Only six EPL teams left in FA Cup

• by Paul Kennedy  @pkedit, Jan 28, 2008

[ENGLAND] A day after its American owners, George Gillett and Tom Hicks, completed a re-financing deal that should allow them to remain as owners and go ahead with their plans to build of a new stadium, Liverpool avoided embarrassment in in the English FA Cup when the Reds twice rallied from one goal down and beat sixth-level Havant & Waterlooville at Anfield.

Other Premier League teams weren't so lucky. Only six EPL teams advanced to the final 16.

A hat trick by Israeli midfielder Yossi Benayoun denied Havant the biggest upset in the FA Cup's 137-year history.

Defending champion Chelsea reached the last 16 with a 2-1 victory at Wigan, while Arsenal disposed of Newcastle, 3-0, leaving the Magpies still without a goal since Kevin Keegan took over as manager. In the other all-EPL affair, Manchester United defeated Tottenham, 3-1, on Sunday.

Middlesbrough and Portsmouth were the only other EPL clubs still alive. Eight League Championship (second division) and two League One (third division) were still alive after a weekend that produced winners in all 16 games.

Derby County, last in the EPL, suffered the worst defeat when it lost to Preston North End, tied for 22nd in the League Championship, 4-1, at home.

FA CUP RESULTS
Jan. 27
Man. United 3 Tottenham 1
Hereford (IV) 1 Cardiff (II) 2
Sheffield United (II) 2 Man. City 1
Jan. 26
Wigan 1 Chelsea 2
Arsenal 3 Newcastle 0
Barnet (IV) 0 Bristol Rovers (III) 1
Coventry City (II) 2 Millwall (III) 1
Derby County 1 Preston North End (II) 4
Liverpool 5 Havant & Waterlooville (ML) 2
Oldham (III) 0 Huddersfield (III) 1
Peterborough (IV) 0 West Bromwich (II) 3
Portsmouth 2 Plymouth (II) 1
Southampton (II) 2 Bury (IV) 0
Watford (II) 1 Wolves (II) 4
Mansfield (IV) 0 Middlesbrough 2
Jan. 25
Southend (III) 0 Barnsley (II) 1