Wrexham in FA Cup Spotlight as Rosenior Reunites with Hull

The FA Cup fourth-round weekend opens with a Friday-night double bill that instantly commands attention: League One promotion-chasers Wrexham welcome high-flying Ipswich Town to the Racecourse Ground, while Hull City’s Liam Rosenior faces a reunion of sorts as the Tigers host Chelsea at the MKM Stadium.

For Wrexham, the 7.45 p.m. kick-off under the lights offers another chance to remind English football that their Hollywood story is underpinned by serious on-pitch ambition. Phil Parkinson’s side sit firmly in the automatic-promotion picture in the third tier and have already accounted for Championship opposition in earlier rounds. Ipswich, second in the Championship and chasing a return to the top flight for the first time since 2002, will arrive in North Wales expecting progress, yet the Welsh club’s cup pedigree this term suggests Kieran McKenna’s men will need to be ruthless if they are to avoid a cupset.

Across the M62, Hull boss Rosenior will pit wits against a Chelsea side that has found renewed form under Mauricio Pochettino. Rosenior spent the bulk of his playing career in blue—albeit with Derby County and later Reading and Hull—and the 39-year-old will be eager to engineer a headline-grabbing victory that could propel the Tigers into the last 16 for the first time since 2018.

Saturday’s slate is headlined by two all-Premier League collisions. Aston Villa and Newcastle meet at Villa Park in the tea-time slot, Unai Emery juggling injuries to John McGinn, Boubacar Kamara, Youri Tielemans and Matty Cash while trying to protect an eight-point cushion over Liverpool in the race for Champions League places. Eddie Howe’s Newcastle ended a wretched away run with a hard-fought win at Tottenham and will see the Cup as their best remaining route to silverware after bowing out of the Carabao Cup.

Later, Liverpool host Brighton at Anfield in a tie neither manager can afford to lose. Arne Slot has labelled the season a disappointment and knows a cup run is vital to keep morale high; opposite number Fabian Hurzeler, meanwhile, is under mounting pressure after the Seagulls slipped to within seven points of the relegation zone.

Sunday’s programme features a trio of compelling ties. Birmingham City, unbeaten in eight and 10th in the Championship, welcome Leeds United to St Andrew’s in a repeat of so many bruising encounters down the years. Daniel Farke’s Leeds have lost only twice in 13 Premier League matches and will hope the Cup can extend the feel-good factor at Elland Road. Arsenal round off the weekend against League One’s Wigan Athletic, where Mikel Arteta is expected to hand minutes to Gabriel Jesus as the Brazilian builds sharpness following an ACL lay-off. Kai Havertz’s recent injury means Jesus has a golden opportunity to reignite Arsenal’s attacking spark.

Elsewhere, giant-killings lurk. League Two Grimsby, fresh from dumping Manchester United out of the Carabao Cup, welcome bottom-of-the-Premier-League Wolves to a rutted Blundell Park pitch. National League North high-fliers Macclesfield, who shocked holders Crystal Palace in the last round, entertain Brentford on Monday evening, with the Silkmen targeting another scalp in front of a raucous Moss Rose crowd.

Whether it is Wrexham’s bid to keep the dream alive, Rosenior’s personal subplot at Hull, or the Premier League heavyweights trying to avoid banana skins, the fourth round promises drama from Friday’s first whistle to Monday’s last.