Man Utd land Liverpool trip

Manchester United's reward for beating Manchester City in the FA Cup was a Fourth Round trip to Anfield to take on Liverpool.

The game will be the first meeting of the two sides since the controversial clash in October when Liverpool forward Luis Suarez racially abused United defender Patrice Evra. Liverpool accepted an eight-match ban for the Uruguayan over the incident earlier this month.

Players from United and Liverpool reacted positively to the draw on Twitter.

United defender Rio Ferdinand Tweeted: ''Liverpool away...what a tie! Great game for the £FaCup + our fans! Let's av iiiiiit! Roll on the 4th round.''

Reds midfielder Charlie Adam added: ''Great draw man united @ home that's the FA cup.''

QPR will host west London neighbours Chelsea if they can overcome the MK Dons in a replay at Loftus Road.

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

As well as Liverpool versus Manchester United, there are two other definite all-Premier League ties with West Brom hosting Norwich and Everton welcoming Fulham to Goodison Park.

Arsenal will be at home to Aston Villa if they can overcome Leeds at the Emirates Stadium on Monday, while Bolton will take on Swansea at the Reebok Stadium if they see off Macclesfield in a replay having drawn 2-2 at Moss Rose on Saturday.

Swindon, who upset the odds to knock out Wigan on Saturday, will face a trip to the east midlands in round four to take on either Nottingham Forest or Leicester.

Crawley will take on Hull after the League Two side knocked Championship club Bristol City out on Saturday.

The ties will be played on January 28, 29 and 30.

Fourth Round

Brighton & Hove Albion or Wrexham	v	Newcastle United
Sunderland	v	Middlesbrough
Dagenham & Redbridge or Millwall	v	Southampton
Hull City	v	Crawley Town
Milton Keynes Dons or QPR	v	Chelsea
West Bromwich Albion	v	Norwich City
Blackpool	v	Sheffield Wednesday
Arsenal or Leeds United	v	Aston Villa
Stevenage	v	Notts County
Watford	v	Tottenham Hotspur
Liverpool	v	Manchester United
Derby County	v	Stoke City
Everton	v	Fulham
Macclesfield Town or Bolton Wanderers	v	Swansea City
Sheffield United	v	Birmingham City or Wolves
Nottingham Forest or Leicester City	v	Swindon Town

Four-star Blues rout Pompey

Chelsea's flurry of late goals secured a comfortable 4-0 FA Cup third-round victory against Portsmouth.

The west Londoners never looked in any real danger of coming a cropper at Stamford Bridge as they netted four times in the second period.

Chelsea only had a Fernando Torres header to show from the first-half exertions as the 2008 winner proved tough opponents.

However, three minutes into the second half Juan Mata directed home a Florent Malouda cross to give Andre Villas-Boas' side the lead. Portsmouth poured forward in search of the equaliser, which would have come in the 53rd minute was it not for last-ditch defending from Petr Cech and John Terry.

However, that was as close as the npower Championship side came as Chelsea's superior class proved evident as Ramires grabbed a late brace and Frank Lampard scored deep into stoppage time.

Villas-Boas named a strong-looking Chelsea line-up for the game, with Malouda the only change to the side that beat Wolves on Monday.

Portsmouth made three alterations for the Stamford Bridge encounter, with Joel Ward and Greg Halford back from suspension and Ricardo Rocha returning from a calf injury.

Many wrote off Michael Appleton's side before the match but they came close to breaking the deadlock after just 29 seconds, with Dave Kitson finding space to fire a shot across the face of goal.

The effort spurred Chelsea into life, but they struggled to make their early dominance count, with several moves breaking down before they could get away a shot. Torres saw half-hearted appeals for a penalty turned down after a challenge by Jason Pearce during the opening 10 minutes, but came close to scoring soon after.

Malouda, who looked bright in the opening exchanges, fired in a left-wing cross that was met by the Spain international, although Stephen Henderson managed to parry wide the goalbound effort. Aaron Mokoena saw a header of his own come close at the other end as Portsmouth looked for a breakthrough, before Mata blazed over when the home side returned to the attack.

Chelsea were enjoying the lion's share of possession at Stamford Bridge but looked devoid of ideas going forward. The home side were reduced to audacious efforts as a result, including a long-range Ramires drive, before a misplaced pass allowed David Norris to get away a low 20-yard drive at the other end.

