Sunday’s FA Cup third-round draw pitted only two Premier League teams against one another — the two most decorated teams in English football.
Liverpool will head to Old Trafford for a Northwest Derby with Manchester United come Jan. 8, 2011, for a rematch of the famous 1996 Cup final won by United on an Eric Cantona winner.
While United have won seven of the past eight Cup contests between the sides and own the most Cup trophies with 11 titles, Liverpool did win the last Cup matchup in 2006.
Still, manager Roy Hodgson rued the matchup, according to ESPN.com.
“It will be an excellent game of football but it’s a bit unfortunate that two Premier League teams of the quality of Manchester United and Liverpool get drawn together in the third round,” said Hodgson. “I always feel that’s a bit sad.
“It’ll be a cracking game of football. No doubt we’ll find ourselves on TV again,” he added. “We seem to be on TV every week, so I better get my makeup ready.”
Manchester United defeated Liverpool at the Theatre of Dreams earlier this season, when Dimitar Berbatov scored three goals to Steven Gerrard‘s two. Liverpool will host the league rematch in March.
