Newport vs Manchester United LIVE: FA Cup result, final score and reaction as United narrowly avoid cup upset

Even an injury-time winner was not the most dramatic event in Merseyside football in the last couple of days but there is a shared sense of gloom. While Liverpool mourn Jurgen Klopp’s planned departure, Everton’s disappointment stems from different reasons. As they were ejected from the FA Cup, Luton Town’s supporters chorused about going to Wembley; after last season’s play-off final, they have fond memories of the national stadium.

Yet if Everton claimed they merited a free kick when the Hatters took the lead and could point out that Cauley Woodrow’s decider came 14 seconds into the 96th minute – only five had been signalled – neither grievance had much weight. Luton had more cohesion and chances, more dynamism and drive. Perhaps they had more in reserve, too, with two substitutes, Luke Berry and Woodrow, playing pivotal parts in the decider.

If Sean Dyche’s sides tend to be set-piece specialists, they were beaten at their own game. Both Luton goals came from corners, just as they had prospered from dead-ball situations when achieving their maiden Premier League win at Goodison in September.

The visitors are here:

Before we get underway in Wales, let’s have a look back at some of the FA Cup stories of thw weekend so far. And where else to start but Portman Road, where Maidstone United pulled off one of the greatest FA Cup upsets of recent times as goals from Lamar Reynolds and Sam Corne sealed a 2-1 win over Championship promotion chasers Ipswich Town.

In the half-time break between Liverpool vs Norwich, the FA Cup fifth round draw has taken place.

The winner of this tie will face an away fixture against the winner of Bristol City vs Nottingham Forest which is set for a replay after the game ended in a 0-0 draw.

Here’s the draw in full:

Blackburn/Wrexham v Newcastle

Chelsea/Aston Villa v Leeds/Plymouth

Bournemouth v Leicester

Liverpool/Norwich City v Watford/Southampton

Bristol City/Nottingham Forest v Newport County/Manchester United

Wolverhampton v Brighton & Hove Albion

Sheffield Wednesday/Coventry v Maidstone United

Luton Town v Manchester City

Newport manager Graham Coughlan admits Erik ten Hag is in the FA Cup firing line and warned Manchester United to expect a “unique and hostile” atmosphere at Rodney Parade.

United meet League Two County for the first time in their history in Sunday’s fourth-round tie, with 74 places between them in the football pyramid and millions of pounds on their respective balance sheets.

Yet Rodney Parade’s tight confines and a crowd of just under 10,000 will welcome United with Ten Hag, during a dismal season at Old Trafford, under pressure to progress in the only competition the Red Devils have a chance left of winning.

It’s virtually as expected for Newport but it’s a surprisingly strong team named by United. There are returns to the starting XI for Casemiro and Martinez who have spent long spells out on the sidelines, with Fernandes, Garnacho, Antony and Hojlund leading an attacking forward line for Erik ten Hag.

We should have team news landing any minute now - will there be any surprises?

Earlier in the week, Manchester United pulled off a coup in the first major appointment of the Sir Jim Ratcliffe era, as Omar Berrada of Manchester City has been appointed chief executive.

The recommendation came from Ineos, and was backed by the board, who have been looking to fill the role since Richard Arnold left last year.

Although there had been expectation that Jean-Claude Blanc would step in as CEO, his preference is to stay with the wider sporting group owned by Ratcliffe. That led United to Berrada, and it is understood he had been earmarked for months.

Erik ten Hag says financial fair play restrictions will prevent Manchester United from acting in the January transfer window to fill the “gap” in attack left by Anthony Martial’s extended absence.

This has been a quiet month across the board and the Red Devils have focused on streamlining the squad rather than bolstering it.

Jadon Sancho, Donny van de Beek and Hannibal Mejbri are among those to have left on loan, with United always expected to do little to nothing in terms of signings.

And not even the fact that Martial has been ruled out until April after undergoing surgery on a groin injury is likely to change things due to Premier League profit and sustainability rules.

“I looked but there is no space,” United boss Ten Hag said. “No space on FFP to do something about this lack of quantity in the striker position.