FA Cup Fourth Round: 10 Major Talking Points from the Weekend's Action
The FA Cup fourth round delivered drama, controversy, and standout performances across English football. From managerial pressure to refereeing debates and emerging stars, the weekend provided plenty of material for discussion.
1. Is Support for Scott Parker at Burnley Waning?
The lack of pressure on Scott Parker this season has been mystifying, despite a collection of desperate performances and an impending relegation battle. While chairman Alan Pace and others at Turf Moor maintain loyalty to Parker, support in the stands is clearly dwindling. The winter transfer window's lack of backing left the squad short of quality, with limited routes out of their current predicament.
Burnley's Premier League record under Parker remains miserable, and the style of play has been devoid of entertainment. After finally securing a first league victory in 17 matches at Crystal Palace, Parker had the chance to follow it with FA Cup progress against third-tier Mansfield. Instead, Burnley were deservedly eliminated in a second-half performance that bordered on embarrassment in a half-full ground. The situation appears increasingly unsustainable at Turf Moor.
2. VAR Impact Felt in Absentia at Villa Park
Beyond a refereeing performance that embraced farce, Villa Park raised deeper questions about video assistant referees. How tuned in to the protocol have players become? When Tammy Abraham escaped to score Aston Villa's opener from an offside position, the lack of response from Newcastle's defenders suggested they were waiting for a VAR savior.
Semi-automated offsides offer close to zero margin for error for players and bail out blind-sided assistant referees. The arcane concept of playing to the whistle is now lost in the brave new world of delayed flags. What was supposed to be a safety net has fundamentally altered the psyche of how the game is played in elite leagues. The absence of VAR at Villa Park revealed how much has changed, though Chris Kavanagh's performance unfortunately deflected from Newcastle's impressive comeback.
3. Dominik Szoboszlai Among the World's Elite
Dominik Szoboszlai reached double figures for the season with an exceptional goal that sealed Brighton's fate at Anfield. Mohamed Salah described the midfielder as "one of the best players in the world right now" post-match. The output is in keeping with Szoboszlai's status as Liverpool's outstanding performer this term and is even more impressive considering the variety of positions he has occupied.
Manager Arne Slot agreed that Szoboszlai is now among the "elite" of world football and backed Florian Wirtz and Hugo Ekitiké to follow the same trajectory at Liverpool next season. Elite status means elite wages, however, and Liverpool must ensure Szoboszlai doesn't become the latest big name to approach the end of his contract. The 25-year-old's deal expires in 2028, but talks on an extension are underway with an early resolution being a priority.
4. Absence Confirms Mads Hermansen's No. 1 Status
While Jarrod Bowen's absence from West Ham's nervy extra-time win at League One strugglers Burton made headlines, another omission felt particularly telling. Mads Hermansen, whose West Ham career appeared to be heading in only one direction after a difficult start following his £16.5 million move from Leicester, was also not in Nuno Espírito Santo's squad.
Alphonse Areola started in goal, with 20-year-old Finlay Herrick on the bench. Hermansen, who started West Ham's previous two league games, seems to have regained favor after Areola had been Nuno's regular No. 1 until the start of this month. Nuno explained the decision as standard cup competition approach, but the message about Hermansen's status was clear.
5. Liam Delap Needs Goals to Become Chelsea's Main Man
It was a straightforward night for Chelsea at Hull on Friday evening, but an intriguing one in the battle to become Liam Rosenior's frontline striker. Liam Delap was handed an opportunity to lead the line in the FA Cup, and it looked as though his night would be defined by an awful first-half moment when he blocked a Dillon Phillips clearance, the ball bounced on the line, and the forward somehow failed to put the rebound away.
Although he failed to score his third Chelsea goal, Delap finished the night with three assists of extremely high quality. With the right service, he can offer plenty to Rosenior's system and is a credible option to lead the line every week. The question now is whether he can add the goals to make him first choice.
6. Manchester City Won't Challenge Rodri Punishment
Manchester City will accept whatever ruling comes regarding Rodri's charge of misconduct by the Football Association. The charge stems from Rodri questioning Robert Jones's neutrality after the referee allowed Dominic Solanke's first goal in City's 2-2 draw at Tottenham. After that match, Rodri said: "I know we won too much and the people don't want us to win, but the referee has to be neutral. It's not fair because we work so hard."
Speaking after his side's routine FA Cup fourth-round win, Pep Guardiola said: "Absolutely we will respect the decision. We accept everything, what the big hierarchies decide." In May 2023, Jürgen Klopp received a two-game ban for criticizing referee Paul Tierney after Liverpool's 4-3 win over Tottenham, setting a precedent for such cases.
7. Dominic Calvert-Lewin Shrugs Off Jeers at St Andrew's
Two sets of English football's most impassioned followings helped frame a cracking FA Cup tie at St Andrew's. Birmingham proved yet again how they "keep right on till the end of the road," equalizing in the 89th minute, but it was Leeds who go "marching on together" after prevailing on penalties.
During the match, home fans did their best to goad second-half substitute Dominic Calvert-Lewin without notable success. The striker, mooted as a potential back-up to Harry Kane at this summer's World Cup, grinned in response and didn't let it affect his performance before scoring in the shootout. With his 10 Premier League goals this season and improved fitness record, the Leeds fans' response of "England's No. 9" seemed rather more fitting.
8. Calafiori Blow Creates Chance for Arsenal Creativity
Will the unfortunate loss of Riccardo Calafiori in the warm-up provide Mikel Arteta with a blueprint for a bolder Arsenal? Bukayo Saka's summons from the bench meant he joined Eberechi Eze, Gabriel Martinelli, Noni Madueke, and Gabriel Jesus in an attacking starting XI that blazed to a 4-0 lead inside half an hour.
While Wigan, in the mire of a tumultuous League One season, aren't a good avatar for the well-drilled opposition Arteta faces week-to-week in the Premier League, this was a look at what happens when he lets his team off the leash. Saka, Martinelli, Madueke, and Jesus were all rewarded for direct runs in behind, with Eze able to show some of the creativity he was signed for. Wolves present a decent opportunity for Arteta to continue his adventurous streak.
9. Reasons to Be Cheerful for Rob Edwards at Wolves
If Rob Edwards is to take Wolves straight back up next season, he'll need a team prepared to put their bodies on the line against awkward opponents. In defeating Grimsby, Edwards's side showed the kind of collective desire that he hopes will be the springboard for a promotion assault in the Championship.
In awful conditions, Wolves could have easily buckled against a League Two side who had dumped Manchester United out of the Carabao Cup earlier this season. But Wolves proved they had the stomach for the fight with an impressive victory sealed through Santiago Bueno's second-half winner. Edwards, patiently writing a new chapter at Molineux, will hope this display is a sign of things to come.
10. Sunderland's Understudies Impress Against Oxford
There were so many impressive auditions from Régis Le Bris's attacking understudies during Sunderland's victory over Oxford that it's hard to rank them. Romaine Mundle was a candidate for man of the match in just his fourth start of the season, the left winger looking electric with the ball at his feet.
Chemsdine Talbi almost matched him on the right-hand side and was unplayable in moments. The Moroccan was replaced by January signing Jocelin Ta Bi, who used his cameo to torment the Oxford defense too. Eliezer Mayenda also had his moments in a rare runout, and Wilson Isidor led the line effectively. Sunderland's transfer business has provided Le Bris with signings ready to hit the Premier League running, and Sunday's showing was a reminder of the promise that could yet be unleashed.
