Holders Manchester United visit Arsenal in FA Cup blockbuster
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LONDON – Holders Manchester United will travel to record 14-time winners Arsenal in what promises to be an enthralling clash in the FA Cup third round in January, while Manchester City, Liverpool and Chelsea were all drawn at home to fourth-tier rivals.
The Red Devils, 13-time winners of the competition, visit the Gunners in the English Premier League on Dec 4, a little over a month before their FA Cup fixture.
The third-round matches, in which Premier League and second-tier clubs enter the competition, will be held from Jan 11 to 12.
Aston Villa, with seven FA Cup titles to their name, will welcome West Ham United in the only other all-Premier League clash.
Last season’s losing finalists Manchester City host fourth-tier neighbours Salford City, while Premier League leaders Liverpool welcome Accrington Stanley. Chelsea are at home to another League Two side, Morecambe.
Salford are co-owned by United’s “Class of 92” players Gary Neville, David Beckham, Ryan Giggs, Paul Scholes, Phil Neville and Nicky Butt.
Shortly after the draw was made on Dec 2, Gary Neville cheekily tweeted: “He’s getting sacked in the morning @SalfordCityFC.”
That was in reference to the chants aimed at City manager Pep Guardiola, who has been struggling after his side’s latest Premier League defeat on Dec 1, a 2-0 loss to Liverpool.
City have lost four straight matches in the English top flight and Salford will be hoping that their poor form continues into January, however unlikely that may be.
Tottenham Hotspur, eight-time winners, travel to non-league Tamworth.
Tamworth and Dagenham & Redbridge are the only two non-league sides who made it to the third round this year, with the latter visiting second-tier Millwall.
Brighton & Hove Albion, fighting for fourth spot in the Premier League, travel to Championship side Norwich City.
Championship leaders Sheffield United will host Cardiff City, 20th in the second-tier standings.
Meanwhile, Everton defender Ashley Young could be in for a dream family clash when his side take on Peterborough United, where his 18-year-old son Tyler plays.
Peterborough travel to Goodison Park with Young keen to see his son in action at the League One club where the midfielder made his first senior appearance this season.
“Dreams might come true,” Young said in a post on X before the draw was made.
A former England international, Young boasts a remarkable total of 724 appearances for top clubs including Watford, Aston Villa, Manchester United and Inter Milan.
He was also a former United captain, winning the Premier League in 2012-13 in Alex Ferguson’s last season in charge as Red Devils boss.
The 39-year-old is in a similar situation to LeBron James and his son Bronny, who became the first father-son duo to play together in a National Basketball Association regular-season game for the Los Angeles Lakers in October. REUTERS
