The FA Cup's fourth round kicked off with a dramatic start as defending champions Manchester United secured victory over Leicester City, marking the beginning of an action-packed five-day football festival featuring 16 compelling ties. Manchester City, despite facing a challenging encounter at League One's Leyton Orient, managed to advance to the last 16, while Millwall emerged victorious at Leeds.
This year's competition introduces a significant change with the elimination of replays from the first round onwards. All matches will reach their conclusion on the same day, with extra time and penalty shootouts determining winners if necessary after 90 minutes of play.
The tournament showcases an intriguing mix of David versus Goliath matchups. Doncaster Rovers, the lowest-ranked team remaining in the competition and playing in League Two, earned their spot by defeating Championship side Hull City. They're now set to host Premier League's Crystal Palace in what promises to be an exciting Monday fixture.
Several League One clubs are preparing to welcome Premier League opposition. League leaders Birmingham City will face Newcastle United in a match that will be broadcast live on BBC One. Exeter City is scheduled to take on Nottingham Forest, while Wigan Athletic, who memorably claimed the trophy in 2013, will host Fulham.
In one of the most anticipated matches, Premier League leaders Liverpool will travel to face Championship strugglers Plymouth Argyle. Meanwhile, Coventry City, under the guidance of four-time FA Cup winner Frank Lampard, will test their mettle against Premier League side Ipswich.
The fourth round features four all-Premier League encounters, with the highlight being Tottenham's visit to Aston Villa. The match carries extra significance as Villa could debut their new signing Marcus Rashford, while Tottenham looks to end their 17-year major trophy drought.
Comprehensive coverage of all matches will be available across various platforms. BBC Sport will provide extensive coverage through BBC One, BBC iPlayer, and their website, including live text commentary for all 16 matches. ITV will broadcast select matches, including Chelsea's visit to Brighton on ITV4 and the Plymouth versus Liverpool clash on ITV1.
Radio coverage will be equally extensive, with BBC Radio 5 Live, 5 Sports Extra, and BBC local radio providing live commentaries. Notable broadcasting teams include Ian Dennis and Pat Nevin covering Wigan Athletic versus Fulham, and John Murray partnering with Leon Osman for the Birmingham versus Newcastle fixture.
Looking ahead, the fifth-round draw will take place during Monday's episode of The One Show on BBC One and BBC iPlayer, with former England winger and two-time FA Cup winner Theo Walcott conducting the draw at approximately 19:10 GMT.
