). A classic old-school rivalry.
- Sunday, February 15: Grimsby Town v Wolverhampton Wanderers (1:30pm, TNT Sports).
- Sunday, February 15: Arsenal v Wigan Athletic (4:30pm, TNT Sports). Wigan won it in 2013; Arsenal wins it basically every other year.
- Monday, February 16: Macclesfield v Brentford (7:30pm, TNT Sports). This is the one everyone is talking about. The sixth-tier side hosting a Premier League team under the lights.
Why Macclesfield is the Story of the Draw
You’ve got to love Macclesfield. After the heartbreak of the original club’s demise, the phoenix club is now in the fourth round. They didn't just scrape through; they beat the defending champions. When their ball (number 30) came out against Brentford, the social media reaction was basically a collective "here we go again."
Brentford is a well-run club, but they aren't used to being the "Goliath" in this scenario. Playing at the Leasing.com Stadium on a Monday night in February is a nightmare for any top-flight professional. It’s narrow, it’s loud, and the pressure is entirely on the visitors. If John Rooney’s side pulls this off, we aren't just talking about a "story"—we’re talking about one of the greatest runs in the history of the competition.
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The Giant Killers and the "Safety" Draws
Manchester City got a bit of a break, drawing the winner of Salford City or Swindon Town. Pep Guardiola’s side put 10 goals past Exeter in the last round, so whoever travels to the Etihad is likely just looking for a respectable scoreline and a nice payday. Speaking of paydays, the FA has confirmed that winning clubs in this round will bag £127,000 from the prize fund. For a team like Grimsby or Macclesfield, that’s transformational money.
Wrexham is another fascinating one. They edged past Nottingham Forest in a 3-3 thriller that went to penalties, and now they host Ipswich. It’s a tough draw. Ipswich has been flying, but Wrexham at the Racecourse is a different beast entirely.
What Most People Get Wrong About the Fourth Round
Usually, people think the big teams rotate their squads heavily here. That used to be true. But with the Premier League title race often being a two or three-horse race by February, the FA Cup becomes the only realistic path to silverware for teams like Chelsea, Newcastle, and Aston Villa. Expect stronger lineups than you’d normally see. Managers are under too much pressure to "throw" a game against a Championship side like Hull or Leeds.
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Also, don't sleep on Stoke City v Fulham. It’s not the glitziest fixture on paper, but Stoke has a weird habit of making life miserable for London clubs in the winter.
Actionable Insights for the Fourth Round
If you're looking to actually follow this weekend properly, keep a few things in mind. First, the replays are gone for this stage in many modern iterations, but always check the specific year's rules—for 2026, the focus is on getting these games decided to ease fixture congestion.
- Check the BBC iPlayer and Discovery+: Not every game is on traditional "telly." A lot of the 3:00pm Saturday games like Burnley v Mansfield won't be broadcast, but the major highlights packages are usually up within hours.
- Watch the "Return" Narratives: Liam Rosenior going back to Hull is the biggest one. These games often turn on the emotions of the manager or a former player returning to their old stomping ground.
- Keep an eye on the weather: February in Grimsby or Macclesfield is a leveling factor. If it’s windy and raining, the gap between a Premier League star and a National League North player narrows significantly.
The FA Cup fourth round draw has set the stage for a weekend that could define the second half of the season. Whether you're rooting for the underdog or just want to see if Arsenal can avoid a Wigan-shaped banana skin, the mid-February schedule is looking absolutely packed.
Make sure to clear your calendar for that Monday night Macclesfield game. It’s what football is actually supposed to be about.