Sunday’s FA Cup third-round draw threw up two particularly mouth-watering ties and plenty of other intriguing contests, with Premier League and Championship sides preparing to enter the competition.
Arsenal’s showdown with Liverpool at the Emirates Stadium will be the centrepiece of round three, which is scheduled for the weekend of January 6, but the atmosphere at a long-awaited Tyne-Wear derby between Sunderland and Newcastle United at the Stadium of Light could be even more electric.
Holders Manchester City have landed a favourable draw at home to Huddersfield Town, with Chelsea set to welcome Preston North End to Stamford Bridge and Tottenham facing an all-Premier League meeting against Burnley.
Manchester United should fancy their chances away at Wigan Athletic, with Erik ten Hag hoping to make amends for last season’s disappointing defeat to City in the final. And a special mention goes to Ramsgate, the lowest-ranked team left in the competition, who will face Ipswich Town at home if they get through a second-round clash with AFC Wimbledon on Monday night.
Third-round draw in full
Luton Town vs Bolton Wanderers
Shrewsbury Town vs Wrexham/Yeovil
Arsenal vs Liverpool
Stoke City vs Brighton
Norwich City vs Crewe or Bristol Rovers
West Ham vs Bristol City
Tottenham vs Burnley
Fulham vs Rotherham United
West Bromwich Albion vs Aldershot/Stockport
Southampton vs Alfretown Town/Walsall
Wimbledon/Ramsgate vs Ipswich Town
Peterborough vs Leeds United
Watford vs Chesterfield/Leyton Orient
Sunderland vs Newcastle United
Sheffield Wednesday vs Cardiff City
Millwall vs Leicester City
Middlesbrough vs Aston Villa
Nottingham Forest vs Blackpool/Forest Green
Crystal Palace vs Everton
Wigan Athletic vs Manchester United
Manchester City vs Huddersfield Town
Blackburn Rovers vs Cambridge United
Gillingham vs Sheffield United
Swansea City vs Morecambe
Chelsea vs Preston North End
Queens Park Rangers vs Bournemouth
Coventry City vs Oxford United
Brentford vs Wolves
Plymouth Argyle vs Sutton United
Maidstone United vs Stevenage/Port Vale
Newport County/Barnet vs Eastleigh/Reading
Hull City vs Birmingham City