This season's cup competitions are providing Manchester United manager, Louis van Gaal, with the opportunity to visit some of England's more obscure footballing outposts in his first year in Britain.

After a stunning 4-0 loss at third-tier Milton Keynes Dons in the second round of the League Cup in August, Van Gaal and his team have been sent to two more unheralded lower-league teams in the FA Cup.

United was hardly convincing in eliminating third-tier Yeovil and fourth-tier Cambridge - after a replay - in the past two rounds. Next up for England's biggest club is a trip to Preston North End, which plays in the third division and is the club that United sent David Beckham on loan to, as a 19-year-old - before he returned to Old Trafford to begin his illustrious top-flight career.

The biggest threats to United are fierce rivals Liverpool, who visit Crystal Palace today in one of three all-Premier League match-ups in the last 16, and FA Cup holder Arsenal, who are at home tomorrow to Middlesbrough - the second-tier team that knocked out Man City. United plays Preston on Monday.

Here are some other things to know about the fifth round:

Crucial decision

Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers must decide whether Mario Balotelli's late winning goal against Tottenham in the league as a substitute on Tuesday, is enough to earn the Italy striker a return to the starting lineup against Palace.

Rodgers may not want to start Daniel Sturridge for the second time in five days because the England international has just returned from five months out injured.

With Raheem Sterling nursing a foot injury, the door could be open for a first start for Balotelli since November. Sturridge raised the possibility of starting alongside Balotelli, which happened once - to great effect in a big away win at Tottenham - before his injury.

Aston Villa begin life without Paul Lambert in a home match against Leicester, after the manager was fired on Wednesday.

The FA Cup had provided Villa and Lambert with some respite from their miserable campaign in the Premier League, where they are in the bottom three after Tuesday's 2-0 loss at Hull. The team has scored just one goal in eight league games, and Lambert's departure was inevitable.

Today, Stoke travel to second-tier Blackburn, West Bromwich Albion hosts West Ham, and a non-Premier League team is guaranteed a spot in the quarterfinals when Derby play Reading.

Bradford was rewarded for beating Chelsea in the last 32 with a home match against Sunderland tomorrow.