Liverpool's FA Cup draw outcome blasted as rigged as unusual moment spotted

The draw for the FA Cup quarterfinals was conducted on Monday, with Liverpool set to travel to Manchester City - with Joe Hart's actions before the draw sparking controversy

Arne Slot and Pep Guardiola will go head-to-head in the FA Cup as Liverpool take on Manchester City(Image: Getty Images)

Fans have accused the FA Cup quarterfinal draw of being “rigged” as a trip to Manchester City awaits for Liverpool.

Arne Slot’s team advanced to the last eight after beating Barnsley, Brighton, and Wolves. Andrew Robertson, Mohamed Salah, and Curtis Jones scored the goals to book Liverpool’s place in the quarterfinals with a 3-1 win at Molineux.

Ultimately, the FA Cup represents Liverpool's best chance of winning silverware this season. The Reds find themselves 19 points behind Premier League leaders Arsenal, and face a difficult draw in the UEFA Champions League with Liverpool set to clash with Galatasaray in the last 16.

However, Liverpool will have to face last season’s runner-up if they are to win. The Reds have been handed a tricky tie against City at the Etihad.

City’s route to the quarterfinals has seen Pep Guardiola’s team eliminate Exeter City, Salford City, and Newcastle United. The two teams will clash at the Etihad on the weekend of 4/5 April, marking the first game after the March international break.

Liverpool and City last met in the FA Cup four years ago, when Jurgen Klopp's Reds won 3-2 in the Wembley semi-final. Liverpool went on to hoist the trophy, defeating Chelsea on penalties.

Elsewhere in the draw, rivals Arsenal and Chelsea were handed more favorable draws. The Gunners travel to Championship Southampton in the quarterfinals, while Liam Rosenior's side faces Port Vale. The final tie sees West Ham United or Brentford host Leeds United.

Viewers of the draw were not pleased, however — and some took aim at the process. Joe Cole and Joe Hart were the two figures conducting the draw, with the former Liverpool midfielder picking City out of the pot first.

Joe Hart seemed to glance into the pot before pulling out Liverpool against City(Image: YouTube TNT Sports)

Then, Hart — a former City goalkeeper — appeared to lean over and glance inside the pot before plunging his hand inside. He pulled out the No. 6 ball, setting up Liverpool’s trip to Manchester, which has angered fans.

“Man City vs Liverpool rigged?, since when was you allowed to take a sneak peek into the ball pit prior to picking?” one user posted. Another wrote: “It’s rigged. The only surprise for me is that City didn’t get Port Vale and Liverpool didn’t get Chelsea but it’s basically what I said it would be.”

“No way the draw is not rigged lmao,” added another while one more posted: “Cooked and corruption ridden draw.”

Other fans fixated on rivals Arsenal, suggesting the North London club is benefiting from tremendously favorable draws: “Of course Arsenal get the easiest and Liverpool get the hardest. Rigged as usual.”

“Liverpool got to come to the Etihad lmao so rigged,” lamented another user. One more posted: “So Chelsea get port vale, Arsenal get Southampton and we get city yeah this s--- is rigged beyond belief.”