TALKING POINTS

When Owen Hargreaves and Chris Sutton drew each other’s former clubs, Chelsea and Manchester United, out of the bowl to set up this FA Cup quarter-final, it was instantly hailed the tie of the round.

It has the lot: pride of London versus cock of the North, league leaders against cup holders, Jose Mourinho returning again to the club that sacked him last season, and the two most successful English clubs of the past decade battling to add to their haul of 10 major trophies apiece in that time.

Picked for a weekday evening kick-off, it will also have the floodlit feel of a replay, though such rematches have now been consigned to the past in this venerable old tournament.

In our first FA Cup joust with post-Ferguson Man United, Chelsea are tilting at extending the unbeaten run against the Mancunians from 11 to 12 matches in all competitions. The Blues have won five of the past six meetings at the Bridge in league and cup. United have won only twice in their past 19 visits here.