United learn next FA Cup tie after eliminating Arsenal

Sunday 12 January 2025 18:04

Manchester United have been drawn at home to Leicester City in the fourth round of the Emirates FA Cup.

The Reds will therefore face former striker and interim manager Ruud van Nistelrooy when he brings his Foxes side to Old Trafford in a few weeks' time.

United have already hosted Leicester twice this season, defeating them 5-2 in the Carabao Cup fourth round on 30 October and 3-0 in the Premier League on 10 November.

Van Nistelrooy was in charge of the Reds at the time, while Steve Cooper was the visitors' boss. The Dutchman replaced Cooper as the Foxes' manager on 29 November.

Highlights: United v Leicester City Video

Highlights: United v Leicester City

Highlights | Watch the best bits from Ruud van Nistelrooy's last game as interim head coach...

The FA Cup holders were the first team to be pulled out in the fourth-round draw, which took place just minutes after Ruben Amorim's men dramatically defeated Arsenal 5-3 on penalties at Emirates Stadium.

The two rivals were locked at 1-1 at the end of extra time, following goals by Reds captain Bruno Fernandes and Gunners defender Gabriel in the second half of normal time.

Altay Bayindir was chief among many heroes for the visitors, by saving Martin Odegaard's penalty to keep the score at 1-1 and then diverting Kai Havertz's spot-kick during the shootout.

Joshua Zirkzee scored the fifth penalty to seal the victory, as every United player successfully converted.

When asked for his reaction to being drawn against Leicester, United boss Amorim told the BBC: "First of all, I’m going to meet, for the first time, Ruud van Nistelrooy.

"I want to give him a hug! I will call him, he’s a class guy. But we want to win, to pass to the next round.

"[The FA Cup] is a very good competition, I really enjoy it."

United v Leicester is one of four all-Premier League ties in the fourth round, with Aston Villa hosting Tottenham Hotspur, Brighton & Hove Albion playing at home to Chelsea, and Everton welcoming Bournemouth to Goodison Park.

Highlights: United v Leicester City Video

Highlights: United v Leicester City

Highlights | Watch the best bits from Ruud van Nistelrooy's last game as interim head coach...

FULL FOURTH-ROUND DRAW

Manchester United v Leicester City
Leeds United v Millwall or Dagenham & Redbridge
Brighton & Hove Albion v Chelsea
Preston North End or Charlton Athletic v Wycombe Wanderers
Exeter City v Nottingham Forest
Coventry City v Ipswich Town
Blackburn Rovers v Wolverhampton Wanderers
Mansfield Town or Wigan Athletic v Fulham
Birmingham City v Newcastle United
Plymouth Argyle v Liverpool
Everton v Bournemouth
Aston Villa v Tottenham Hotspur
Southampton v Burnley
Leyton Orient or Derby County v Manchester City
Doncaster Rovers v Crystal Palace
Stoke City v Cardiff City

The fourth-round ties are due to be played between Friday 7 and Monday 10 February.

UNITED V LEICESTER: THE STATS

The Reds have faced the Foxes three times previously in the FA Cup, winning twice and losing once.

The first meeting was in the 1963 final, which United won 3-1 thanks to two goals from David Herd and one from Denis Law.

In 1976, the Reds beat the Foxes 2-1 in the fifth round and reached the final, ultimately losing 1-0 to Southampton at Wembley.

All The Goals: Ruud van Nistelrooy Video

All The Goals: Ruud van Nistelrooy

All The Goals | Watch Ruud van Nistelrooy's 150 United finishes to remind yourself of his greatness...

The last time the two sides met in the competition was in 2021, when Leicester knocked the Reds out in the quarter-finals, beating Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's side 3-1 at King Power Stadium.

The Foxes went on to win the FA Cup that season, memorably beating Chelsea 1-0 in the final with a Youri Tielemans goal.

As for the overall record in all competitions, United have won 72 of the 139 meetings so far, while Leicester have had 36 victories. There have been 31 draws.

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