FA Cup replay rules 2024: Do quarter-final ties go to a replay if they end in a draw?

The FA Cup is getting down to the business end, and there is plenty of intrigue ahead of the quarter-final stage.

Manchester United’s meeting with Liverpool is many people’s stand-out tie of the round, with last season’s cup runners-up hoping to end Jurgen Klopp’s quadruple hopes. There’s also a tricky test for holders Manchester City, who take on a Newcastle United side who knocked them out of the Carabao Cup back in September.

There are two Championship sides vying for a semi-final spot, something which Sheffield United achieved last term before winning promotion. Both are away from home, with Coventry facing Wolves and Leicester taking on Chelsea in a repeat of the 2021 final.

While the FA Cup has retained replays in earlier rounds, it’s a different story at this late stage.

There haven’t been replays in the semis or final since back in 2000, but changes to earlier rounds are a more recent development. The 2016-17 season was the first without quarter-final replays, while fifth-round replays were ditched in 2019-20.

Manchester United, who take on Liverpool on Sunday, were involved in the last FA Cup quarter-final to go to a replay. They drew with West Ham at Old Trafford in March 2016 and won the replay 2-1 at Upton Park before going on to win the entire tournament.

The previous season, Liverpool needed a replay to overcome Blackburn in the quarter-finals. This time, though, any game level after 90 minutes will go to extra-time and – if required – penalties.

Coventry are the lowest-ranked side left in the competition, sitting eighth in the Championship. However, manager Mark Robins has pointed to the experience of last season’s play-off final defeat as they aim for another Wembley trip.

“We’ve got to be on our game, but there’s no reason not to be excited or looked forward to this game,” Robins said ahead the trip to Molineux. “It’s an amazing competition.

“Some of these players have played in play-off finals. The majority of the squad were there at Wembley to see us narrowly miss out. To be a part of big cup games is a big thing, but it is for Wolves as well. They are talking about wanting to win it, we want to get into a first semi-final in a long time.”

Wolves v Coventry will kick off the weekend cup action at lunchtime on Saturday, with Manchester City v Newcastle later that day. Chelsea v Leicester will be followed by Manchester United v Liverpool on Sunday, and all four ties will be decided on the day.