FA Cup predictions: Third round

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.

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.

Saturday 6 January

Saturday's fixture list sees the FA Cup fun really click into gear with no fewer than 19 games taking place.

Four matches kick off at 12:30 GMT but 15 minutes later the Tyne-Wear derby between Sunderland and Newcastle begins. The two rivals haven't met since the 2015/16 Premier League season, when the Black Cats finished a place and two points ahead of the relegated Magpies.

One of the early games sees National League South outfit Maidstone United, the lowest ranked team left in the competition, take on League One Stevenage with the real hope of a dramatic upset.

Brighton get their FA Cup journey underway by visiting Stoke, with top-flight colleagues Bournemouth and Sheffield United also in action in the 15:00 slot.

National League teams Chesterfield and Eastleigh have tough tasks ahead as they visit Championship and League Two opposition in Watford and Newport County respectively.

Chelsea have a two-legged Carabao Cup semi-final on the horizon but will want to book their fourth-round FA Cup spot by beating Preston, who have slipped into Championship mid-table after just two wins in their last ten games.

Sunday 7 January

Manchester City have plenty of trophy defences to engage in this season but few issues are expected when struggling Huddersfield Town visit the Etihad having managed only five league wins so far in 2023/24.

Also in action at 14:00 on Sunday are in-form West Ham United, who have to deal with the visit of Bristol City, while Leeds United will want a straightforward win when they travel to Peterborough United.

Wrexham's global popularity was boosted by an FA Cup run to the fourth round last year and they'll need to overcome higher division opposition again in Shrewsbury Town if they are to enjoy similar success in the tournament this time around.

One big-hitter will make an early FA Cup exit after Arsenal were drawn at home with Liverpool. Mikel Arteta won his first piece of managerial silverware with the Gunners in this competition in 2019, having previously bagged it as a player in 2013/14 and 2014/15. However, the Reds have lifted the trophy more recently, succeeding at Wembley in 2022.

Monday 8 January

The third-round slate finishes - aside from any potential replays - on Monday when the permanently shaken Manchester United try to avoid a new nadir when they battle 2013 winners Wigan Athletic.

Will Grigg, now of Chesterfield, helped the Latics scoop one of the all-time FA Cup upsets in 2018 with the winner against Man City, though Shaun Maloney's side approach this tie off the back of just one win in their last six games.

However, the Red Devils have the exact same recent record and with injuries still proving mightily difficult for manager Erik ten Hag to navigate, don't be surprised if this fixture rounds off the weekend's action with a shocking - or not so shocking - result.

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