FA Cup third-round draw: holders Manchester United visit Arsenal
The FA Cup holders Manchester United enter the fray at next month’s third-round stage with a visit to the record 14-time winners Arsenal, in a repeat of the 2005 final.
This stage of the competition sees the arrival of the 44 clubs from the Premier League and Championship, joining the 20 lower-league and non-league sides who won in round two.
Southampton v Swansea
Arsenal v Manchester United
Exeter v Oxford United
Leyton Orient v Derby
Reading v Burnley
Aston Villa v West Ham
Norwich v Brighton
Manchester City v Salford City
Millwall v Dagenham & Redbridge
Liverpool v Accrington
Bristol City v Wolves
Preston v Charlton
Chelsea v Morecambe
Middlesbrough v Blackburn
Bournemouth v West Brom
Mansfield v Wigan
Tamworth v Tottenham
Hull v Doncaster
Sunderland v Stoke
Leicester v QPR
Brentford v Plymouth
Coventry v Sheffield Wednesday
Newcastle v Bromley
Everton v Peterborough
Wycombe v Portsmouth
Birmingham v Lincoln
Leeds v Harrogate
Nottingham Forest v Luton
Sheffield United v Cardiff
Ipswich v Bristol Rovers
Fulham v Watford
Crystal Palace v Stockport
Ties will be played over the weekend of Saturday 11 January 2025
The draw was conducted at Old Trafford by former United strikers Mark Hughes and Dion Dublin and that formidable fixture drew groans from those present, the first of only two all-Premier League ties along with Aston Villa v West Ham. United’s Wembley victory in May was the 13th time they had lifted the trophy. Erik ten Hag, the winning manager that day, has since been replaced by Ruben Amorim.
Liverpool, eight-time winners and the Premier League leaders, will host Accrington, evoking memories of a 1980s Milk Marketing Board advert where a young Reds fans said: “If I don’t drink lots of milk, I’ll only be good enough to play for Accrington Stanley.” “Accrington Stanley? Who are they?” his friend asked. “Exactly,” came the response.
Pep Guardiola’s out-of-form Manchester City, who lost last year’s final, will take part in a local affair against Salford City, who feature a host of former United luminaries among their directors. Newcastle United will host Bromley who like fellow League Two side Salford, are playing in the third round for the first time.
Highland League side Fraserburgh will travel to Ibrox to face Rangers in the Scottish Cup fourth round. The draw for the last 32 also sees Dundee host local rivals Dundee United, while holders Celtic entertain Kilmarnock. Non-league Clydebank visit Hibernian, Musselburgh go to Hamilton and Broxburn Athletic host Ayr. Hearts and Aberdeen face tricky away trips, with the Dons facing League Two Elgin City and Hearts going to former league side Brechin. Guardian sport
Dumbarton v Airdrie
Cove Rangers v Forfar
Dundee v Dundee United
Dunfermline v Stenhousemuir
Falkirk v Raith Rovers
St Johnstone v Motherwell
Queen's Park v Montrose
Ross County v Livingston
Hibernian v Clydebank
Rangers v Fraserburgh
Brechin City v Hearts
Queen of the South v St Mirren
Hamilton v Musselburgh
Elgin City v Aberdeen
Broxburn Athletic v Ayr United
Celtic v Kilmarnock
Ties to be played weekend of 18-19 Jan
Fifth-tier Tamworth, who knocked out League One Burton in a dramatic penalty shootout on Sunday, earned a fairytale home draw against Tottenham. Championship side Leeds, who won the trophy in 1972, will feature in an all-Yorkshire tie against fourth-tier Harrogate Town.
The other non-league team in the draw, Dagenham & Redbridge, will contest a London derby at Millwall. Chelsea host League Two strugglers Morecambe, while Wolves and Brighton will look to avoid upsets on trips to Bristol City and Norwich respectively.
Everton will face third-tier Peterborough United at home, a draw that could see Ashley Young play against his son, Tyler, who is on Posh’s books. “Wow … dreams might come true,” wrote Young Sr on social media. All ties will be played over the weekend of 11-12 January.