1988–89 FA Cup
| Country | England | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Champions | Liverpool | ||
| Runners-up | Everton | ||
|
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The FA Cup 1988–89 was the 108th season of the world's oldest football knockout competition, The Football Association Challenge Cup, or FA Cup for short.
The first round of games were played over the weekend 19–20 November 1988, with most replays being played on 22–23 November. All other replays were played on 28 November.
The second round of games were played over 10–11 December 1988, with the first round of replays being played on 13–14 December. The Aldershot-Bristol City game went to two more replays.
The third round of games in the FA Cup were played over the weekend 7–8 January 1989, with the first set of replays being played on 10–11 January. Two games went to second replays, and one to a third replay.
The fourth round of games were played over the weekend 28–29 January 1989, with replays being played on 31 January – 1 February.
The fifth set of games were played over the weekend 18–19 February 1989, with replay being played on 22 February.
Most of the sixth round of FA Cup games were played over the weekend 18–19 March 1989, with a replay on 22 March.
Third Division Brentford's impressive cup run was ended by a 4-0 defeat at Liverpool, who were chasing the double.
Wimbledon's defence of the trophy ended with a 1-0 defeat at Everton.
West Ham United, struggling in the league but thriving in the cup competitions (as League Cup semi-finalists), surrendered their chances of FA Cup glory with a 3-1 replay defeat to Norwich City following a goalless draw in the first game.
Nottingham Forest kept alive their outside chances of a unique domestic treble by winning 1-0 against Manchester United, who lost their own last chance of silverware in a season in which they had failed to feature in the title race.
The FA Cup semi-finals were scheduled for 15 April 1989. The Everton–Norwich City game was completed as expected; however, the Liverpool–Nottingham Forest game was abandoned after six minutes due to the Hillsborough Disaster which claimed 94 lives on 15 April 1989 (the final death toll was 96). There was talk that the competition for this season would be abandoned, but on 30 April, it was confirmed that both teams would continue in the competition and play in a rescheduled semi-final, which was replayed on 7 May and won 3–1 by Liverpool.
Norwich's hopes of a first-ever FA Cup final were ended as Everton beat them 1–0 to book the second all-Merseyside FA Cup final in four seasons.
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