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The game against Liverpool being played on Monday the 20th of February in a 7pm kick-off, the Reds having defeated Cardiff City 2-0 and Ipswich Town 2-1 at Anfield, then Burnley 3-0 at Turf Moor to date. The Clarets are in second place in United's league division which certainly gives you a good idea of the scale of the task the Blues youngsters will face in the biggest match of their career so far.
The undoubted tie of the round from the perspective of a neutral though comes in Manchester as City and United face each other in local derby for the chance to reach the semi-finals. City are at home in the match having beaten Coventry City 3-2 at the City of Manchester Stadium, West Ham 4-2 at Upton Park and Nottingham Forest 3-0 at the City Ground to reach this far. United, on the other hand, have seen off Birmingham City 2-0 at St Andrews, Sunderland 2-1, after extra-time, at Durham City FC and Charlton Athletic 2-1 at Old Trafford to make the last eight.
Crystal Palace play Southampton in all-Championship quarter-final with the Eagles having defeated Colchester 3-2 after extra-time, Tranmere 3-1 and Watford 3-2 after extra-time. Palace have been drawn at home at Selhurst Park in all four rounds so far and, like Carlisle United, are certainly making the most of their good fortune in the draw. The Saints, meanwhile, have won 5-2 at the Racecourse Ground against Wrexham, 1-0 against Aston Villa at St Mary's and 1-0 away to Bolton, the game against the Trotters being played at the Lancashire FA headquarters in Leyland.
In the last quarter-final Newcastle United will face Championship outfit Brighton and Hove Albion at St James' Park. The Toon had a tough game in the third round when they were taken to penalties after a 0-0 extra-time draw against lower ranked opposition in Stoke City, the North-East giants eventually winning through 8-7 on penalties. Their fourth round tie was settled in 90 minutes though after a 2-1 win over Sheffield Wednesday at Hillsborough, it was back to extra-time at the next stage however as they came out victors 2-1 over Brentford at Griffin Park. Lowly second tier club Brighton have done well to reach the quarter-final stage after coming through two tough ties following a relatively easy opening to the competition when they defeated Port Vale 2-1 after extra-time at the Withdean. The Seagulls then created the shock of the round at the next stage when they knocked out a star-studded Chelsea outfit 2-1 in front a huge 2,927 strong crowd, again at the Withdean. Albion saw off Premiership opposition is the last sixteen as well when they dumped out Blackburn Rovers with a 3-2 extra-time victory at Ewood Park.
Current FA Youth Cup betting from bet365 :
2/1 - Southampton
100/30 - Liverpool
4/1 - Manchester City
5/1 - Manchester United
7-1 - Newcastle United
16/1 - Crystal Palace
20/1 - Brighton and Hove Albion
66-1 - Carlisle United
Updated Quarter-Final Draw :
Ties to be played by Saturday 18 February 2006
1 | Crystal Palace | v | Southampton |
2 | Manchester City | v | Manchester United |
3 | Newcastle United | v | Brighton & HA |
4 | Liverpool | v | Carlisle United |
| Semi-final, 1st leg, ties to be completed by Saturday 11 March 2006 | ||||
| 1 | Liverpool | v | Crystal Palace or | |
| or Carlisle United | Southampton | |||
| 2 | Newcastle United or | v | Manchester City or | |
| Brighton & HA | Manchester United | |||
| Semi-final, 2nd leg, ties to be completed by Saturday 25 March 2006 | ||||
| 1 | Crystal Palace | v | Liverpool or | |
| or Southampton | Carlisle United | |||
| 2 | Manchester City | v | Newcastle United or | |
| or Manchester United | Brighton & HA | |||