European champions Liverpool will play Manchester United in the fifth round of the FA Cup, according to the draw on Monday.

The tie will take place at Anfield on the weekend of Feb. 18-19 and is their third meeting in the FA Cup in a decade following United's 1-0 win in the 1996 Cup final and United's 2-1 fourth round win in 1998-99.

United, who have won the FA Cup a record 11 times, beat Liverpool 1-0 in the Premier League at Old Trafford last week with a last-minute goal from Rio Ferdinand.

"We played against Manchester United some days ago and people saw we are two teams that are very close," Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez told reporters.

"We were playing away then, but now are at home and that is going to give us an advantage. It is a difficult game for us, but if you are to win trophies you have to play and beat the best teams in the competition."

Just hours before the draw was made, United skipper Gary Neville denied an improper conduct charge from the FA for the way he celebrated the goal in the league win over Liverpool.

His personal hearing will be heard at a later date and, if he is found guilty, he could be suspended from the Cup match.

Favourites Chelsea will play third division Colchester United if they beat Everton in their fourth-round replay at Stamford Bridge next week.

Chelsea have never met Colchester in the Cup but Everton beat them 5-0 in the 1971 quarter-final after Colchester had famously knocked out Don Revie's Leeds United 3-2 in the previous round.

Source: Xinhua