The draw for the round of 64 in the FA Cup is always full of expectations and surprises. The Premier League's giants seem to be smiling this time around, especially Manchester United, Manchester City and Chelsea, who all play against lower-tier teams with ease. However, Tottenham face a strong promoted side Burnley, who won a few months ago but are now riddled with injuries and the FA Cup is not going easy.
An early showdown between Arsenal and LiverpoolIt is undoubtedly the focus of this round. Both teams have performed well in the Premier League and qualified for the last 16 of European competitions, but their performances in the Carabao Cup have been very different. Arsenal exited early, while Liverpool advanced to the quarter-finals. Their meeting in the FA Cup is destined to be sparkling.
The FA Cup has an interesting rule, a draw before the round of 16 requires a home-and-away replay. It's a test for the big teams. Last season, Liverpool's results slipped due to a draw in the FA Cup and a busy Premier League fixture. They met Wolves three times in a month and only won one. So, to avoid the extra burden, the big teams must try to win in under 90 minutes.
Looking back, the FA Cup has left many classic moments. Think of Wigan 10 years ago, when they beat Manchester City in the FA Cup and suffered relegation at the same time, the coexistence of such contradictions and glory is really the charm of football. Manchester United, who were once overtaken by Manchester City and lost the Premier League title, was also an unforgettable scene for Sir Alex Ferguson.
The most anticipated thing is this year's final. Last year's thrilling Manchester derby saw Manchester City win the FA Cup, then the Champions League to become England's second ever treble-winner. Who will be the winner of this year's FA Cup? Will it continue the glory of the giants, or will there be a surprise from the dark horse?
In short, every game in the FA Cup is something to look forward to. Every team has its own story, and every game has the potential to write new history. As fans, our greatest pleasure is to watch these stories unfold one by one. This year's FA Cup, we witness it together!