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Battle for Red pride as Manchester United hosts Liverpool in FA Cup quarterfinals

Manchester United versus Liverpool always gets the pulse racing, and fans of the clubs will be on the edge of their seats when the teams clash in the FA Cup quarterfinals tomorrow (11.30pm).

The two most successful clubs in England do battle at Old Trafford, giving United a slight edge as it chases the only silverware it can win this season.

The Red Devils will not contemplate a defeat as it is struggling in the league and in danger of not qualifying for next season’s Champions League.

Although its form has been poor, United will surely raise its game against its fiercest rival. The game also means more to Erik ten Hag, who knows his future at the club will depend on how the team performs in the last two months of the season.

The Dutchman delivered the League Cup Champions League football last season, but everything has gone wrong since then.

Long considered great entertainers – United teams usually score for fun – ten Hag’s outfit has only scored 39 goals in the EPL, with relegation-threatened Luton scoring two more.

Of the 20 EPL teams, United ranks 15 for goals scored.

Liverpool, meanwhile, has already won the League Cup and is in the quarterfinals of the Europa League. It is second in the EPL and hopes to add the FA Cup to make it a historic quadruple in Jurgen Klopp’s final season as manager.

It warmed up for this tie with a 6-1 defeat of Sparta Prague on Friday morning to advance 11-2 on aggregate.

Mohamad Salah, Darwin Nunez and Cody Gakpo scored against the Czech team, and Liverpool rested Luis Diaz, who will surely start the match at Old Trafford.

While Liverpool’s record at Old Trafford has improved in recent seasons, the game will still be too close to call.

In the other ties, Manchester City takes on Newcastle, Leicester travels to Chelsea and Wolves meets Coventry.

Due to FA Cup fixtures, there are only four English Premier League matches – Burnley-Brentford, Luton-Nottingham Forest, Fulham-Tottenham and West Ham-Aston Villa.

League leader Arsenal is not in action after losing to Liverpool in the third round of the FA Cup as its EPL opponent – Chelsea – plays Leicester.

EPL FIXTURES (Malaysian time)
SATURDAY
Burnley vs Brentford (11pm)
Luton vs Nottingham Forest (11pm)

SUNDAY
Fulham vs Tottenham (1.30am)
West Ham vs Aston Villa (10pm)

FA CUP QUARTERFINALS
SATURDAY
Wolves vs Coventry (8.15pm)

SUNDAY
Manchester City vs Newcastle (1.30am)
Chelsea vs Leicester (8.45pm)
Manchester United vs Liverpool (11.30pm)