FA CUP 4TH ROUND
If you ever wondered why the FA Cup has more charm than any other football tournament in the world then just fix your eyes on Anfield tomorrow afternoon at 3pm and you'll find out exactly why.
There in one of Europe's most celebrated stadiums you'll see little Havant and Waterlooville bidding to do the impossible and dump Premier League giants Liverpool out of the FA Cup.
The side who play in the Blue Square Southern non-league division will face the seven times winners Liverpool knowing that a victory would be acknowledged as the greatest ever FA cup shock result of all time.
While the Havant part-timers have faith in their abilities having knocked Bognor Regis, Fleet Town, Leighton Town, York City, Notts County and Swansea City out of the cup so far bookies are offering odds of a staggering 100/1 on them defeating the side managed by under-fire Spaniard Rafael Benitez.
However, impossible as it may seem, this is the perfect time for Havant to play the multi-millionaire professionals as the Reds are in crisis.
Liverpool supporters in their thousands voiced their anger and concern over the ownership of the club at last Monday's Premiership clash with Aston Villa and despite the fact that co-owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett have completed a £350 million refinancing deal the Red's faithful and the players are not a happy bunch.
While a third string Liverpool outfit would be expected to defeat the likes of Havant and Waterlooville the dream is still very much alive for the Hampshire minnows.
Elsewhere over the weekend Kevin Keegan makes his first ever visit to the Emirates Stadium when Newcastle face Arsenal in the Cup.
The Gunners were humiliated mid week by bitter rivals Tottenham going down 5-1 in the second leg of their League cup semi-final at White Hart Lane and the defeat has highlighted cracks in Arsene Wegner's title chasing side.
During that mauling strikers Emmanuel Adebayor and Nicklas Bendter were involved in an on pitch scuffle with the latter holding his head after an apparent head-butt.
A wounded Arsenal can be a dangerous animal though and the Toon Army will fear a backlash of mammoth proportions at the Emirates on Saturday.
Another intriguing tie to look forward to is Barnet against Bristol Rovers at Underhill.
Both sides came through dramatic penalty shoot-outs midweek with Barnet putting Swindon Town out of the Cup and plucky Rovers ending Premiership outfit Fulham's interest in the competition.
On Sunday Tottenham still on a high after reaching the League Cup Final head for Old Trafford to face the Premiership Champions.
As Alex Ferguson's side go in chase of a treble they will be determined to keep their good record against the Londoners on track and an away win would certainly be a shock at this stage of the Cup.
Full FA CUP 4th ROUND FIXTURE LIST:
SATURDAY:
Arsenal v Newcastle United
Barnet v Bristol Rovers
Coventry City v Millwall
Derby County v Preston North End
Liverpool v Havant and Waterlooville
Mansfield Town v Middlesbrough
Oldham Athletic v Huddersfield Town
Peterborough United v West Bromwich Albion
Southampton v Bury
Watford v Wolverhampton Wanderers
Wigan Athletic v Chelsea
SUNDAY:
Hereford United v Cardiff
Manchester United v Tottenham Hotspur
Sheffield United v Manchester City
