LONDON, Feb. 12 (Xinhua) -- Chelsea coach Liam Rosenior can expect a warm welcome when he takes his side to play former club, Hull City in the fourth round of the FA Cup on Friday night.
Rosenior was surprisingly sacked by the Championship (second division) club after a relative successful spell after he helped the team from the north of England avoid relegation and then led it to within a whisker of the play-offs to the Premier League.
He returns after a successful start at Chelsea and could have Liam Delap in his side, with Delap also returning to the club where he had a successful loan spell.
Hull City is enjoying an excellent season under current coach Sergej Jakirovic and is fourth in the Championship, although both coaches are likely to make changes to their regular starting 11s.
The round has two all-Premier League ties with Aston Villa at home to Newcastle United where both coaches Unai Emery and Eddie Howe will be tempted to rest tired players while also knowing the Cup offers the best chance of lifting a title this season.
Liverpool is at home to Brighton, who is currently struggling for form in the league, but knocked Manchester United out of the third round with a 2-1 win at Old Trafford.
Manchester City should have a comfortable passage into the fifth round, although Pep Guardiola's tie at home to Salford City (League Two) is a local derby that helps to capture some of the old romance of the Cup.
Arsenal coach Mikel Arteta will rest regular starters for the visit of Wigan Athletic, who currently sits third from bottom of League One. The game highlights how fortunes can change in football given that 12 years ago the two teams met in the semifinal of the competition, with Arsenal reaching the final on penalties after 120 minutes ended 1-1.
West Ham should be able to forget its battle to avoid relegation with a visit to another League One struggler, Burton, while the Premier League's bottom club, Wolverhampton Wanderers travels to Grimsby Town of League Two.
Grimsby produced one of the biggest shocks of recent years earlier this season when it knocked Manchester United out of the EFL Cup and fans will be looking for another surprise against a rival that is virtually doomed to playing in the Championship next season.
Burnley should have few problems with Mansfield Town, although the League One side will look to defend deep against a Burnley that isn't exactly prolific in scoring goals.
Championship sides Stoke City and Oxford United could give some problems to Premier League rivals Fulham and Sunderland, while big-spending Birmingham City has an interesting game at home to Leeds United.
Macclesfield pulled off one of the biggest shocks in the entire history of the FA Cup in the third round when it knocked cup-holder Crystal Palace out of the competition and now the team coached by John Rooney (Wayne Rooney's younger brother) is looking for a repeat. ■
