For the first time in 25 years all eight quarter finalists are past FA Cup winners although it’s 64 years since Wolverhampton Wanderers last lifted the trophy, and 69 years since Newcastle United last did so.
Between them the eight clubs have lifted the Trophy 47 times, approximately one third of all FA Cup Finals! Three of the four Quarter Final ties have actually been FA Cup Finals in the past.
It is also the most experienced Quarter Final octet in FA Cup history with a combined total of 246 Quarter Final appearances between them.
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Saturday 16th March
12.15pm Wolverhampton Wanderers (Premier League) vs. Coventry City (EFL Championship) – ‘Live’ on ITV 1
This Midlands derby has happened twice before in the FA Cup but not for 40 years. Coventry won that tie 3-0 after two one-all draws, whilst Wolves won 2-0 at this stage of the competition when the clubs first met in the 1972-73 season.
It’s 15 years since the Sky Blues were last in the FA Cup Quarter Finals and the club hasn’t gone further than this round since lifting the Trophy 37 years ago. Wolverhampton Wanderers were in the semi-finals just five years ago, the fifth time they’ve reached the last four since they last won the Cup in 1960.
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5.30pm Manchester City (Premier League) vs. Newcastle United (Premier League) – ‘Live’ on BBC 1
This is the tenth time these two clubs have been drawn together in the FA Cup and it is Newcastle United that have won twice as many times as Manchester City in past Cup meetings. In fact it was Manchester City whom Newcastle United defeated the last time they won the Cup back in 1955.
The clubs first met in the competition in the 1923-24 semi-finals, won 2-0 by Newcastle United, and last met at this stage of the competition just four years ago, won 2-0 by Manchester City. A repeat of their 1957 3rd Round replay encounter would be most welcome for the neutral as Newcastle United defeated FA Cup holders Manchester City 5-4 after extra time.
A win for Manchester City would make them the first ever club to appear in six successive semi-finals, whilst Newcastle United last made the semi-finals 19 years ago.
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Sunday 17th March
12.45 Chelsea FC (Premier League) vs. Leicester City (EFL Championship) – ‘live’ on BBC 1
Chelsea have won seven of the previous eight FA Cup encounters against Leicester City with their only defeat to the Foxes in the competition critically coming in the 2021 Cup Final itself. The two clubs first met in the competition just over 100 years before then when Chelsea won a 3rd Round tie 3-0 in the 1919-20 season.
Of course this means that Leicester City have lifted the FA Cup more recently than Chelsea has done so, 2021 versus 2018, but that is so far the only time the Foxes have won the Cup whilst the Blues are eight times winners and have appeared in five of the last seven Cup Finals.
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3.30pm Manchester United (Premier League) vs. Liverpool FC (Premier League) – ‘live’ on ITV 1
This is the most common tie of this season’s Quarter Finals with this being the 15th different season the two clubs will face each other in the competition, having also twice met in FA Cup Finals, both won by Manchester United who have also won 10 of their clubs’ previous FA Cup ties.
The clubs first met in the FA Cup in the 1897-98 season when Manchester United were still known as Newton Heath. Liverpool won that tie 2-1 in a replay. They next met in the 1902-03 season, the first season for the Red Devils under their current name, which was won 2-1 by Manchester United. The two clubs most recent FA Cup meeting happened just three years ago with Manchester United winning 3-2 in a 4th Round tie.
Between them the two clubs have lifted this famous trophy a total of 20 times and have appeared in a combined total of 36 Cup Finals. Liverpool have won the Cup more recently, doing so just two years ago, but that was their only venture beyond the Quarter Finals in the last eight seasons.
Manchester United are appearing in a record 48th FA Cup Quarter Final and have at least made the semi-finals four times in those last eight seasons.
FA Cup Factfile 