Henderson then thwarted an onrushing Lampard, before referee Anthony Taylor called time on a largely uneventful first half. Villas-Boas looked frustrated with Chelsea's performance but his half-time pep talk had the desired effect as his side broke the deadlock 130 seconds after the restart.

With Pompey appealing for a handball against Ashley Cole, the Blues took advantage as Malouda darted down the left flank and pulled back from the byline for Mata to turn in the effort from six yards. Portsmouth pushed forward in response to going behind as first captain Liam Lawrence curled a 20-yard free-kick agonisingly wide in the 50th minute, before three chances went begging during a penalty-box melee three minutes later.

Marko Futacs saw a low effort stopped by the legs of Cech, before Ward's header was cleared off the line by Terry and then Cech stopped Futacs' second attempt. Appleton's side smelt blood and pushed forward in numbers, although that attacking intent left gaping holes at the back.

Lampard had a shot blocked as he looked to extend Chelsea's advantage, before Henderson stopped a diving Ramires header. Portsmouth were becoming increasingly desperate as the half wore on, with Pearce heading over a Lawrence corner before the latter then blazed over wildly.

The south coast side continued to press forward as the match came to a close, but Chelsea's victory was confirmed when Ramires tapped home from close range in the 85th minute. Mata's cross was headed goalwards by Torres and the Brazil international reacted quickly to poke home the loose ball.

Two minutes later Ramires netted his second of the afternoon, latching onto a Torres ball through the middle before superbly flicking past Henderson. Portsmouth's collapse was completed in stoppage time as Lampard found space in the box to fire home the west Londoners' fourth.

United hold off spirited City fightback Man City 2 - 3 Man Utd

Wayne Rooney scored twice and Manchester United held off a dramatic fightback from 10-man Manchester City to win a pulsating FA Cup derby at the Etihad Stadium this afternoon.

United thrillingly led 3-0 after a remarkable first half in which Rooney headed the opening two goals, Danny Welbeck added another and City captain Vincent Kompany was sent off.

City hit back after the break with goals through Aleksandar Kolarov and Sergio Aguero, but United, for whom Paul Scholes came out of retirement to make a substitute appearance, held on to end City's cup defence in the third round.

The game, played on a greasy surface in continual drizzle, more than lived up to all the pre-match hype. At one stage it seemed United were on course to avenge their 6-1 thrashing last October in the most incredible fashion but City's recovery left them to settle for a narrow win.

Nevertheless, it was Premier League leaders City's first home defeat since December 2010 and reminded them that United remain in the way of their bid for domestic dominance.

The afternoon began unbelievably enough as United announced prior to kick-off that 37-year-old Scholes had rejoined the playing staff to help them through their injury problems and would be on the bench, having retired at the end of last season.

Yet what followed was even more dramatic as Rooney, after speculation over his own future, made an emphatic statement and United, initially, were ruthless in taking advantage of Kompany's dismissal.

There was little hint of that as City pressed United's reorganised defence in the opening minutes. Chris Smalling slotted in at centre-back alongside Rio Ferdinand while Phil Jones was moved to right-back.

Anders Lindegaard, again preferred to David de Gea in goal, was almost caught out by Sergio Aguero as he delayed a clearance but escaped with a goal kick.

The game exploded into life as United took the lead against the run of play in the 10th minute. Antonio Valencia found space on the right as the visitors counter-attacked and delivered a cross for Rooney, who had laid the ball off to the winger, to power home a superb header off the underside of the bar.

The England striker showed great technique as he rose above the City defence and then ran away to celebrate clutching the United badge on his shirt.

City were then dealt an immediate blow to their hopes of making a quick replay as Kompany was sent off for a challenge on Nani. Kompany clearly won the ball but referee Chris Foy showed a straight red card for the offence of lunging forward with both feet.

City were angry with the decision but recovered their composure and Aguero brought a fine save from Lindegaard from distance. David Silva then had a shot deflected wide and Aguero fired into the side-netting but United remained a threat on the break and took control after 30 minutes.

Nani was denied shooting space on the edge of the box but he fed the ball wide to Patrice Evra, who crossed low. Samir Nasri attempted to clear but did not make firm contact and Welbeck hooked in his seventh goal of the season on the volley.

