Holders Chelsea will host Crystal Palace in the fourth round of the Women’s FA Cup, with the draw offering a favourable on-paper route for the reigning champions as they begin their defence of the trophy.
Emma Hayes’ side, six-time winners of the competition, secured a domestic treble last season after a commanding 3-0 victory over Manchester United in the final. They now face a Crystal Palace team competing outside the Women’s Super League, following relegation from the top flight, although cup football presents an opportunity for Palace to reset and challenge elite opposition.
Elsewhere in the draw, league leaders Manchester City travel to AFC Bournemouth, the current leaders of the third tier, in a potential banana-skin tie away from home. Fourteen-time champions Arsenal will host fellow WSL side Aston Villa at Emirates Stadium, while north London rivals Tottenham Hotspur also face top-flight opposition, welcoming Leicester City.
Manchester United have been drawn at home to third-tier Burnley, while Brighton & Hove Albion host second-tier Nottingham Forest. London City Lionesses face a testing away trip to WSL 2 side Sunderland, and Newcastle United welcome West Ham United in another all-WSL encounter.
The fourth-round fixtures are scheduled to take place over the weekend of Saturday, 17 January, with kick-off times and exact dates to be confirmed.
Women’s FA Cup fourth-round draw
Charlton Athletic v Swindon Town AFC Bournemouth v Manchester City Ipswich Town v Sheffield United Oxford United v Middlesbrough Chatham Town v York City Arsenal v Aston Villa Manchester United v Burnley Southampton v Bristol City London Bees v Liverpool Tottenham Hotspur v Leicester City Brighton & Hove Albion v Nottingham Forest Chelsea v Crystal Palace Newcastle United v West Ham United Sunderland v London City Lionesses West Bromwich Albion v Everton Hull City v Birmingham City
