Reds drawn with Royals

United will play Steve Coppell's Reading at Old Trafford in the FA Cup fifth round.

The tie will take place over the weekend of 17 and 18 February.

The clash will be the eleventh FA Cup meeting between the pair. United have won five of the previous ten Cup games (losing only one), the most recent being the 3-0 win in January 1996.

That day goals from Eric Cantona, Ryan Giggs and a stunner from defender Paul Parker sealed victory.

The pair have already met twice this season. The first game at the Madejski Stadium in September ended 1-1, while the return match at the end of last year resulted in a 3-2 win for the Reds.

Boss: We'll hit back

Sir Alex Ferguson was philosophical in defeat following Arsenal's smash and grab 2-1 victory at the Emirates Stadium, insisting all champions must overcome disappointment.

The Reds' boss saw his side go down to two late goals from substitute Robin van Persie and Thierry Henry, who headed the winner in the last minute of stoppage time.

"Both of ourselves and Chelsea will drop points. It is the name of the game. But how we cope is important," insisted the United manager. "Only true champions can come out of such disappointments and show their worth and I expect us to do that. We are still six points clear and we mustn't forget that."

The result prevented United from moving further ahead of nearest challengers Chelsea, who lost 2-0 at Liverpool on Saturday. Nevertheless, Sir Alex remained upbeat after the game and says lessons will be learnt from the experience.

"There is big disappointment in the dressing room but when I look at things now I think the result and the experience of losing so late will be good for us," he explained.

"We have some important away games to come at places like Tottenham, Liverpool and Manchester City, and if we get into that winning position again we won't be making mistakes like we made today again - I can tell you that for sure."

The Reds took the lead on 53 minutes through Wayne Rooney, who recorded his first headed goal of his United career. The visitors led for the next half an hour before van Persie pounced for the equaliser and Henry struck the final blow.

"We've lost two goals from positions where we didn't think we'd lose them," admitted the Sir Alex. "But that's football.

"After controlling the first half, we were in a good position and defending well. We had some good possession and probably should have done better with it, but these games are always difficult and you can never really dominate

Strikers give Sir Alex problems

Sir Alex Ferguson says that even selecting United’s substitutes bench has become a dilemma – but one of his greatest challenges is choosing the team’s strike-pairing.

Louis Saha (12 goals) and Wayne Rooney (eight) have been his preferred choice for much of the campaign. But with Ole Gunnar Solskjaer possessing the most clinical record (nine goals in 17 games) and Henrik Larsson already making his mark, the United boss has a tough decision on his hands every week.

Not that they are sole contributors to the scoreline; 13 others have chipped in this season, while winger Cristiano Ronaldo is top scorer on 13. For Sir Alex, the potential for goals in attacking positions has summoned memories of United’s Treble season, and the quartet of Andy Cole, Dwight Yorke, Teddy Sheringham and Solskjaer.

“My thoughts go back to our Treble year with no doubt in my mind that the key to our success in 1999 on three fronts was the fact that we also had four top-class strikers,” the Reds boss wrote in his United Review programme notes.

“I was able to vary my selections and keep our attack fresh and firing on all cylinders with each of them making a telling contribution as we went quickly from one competition to another, especially in the closing stages when the games arrived thick and fast.”

Talk of repeating the feat of 1999 is hugely premature, but despite that the United boss will not refine his team’s ambitions to one competition. “Hopefully, with four strikers available now, we will be able once more to keep the goals coming in the Premiership, the FA Cup and soon in Europe,” he adds.

Ole pays tribute to Larsson

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer claims Henrik Larsson is Scandinavia's greatest footballing export since legendary Danish midfielder Michael Laudrup.

The Swedish striker enjoyed a superb goalscoring debut against Aston Villa, prompting Solskjaer to draw the flattering comparison with former Juventus, Real Madrid, Barcelona and Ajax star Laudrup.

"Henrik Larsson is the best player we have had in Scandinavia since Michael Laudrup," he told Aftenposten.

"He continues to get better, and it was important for the manager to see what kind of shape he was in because he hadn't played for a while. I do not think he was disappointed."

Larsson's dramatic United bow sparked rumours that he could extend his loan to the end of the current campaign, while the Swedish FA are trying to tempt him out of international retirement.

Swedish FA chairman Lars-Ake Lagrell told Aftonbladet: "There have been talks with Henke. I cannot say exactly what these discussions involved.

"Obviously it would be fantastic news if Henke decided to play for the national team again. But I'm not so sure - I think Henke has made his mind up for definite this time."

Boss rues missed chances

Sir Alex Ferguson admitted after United drew 2-2 with Newcastle at St James’ Park that his side should have come away with three points after "creating enough chances to win five matches".

At 2-1 early in the second half the only additions to the scoreline looked like coming from the Reds. But the Magpies hit back with a deflected strike from teenage defender David Edgar.

However, despite the dropped points, Sir Alex isn’t too concerned about the implications the result could have on the title race.

“There will be points dropped by both teams,” he told Sky Sports. “There is a real challenge for the championship now. Chelsea are not getting it all their way as they have done in the last two years. We are serious contenders.”

Analysing the match, he added: “We had three cleared off the line, that’s a bit unlucky, and Ryan Giggs, Louis Saha and Ji-sung Park all had good chances. When you are creating chances you would hope you do enough to win, and we should have won the match with the opportunities that we had.”

The United boss was full of praise for Glenn Roeder’s players, who never gave up the cause. “I don’t think we played as well as we have done in recent weeks simply because Newcastle didn’t allow us to play," he added.

"They wanted to be first to every ball, showed determination and character. I’ve got nothing but praise for them. We missed a stack of chances but I have got to admire the spirit and determination of the Newcastle team. They deserved their point without question. When they put in that kind of effort they prove that it’s not an easy place to come to now.”