Things got worse for City as they conceded a penalty six minutes before half-time when Kolarov brought down Welbeck. Costel Pantilimon, playing in place of the rested Joe Hart, saved Rooney's spot-kick but was unable to deny the United forward as he followed up to head in the rebound.

It seemed the best City could achieve in the second half was damage limitation, but they gave themselves hope as Kolarov pulled one back after 48 minutes. Evra was booked for felling Micah Richards outside the area and Kolarov stepped up to bend a superb free-kick around the wall and into the net.

Scholes came off the bench to make an unexpected 677th United appearance when he replaced Nani just before the hour. United wanted another penalty moments later when Valencia went over as Kolarov challenged him just inside the box but Foy gave nothing.

City got themselves right back into the game after 65 minutes as Milner nicked the ball off Scholes following a throw-in and whipped the ball in for Aguero. The Argentinian shot straight at Lindegaard but the Dane could only parry and Aguero blasted in the loose ball.

Scholes got his first sight of goal when he struck a trademark long-range shot after 71 minutes but Pantilimon saved comfortably. City sent on former United midfielder Owen Hargreaves in place of Nasri with eight minutes remaining.

City appealed long, but in vain, for a penalty when a low ball from Kolarov took a ricochet and appeared to catch Jones' arm. And City had United holding on as they pressed at every opportunity, but the ball would not fall for them in the box.

Richards attempted a spectacular overhead kick but failed to make contact. Kolarov tested Lindegaard with a free-kick in injury time but United, with victory in sight, scrambled the ball clear.

Scholes back at Man United

Paul Scholes has sensationally returned to Manchester United, and has been named on the bench for Sunday's Manchester derby in the Third Round of the FA Cup.

Scholes, 37, retired from professional football at the end of last season after an illustrious career with the Red Devils, though has continued to play the game and remains in good condition. He is part of the the club's reserve team coaching staff.

Newspaper reports over the past couple of days had suggested Scholes could be about to rejoin the club where he won 10 Premier League titles, three FA Cups, two League Cups and two Champions Leagues. However, Scholes' inclusion in the team to face City on Sunday means he had already re-signed before the press speculation began.

"It's fantastic that Paul has made this decision,'' said United boss Sir Ferguson. "It's always sad to see great players end their careers, but especially so when they do it early.

"But he has kept himself in great shape and I always felt that he had another season in him. It's terrific to have him back.''

Scholes said: "I've been pretty clear since I stopped playing that I miss it. I'm delighted the manager feels I can still make a contribution to the team and I'm looking forward to playing my part in trying to bring more success to this great club.''

It is believed Scholes was pressed into reconsidering by a number of senior colleagues, who felt the midfielder could still be a major influence on United's quest for honours at a time when so many central midfielders are absent.

"He came to see me and said he wanted to come back, he was missing it too much,'' Ferguson told ITV. "There were no negatives as far as I'm concerned. The players were fantastic about it, the fans I'm sure will be happy and I'm happy.

"Everyone knows he's one of the greatest players in Manchester United's history. He's a fantastic footballer and there's no loss to his real fitness which is important. He's sometimes missed three or four months with injuries, so it's more more or less the same kind of scenario.''

Mohammad Asif appeals to CAS over ban

Pakistan’s jailed pace bowler Mohammad Asif has lodged an appeal with the Court of Arbitration for Sports (CAS) against a ban imposed on him by the International Cricket Council (ICC) anti-corruption tribunal last year. The ICC tribunal imposed minimum five-year bans on Asif and his team mates Salman Butt and Mohammad Amir for their involvement in spot-fixing during the fourth test against England at Lord’s in August, 2010. A spokesman for Asif’s law firm, SJS Solicitors, said an appeal had been filed. “I can confirm that to you fully. It’s a very substantial appeal. The documentation has been sent not only to the CAS, it’s been sent to the ICC and to the Pakistan Cricket Board,” he said by telephone on Saturday. “These legal representations are highly professional and very serious.” An ICC spokesman said the world governing body were not aware of the appeal. The Pakistan trio were also found guilty of spot-fixing charges by the Southwark crown court in London last year and given prison sentences. Asif had engaged the legal firm after his conviction by the crown court. Asif, 29, who played 23 tests and 38 one-day internationals, was handed a 12-month sentence for his part in bowling deliberate no-balls during the Lord’s Test.