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United travel to Liverpool in FA Cup

Manchester United's Wayne Rooney, left, celebrates his goal with Michael Carrick, right, during their FA Cup third round soccer match against Manchester City at the Etihad stadium, Manchester, England, Sunday, Jan. 8, 2012. (AP Photo/Scott Heppell)

Liverpool will host Manchester United at Anfield in the pick of the ties of the FA Cup fourth round.

The rivals, whose relationship has strained over Luis Suarez’s ban for racially abusing Patrice Evra, meet over the weekend of 28 January.

QPR host Chelsea if they can overcome MK Dons in a replay, while Sunderland entertain neighbours Middlesbrough.

The fifth round will definitely include a League One team after Stevenage drew Notts County.

Wrexham, who drew 1-1 at Championship side Brighton on Saturday, will earn a home tie with Newcastle if they can win their replay.

Macclesfield could face more Premier League opposition in Swansea if they can win their replay at Bolton, after drawing 2-2 with Owen Coyle’s side at Moss Rose.

Paolo di Canio’s Swindon’s reward for knocking Wigan out is a trip to either Nottingham Forest or Leicester, while Crawley head to Championship side Hull.

There could be as many as six all-Premier League ties, with Everton hosting Fulham, Norwich travelling to West Brom and Aston Villa awaiting Arsenal if the Gunners can get past Leeds on Monday night.

Suarez will be suspended for the match at Anfield but will be available after his eight-match ban when Liverpool head to Old Trafford in the Premier League on 11 February.

Liverpool announced last week that they would not be appealing against the ban, and United boss Sir Alex Ferguson rejected suggestions that the two clubs should hold conciliatory talks over the situation.

It is understood the Football Association plans to contact both clubs before the game in an effort to reduce the tension between the sides.

United, who progressed with a 3-2 win over neighbours City on Sunday, knocked Liverpool out in the third round of last year’s competition, winning 1-0 at Old Trafford in the first game of Kenny Dalglish’s second spell in charge.

But Liverpool were victorious in the club’s last FA Cup meeting at Anfield, with Peter Crouch’s effort sealing a 1-0 win over United in the fourth round in 2006.

United striker Wayne Rooney, who scored twice in the victory over City and started his career at Everton, is relishing the short trip to Anfield.

He wrote on Twitter: “What a draw for [the] next round. Another big game. Can’t wait for it already.”

Liverpool midfielder Charlie Adam tweeted: “Great draw, Man United at home. That’s the FA Cup.”

Manchester United’s former Liverpool striker Michael Owen said: “And people talk about United always getting lucky cup draws! It couldn’t get much tougher. What a game to look forward to.”

Meanwhile, Chelsea captain John Terry could make a first return to Loftus Road since he was accused of racially abusing QPR defender Anton Ferdinand, a matter which has become the subject of a criminal case and an accusation which he strenuously denies.

Terry is due to face a racially aggravated public order charge at West London Magistrates’ Court on 1 February, although the case is likely to be adjourned for anything up to 10 weeks.

Sunderland manager Martin O’Neill is already looking forward to his first North East derby at the Stadium of Light.

He told ITV: “It’s a tough one but we’re at home. I wonder what Lee Cattermole [who started his career at Middlesbrough] thinks?”

FA Cup fourth round draw in full:

Brighton or Wrexham v Newcastle

Sunderland v Middlesbrough

Dagenham & Redbridge or Millwall v Southampton

Hull City v Crawley

MK Dons or QPR v Chelsea

West Brom v Norwich

Blackpool v Sheffield Wednesday

Arsenal or Leeds v Aston Villa

Stevenage v Notts County

Watford v Tottenham

Liverpool v Manchester United

Derby v Stoke

Everton v Fulham

Macclesfield Town or Bolton v Swansea

Sheffield United v Birmingham or Wolves

Nottingham Forest or Leicester v Swindon

Ties to take place on the weekend of 28/29 January.

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