FA Cup: United can't afford to lose to Liverpool, Chelsea to beat Leicester?

FA Cup drama: Coventry shocks Wolves, Chelsea faces Leicester, Man United vs Liverpool showdown.

Bruno Fernandes must prove he is the right leader for Manchester United as the club takes on Liverpool in the FA Cup on Sunday. (Photo credit: GOAL)

Manchester United’s season could be defined by what they do at Old Trafford on Sunday when Liverpool visits for their FA Cup clash.

Manchester City beat Newcastle through two deflected strikes from Bernardo Silva to keep their title defense intact, but there was a hell of drama at the Molineux, where championship side Coventry City shocked Wolves with last-gasp magic.

The FA Cup is known for surprises, and Coventry City served every bit of it on Saturday. The visitors scored in the second half and looked like they got the job done until Rayan Ait Nouri took laws into his own hands, scored the leveler, and had a hand in the Wolves' second goal.

Who would have thought that a game that was 2-1 to the Wolves after the 90th-minute mark would end 2-3 to the visitors? Ellis Sims leveled deep inside stoppage time, and Haji Wright got on the end of a Sims assist to break the hearts of the hosts.

On Sunday, Chelsea will take on Leicester City, while the game of the round will be the one at Old Trafford, where a loss would mean the place of coach Erik Ten Hag goes under the spotlight, with INEOS unsure of his competencies.

Chelsea isn’t in a good place, and a defeat to the championship side would put Mauricio Pochettino under more intense pressure. The win on Monday over Newcastle didn’t look like it helped much; a semifinal ticket in the FA Cup would be immense.

How will Manchester United approach the Liverpool game? They are the ones with something to prove; Liverpool already has a trophy this season, and while they have a quadruple in their sights, they would understand that United needs this more.

Liverpool hammered Slavia Prague 6-1 in midweek while United rested, momentum up against freshness. Who will give that extra fight when the battle is even? Liverpool is the favorite considering their current form, but any game at Old Trafford between these two cannot be exactly straightforward.

Mohammed Salah is back and available for selection; he was instrumental to their ruthlessness at midweek, and United must find ways to stop him. Bruno Fernandes must stand up to be counted on a day like this, and United must prove they want it more.