With his ailing side closer to the relegation zone than the top four in the Premier League the last thing he needs right now is a trip to arch rivals Manchester United, but that is excactly what fate threw at him when the draw was made.
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The draw has still provided plenty of quirks, however, none more so than Championship Leicester City's home tie with Manchester City.
Arsenal host Leeds United, who caused a seismic shock this time last year by knocking out Manchester United, while holders Chelsea have a home clash against second tier opponents in Roy Keane's League Cup semi-finalists Ipswich Town.
With their Premier League hopes disappearing up in smoke after a dreadful run of form, Chelsea's best hope of salvation this season looks like being in cup competitions.
Several minor league sides will be hoping to grab the spotlight, including York City, who take on the Premier League's Bolton Wanderers at the Reebok Stadium.
United's home game against Liverpool will recall plenty of memories of past clashes between the sides in the world's oldest cup competition but it is years since they met with such contrasting fortunes.
"In football you make certain you try and get over the result, you make certain the next result is a better one and hopefully wipes away the memory, that's all you can do," Hodgson told Liverpool's website.
"Football unfortunately throws up some good moments and bad moments, and when it throws up a bad moment there is no amount of talking that is going to change anything. It'll be the next performance which could change things."
United, the competition's most successful club with 11 triumphs, have not lifted the trophy for seven years, losing their most recent finals in 2005 and 2007.
"It was a bad result last season against Leeds
