Holders Arsenal moved closer to an unprecedented fourth successive FA Cup final appearance when they crushed Middlesbrough 4-1 in a one-sided fourth-round tie at Highbury on Saturday.

Earlier Chelsea ended the challenge of minor League Scarborough with a 1-0 away win while third division Swansea City caused the surprise of the day with a late, 2-1 comeback win over first division Preston North End.

In the day's later game Bruno Cheyrou scored twice for Liverpool, who beat Newcastle United 2-1 at Anfield.

Middlesbrough, who beat an under-strength Arsenal side 1-0 in the first leg of the League Cup semi-final at Highbury on Tuesday but also lost 4-1 there in the League on January 10, were outclassed at Highbury.

Arsenal took the lead in the 19th minute with a deflected Dennis Bergkamp shot, though Middlesbrough equalised four minutes later with a superb goal from Joseph-Desire Job.

Arsenal, bidding to become the first club since Blackburn Rovers in 1886 to win the Cup three years in succession, pulled clear with two goals for Freddie Ljungberg (28 and 68) while 19-year-old David Bentley finished things off with a sublime chip.

"We always looked dangerous, I was very pleased with the team performance," said Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger, who opted to rest striker Thierry Henry.

DETERMINED CHALLENGE

Chelsea overcame a determined challenge from Scarborough thanks to John Terry's 10th minute header, though the Premier League side survived a late penalty appeal when William Gallas handled.

There was an all-action start at Anfield where Cheyrou scored for the third successive game to put the hosts ahead after two minutes only for fellow Frenchman Laurent Robert to equalise two minutes later with a 30-metre thunderbolt free kick.

Liverpool took charge after the break though and Cheyrou headed the second after a great cross from Steven Gerrard in the 61st minute.

The surprise of the day came at the Vetch Field where Swansea came back to beat Preston and reach the fifth round for the first time since 1980 with goals from Andy Robinson (80) and Lee Trundle (82).

Trundle maintained his record of scoring in every round this season against the club that rejected him as a youngster nine years ago.

"We've had a few blanks in the last couple of games but we've kept our heads up," said the striker, in reference to Swansea's three league games without a goal since their 2-1 win over Macclesfield in the third round.

The only other minor surprise came at Coventry where the first division side were held to a 1-1 draw by second division Colchester United.

First division Gillingham, who knocked out Charlton Athletic in the last round, lost 3-1 at Burnley but Tranmere Rovers, who ousted Bolton Wanderers in the third round, march on after a 1-0 win at fellow second division side Luton.

Birmingham City and Portsmouth, the other Premier League sides in action, both won, with Birmingham somewhat fortunate to beat first division Wimbledon 1-0 and Portsmouth edging third division Scunthorpe United 2-1.

There are five more matches on Sunday, including Manchester United at third division Northampton Town and the all-premier games between Everton and Fulham and Manchester City and Tottenham Hotspur.