FA Cup quarter-final draw to bring fixture chaos as Liverpool learns opponents
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Liverpool IconLiverpool FC NewsFeaturesFA CupLiverpool discover their FA Cup quarter-final opponents on Monday night, with the Easter weekend draw set to cause fixture pile-up for Southampton and Port ValeDetails for the fifth-round of the FA Cup have been released(Image: The FA via Getty Images)The FA Cup quarter-final draw is poised to create a fixture congestion headache for both Southampton and Port Vale - with the two non-Premier League clubs needing to identify alternative dates for postponed matches.The eight remaining teams in the competition including Liverpool will contest their quarter-final ties on the weekend of April 4 - forcing their scheduled league fixtures for that weekend to be rescheduled. Top-flight clubs are well versed in rearranging matches for FA Cup commitments, as happens annually, with the Reds beating Wolves at Molineux on Friday night.However, sides lower down the football pyramid may struggle to locate a suitable alternative date.
Port Vale pulled off the weekend's biggest upset by defeating Sunderland courtesy of a first-half strike from Ben Waine.READ MORE: Liverpool legend defends Luis Diaz transfer after Arne Slot admits he 'misses' playerREAD MORE: Murillo already made Liverpool transfer feelings clear as offer 'prepared' for defenderMeanwhile in the capital, Southampton progressed past Fulham following a stoppage-time spot-kick.The FA Cup quarter-finals will take place on Easter Weekend - Port Vale are scheduled to travel to Cardiff in the Welsh capital on 3rd April - before welcoming Rotherham to Vale Park three days later. Southampton are likewise due to play across the same two days, entertaining Ipswich on the Friday before making the trip to Wrexham on the Monday.The demanding schedule in the EFL means that the midweek-weekend fixture calendar offers minimal opportunity to secure a vacant slot.For Port Vale, they have just one available midweek between the FA Cup quarter-final period and the final day of the campaign on 2nd May.They make the trip to Plymouth on April 25 before welcoming Lincoln a week later - making that midweek their only realistic available slot.
Southampton have slightly more flexibility as they benefit from two one-week gaps between fixtures.Ben Waine of Port Vale celebrates after scoring against Sunderland(Image: Nick Potts/PA Wire)There's a possibility that both Port Vale and Southampton could be compelled to play one of their Easter Weekend fixtures in the days either side of their FA Cup quarter-finals.Finding available slots for matches could become even more complicated if Port Vale or Southampton were to produce another upset by reaching the semi-finals, which are scheduled for April 25.The eighth team for the quarter-final draw will be determined on Monday night when West Ham face Brentford. Arsenal, Manchester City, Liverpool and Chelsea all remain in contention.Leeds are the only top-flight side still harbouring dreams of Wembley glory.Arsenal avoided a cup upset by dispatching Mansfield on Saturday, whilst Chelsea also overcame lower-league opposition despite an early fright, as they defeated Wrexham.