FA Cup fifth round

The tie that will steal most of the limelight in this weekend's fifth round of the FA Cup is the Everton-Manchester United clash at Goodison Park. FA Cup holders United will be in for a hard time as so will their new star player Wayne Rooney, who left Everton in summer for a sensational move to Old Trafford.

The home crowd will barrack the England youngster, but he will ignore his ex-fans to continue with his job and help United earn a place in the quarter-finals.

This is the first time Rooney returns to Goodison Park since moving to the Red Devils last August.

The 19-year-old, whose family are all Everton fans, remarked that he still had a soft spot for the club he supported as a boy. If he scores the goal that knocks the Merseysiders out and United go on to retain the silverware, his ex-club will earn £150,000 more - one of the additional payments attached to the £30 million deal.

His strike partner Ruud van Nistelrooy, sidelined with an Achilles tendon injury for almost three months, will be in the squad.

United, who have not conceded a goal in the competition so far, have won seven of their last eight League and Cup matches. In the Premiership this season, the Toffees held the Mancunians to a 0-0 draw at Old Trafford. The return game is scheduled for April 20.

Everton will be glad not to face a club from London, since all their defeats this season, including their fourth round exit in the League Cup (vs Arsenal) all came against sides from the capital. Four of these setbacks were at Goodison Park.

In their previous nine cup meetings, during which no tie finished in a draw, the Blues lead the Reds 5-4 and are undefeated in front of their own fans.

The last two clashes saw the contenders fighting it out for the ultimate prize. In 1995, Everton lifted the cup thanks to a Paul Rideout netting after Norman Whiteside scored the all-important goal for United in 1985.

Everton-United head-to-head meetings:

1994-95 Everton-United 1-0

1984-85 United-Everton 1-0

1982-83 United-Everton 1-0

1968-69 United-Everton 0-1

1965-66 Everton-United 1-0

1956-57 United-Everton 1-0

1952-53 Everton-United 2-1

1908-09 United-Everton 1-0

1902-03 Everton-United 3-1

All-big boys clashes

London is represented in six of the eight ties this weekend with no direct clashes between them.

One of the three all-Premiership clashes takes place at St James' Park where Newcastle face Premiership leaders Chelsea tomorrow.

Graeme Souness will be in search of a massive win that could be his first real acclamation since he joined the Toon to earn the backing of the fans.

Chelsea, already in the final of the League Cup, will be keen to make progress in the other domestic knockout contest. The Londoners have already won at St James' Park, in the fourth round of the League Cup (2-0) and earned the points at Stamford Bridge (4-0) in the Premiership.

This will be the seventh tie between the contenders. Chelsea lead 5-2 thus:

1999-00 Newcastle-Chelsea 1-2

1995-96 Chelsea-Newcastle 1-1

Replay: 2-2 (Blues win 4-2 on pens)

1958-59 Newcastle-Chelsea 1-4

1949-50 Chelsea-Newcastle 3-0

1931-32 Chelsea-Newcastle 1-2

1914-15 Chelsea-Newcastle 1-1

Replay: Chelsea 1-0

1910-11 Newcastle-Chelsea 3-0

Bolton vs Fulham. Sam Allardyce, whose side lost to Middlesbrough in the League Cup final last season, would love to watch Bolton go all the way in the FA Cup.

Bolton are currently on a high and Allardyce will look forward with confidence.

The Cottagers required extra-time to shrug off Derby's stubborn resistance at their own patch. The Londoners will be encouraged with their 2-0 (Cole 2) win at the Reebok Stadium in the second fixture of the season.

Their only cup connection came in the third round of 1952-53 when Bolton won 3-1 at home. They progressed to the ultimate showdown where they lost 3-4 to Blackpool in the Stanley Matthews Cup final.

Arsenal vs Sheffield United. For the third time running, Arsenal will face a Division One team following their home wins over Stoke 2-1 and Wolves 2-0.

For the last few years, Sheffield United have been bracketed with the genuine cup fighters and collected some fine scalps. In eight previous match-ups, Arsenal's five wins were tinged with agony or ecstasy.

In 2003 and 1936, the Londoners went on the lift the silverware, but in 1978 and 1927 they lost in the final.

In 1999, under the managership of Arsene Wenger, they defeated the Blades 2-1 at Highbury in a fifth round tie. Arsenal wanted the match to be replayed after the winning goal came when the ball should have been give to United after play was stopped due to injury to an Arsenal player.

In the replay, the Gunners won by the same scoreline.

Tottenham vs N. Forest. Tottenham, who saw off West Brom in a replay last Sunday in the previous round, will be keen to show that all the signings they did this season will prove fruitful at the end and go on and lift the FA Cup.

Their counterparts, however, had to sell some of their key players, two of them (Reid and Dawson) to the same Tottenham to survive.

In two of the three past wins over Forest, Tottenham triumphed 2-1 in the final at Wembley, where Paul Gascoigne suffered a severe injury, while in 1966-67, following their home 2-1 victory, they advanced to claim the silverware once more, beating Chelsea.

Bees at St Mary's

Brentford, the only club left from outside the top two divisions, will square up to Southampton at St Mary's Stadium for their first FA Cup encounter.

Bees manager Martin Allen will look forward to shake hands with two of his former mentors - Harry Redknapp and Jim Smith, who both assisted him in his career.

West London, in addition to the might of Chelsea, will also have Brentford representing them in the fifth round of the FA Cup.

Southampton's priority will be to retain their Premiership status this season but a good cup run will boost the club's coffers.

Allen is confident to lead his side to a place in the last eight for the fifth time in Brentford's history (their best performance in the FA Cup).

The two other cup ties this weekend comprise Premiership sides and teams from The Championship: Charlton at home to Leicester and Blackburn against Burnley at Turf Moor.

For the third consecutive time, the Valiants will have home advantage after they saw off Rochdale and Yeovil at the Valley.

Burnley, after their remarkable win over Liverpool, were rewarded with a home Lancashire derby against Blackburn. On past commitments, the results are a balanced affair with two wins apiece.

Charlton and Leicester will be meeting for the first time in the competition.