The sweet smell of FA Cup magic is all around in early January as teams up and down the land compete for places in the next round of the oldest national football competition in the world.
Holders Manchester City and their fellow Premier League teams enter the 2023/24 tournament this weekend, with everyone keen to avoid the embarrassment and shame that goes with an early cup exit.
The draw for the third round threw up some wonderful prospective encounters as Sunderland and Newcastle prepare for a first Tyne-Wear derby since 2016 while Premier League title hopefuls Arsenal and Liverpool collide at the Emirates Stadium.
With teams aiming for places in the fourth round, here’s how 90min sees the 2023/24 FA Cup third round panning out.
Thursday 4 January
The slate of third-round fixtures began on Thursday night as Crystal Palace hosted Everton at Selhurst Park.
Roy Hodgson and Sean Dyche are more concerned with Premier League safety, with their sides sitting 14th and 17th respectively, and neither would have really wanted a replay. But after a 0-0 stalemate and frankly absurd Dominic Calvert-Lewin red card, the duo must square off again on Merseyside.
|
Kick-off Time (GMT) |
Fixture |
Result |
|---|---|---|
|
20:00 |
Crystal Palace vs Everton |
0-0 |
Friday 5 January
Three games – two being ties between top-flight clubs – signal the start of the weekend on Friday evening.
Brentford will be happy for the break in league duties having lost their last five games, though upcoming opponents Wolves won 4-1 on their recent trip to Gtech Community Stadium and will be full of confidence.
Fulham will hope to build on their win over Arsenal last time out in their meeting with Championship side Rotherham United and have already shown their cup pedigree so far this season by reaching the Carabao Cup semi-finals.
Tottenham start temporary life without Son Heung-min by hosting Burnley in north London. Spurs triumphed 5-2 on their trip to Turf Moor earlier in the campaign, with the Clarets still marooned in the Premier League’s bottom three. However, injuries to the Londoners means the visitors may well be smelling an upset here.
|
Kick-off Time (GMT) |
Fixture |
Prediction |
|---|---|---|
|
19:15 |
Brentford vs Wolves |
2-3 |
|
19:30 |
Fulham vs Rotherham |
3-1 |
|
20:00 |
Tottenham Hotspur vs Burnley |
2-1 |
Saturday 6 January
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