FA Cup quarter final draw confirmed as Man City face Liverpool

The FA Cup quarter final draw has produced a standout all Premier League clash after Manchester City were paired with Liverpool for a place in the semi finals.

Both sides progressed comfortably through the fifth round, with Manchester City defeating Newcastle United and Liverpool overcoming Wolves. The reward for their progress is a heavyweight meeting at the Etihad Stadium that could become one of the defining matches of this year’s competition.

The quarter final fixtures are scheduled to take place across the weekend of 4–5 April 2026.

The tie between Manchester City and Liverpool immediately stands out as the headline fixture of the quarter final stage.

Both clubs have ambitions of lifting the FA Cup this season and remain among the favourites to reach Wembley. Their meeting guarantees that one of the competition’s strongest contenders will be eliminated before the semi finals.

City secured their place in the draw after defeating Newcastle United, while Liverpool progressed following their victory against Wolves.

With both teams competing across multiple competitions this season, the encounter could carry significant implications for the latter stages of the campaign.

Arsenal will travel to Southampton in another quarter final tie.

Mikel Arteta’s side survived a challenging fifth round encounter against Mansfield Town, where the match remained level deep into the second half before a decisive strike from Eberechi Eze secured progression.

The Gunners will now attempt to navigate another away fixture as they look to continue their run toward Wembley.

Chelsea will face the lowest ranked remaining side in the competition when they welcome Port Vale.

The Blues endured a difficult match against Wrexham in the previous round, with the tie eventually extending into extra time. Chelsea ultimately secured victory after George Dobson’s late red card shifted momentum in their favour, allowing Alejandro Garnacho and Joao Pedro to score decisive goals.

Port Vale, currently struggling in League One, will now travel to Stamford Bridge hoping to produce another upset.

West Ham United will host Leeds United in the final quarter final pairing.

The Hammers progressed after a dramatic penalty shootout victory against Brentford in the fifth round. Goalkeeper Alphonse Areola made the crucial save during the shootout when he stopped Dango Ouattara’s attempted panenka.

West Ham now sit just one win away from a semi final appearance at Wembley as they prepare to face the Championship side.

Clubs will now turn their attention back to league fixtures before preparing for the quarter final ties in early April. Several teams involved remain active in multiple competitions, meaning squad rotation and fixture congestion could influence team selection.

The FA Cup quarter finals represent the final step before Wembley, making these matches particularly significant for clubs aiming to lift one of English football’s most historic trophies.

Which team do you think will reach the FA Cup semi finals after this quarter final draw?