Sometimes you have to wonder if the draws for the Europa League, FA Cup, EFL Cup etc. are on the up and up. Quite often, it seems like the match-ups are just too perfect; too good for the powers that be getting exactly what they want.
Liverpool FC drawing Manchester United and then Borussia Dortmund in the Europa League last season are two great examples.
I mean a Jurgen Klopp Cup in the very first season that he moved from BVB to LFC? C’mon man!
Or United drawing City today for the fourth round of the EFL Cup. How convenient so many of these match-ups are, for the cause of generating TV ratings. United takes on City in a rematch of the most hyped Manchester Derby in history on September 10th. That blockbuster was shown in 190 countries.
Liverpool FC versus Tottenham Hotspur is a pretty exciting match-up on paper too; likewise with the London derby of Chelsea FC versus West Ham United.
Here’s the full list of fourth round draws
West Ham United v Chelsea
Manchester United v Manchester City
Arsenal v Reading
Liverpool FC v Tottenham
Bristol City v Hull
Leeds United v Norwich City
Newcastle United v Preston NE
Southampton v Sunderland
Paul M. Banks runs The Sports Bank.net, partnered with FOX Sports Engage Network. and News Now. Banks, a former writer for the Washington Times, currently contributes regularly to the Chicago Tribune’s RedEye publication and Bold Global.
He also consistently appears on numerous radio and television talk shows all across the country. Follow him on Twitter and Instagram and Sound Cloud.