FA Cup third round match previews: Liverpool visit Aston Villa, Wolves host Crystal Palace
Premier League and Championship teams join the competition as Liverpool visit Aston Villa and Wolves host Crystal Palace on Friday night; Follow both games on Sky Sports’ digital platforms with our dedicated blogs
Thursday 7 January 2021 20:24, UK
The FA Cup takes centre stage this weekend as Premier League and Sky Bet Championship teams join the third round, with fixtures including Aston Villa vs Liverpool.
The FA Cup will not have replays for the 2020-21 season to help ease fixture congestion caused by the COVID-19 crisis, meaning that all ties will be decided on the day.
- FA Cup fixtures | results
- 14 fit players enough for FA Cup ties to go ahead – FA
- Rooney and entire Derby first team set to miss FA Cup tie
There have been a rising number of positive Covid-19 cases, but no club will automatically have to forfeit an FA Cup game if they are affected by the virus, with each case to be assessed by the FA on individual circumstances.
Holders Arsenal begin their campaign at home to Newcastle, while Villa will kick things off when they host Liverpool in another all-Premier League tie at the same time that Crystal Palace travel to face Wolves on Friday night.
Both the fourth and fifth-round draws will take place on Monday January 11, with the respective games scheduled for the weekend of January 23 and Wednesday February 10 respectively.
Trending
Aston Villa vs Liverpool, Friday 7.45pm
Team news: Aston Villa are likely to be depleted when they welcome Liverpool in the FA Cup with the game itself remaining in some doubt.
The club have been forced to close their Bodymoor Heath training base after an outbreak of coronavirus within the senior squad and staff.
Villa have been speaking to the Football Association and Premier League as they try to get the game on, with a decision to be made on Friday.
Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp will freshen up his under-performing side but is reluctant to make too many changes.
Neco Williams could come in for Trent Alexander-Arnold, while Fabinho could be rested at centre-back.
In midfield Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Thiago Alcantara need more game time after recently coming back from injury, as does Xherdan Shaqiri, and all could start at Villa Park.
Stat of the match: Aston Villa have lost six of their last seven FA Cup games against Liverpool, though they did win the last such meeting between the sides in the 2015 semi-final at Wembley (2-1).
Follow Aston Villa vs Liverpool on Sky Sports’ digital platforms with our dedicated match blog, kicking off at 6.30pm.
Wolves vs Crystal Palace, Friday 7.45pm
Team news: Patrick Cutrone and Morgan Gibbs-White could be included in the Wolves squad when they host Crystal Palace in the FA Cup on Friday.
Striker Cutrone and midfielder Gibbs-White were this week recalled from their respective loan spells at Fiorentina and Swansea.
Leander Dendoncker (knee) will be assessed, but the third-round tie will probably come too soon for Willy Boly (hamstring). Daniel Podence (calf) and Marcal (groin) are improving but still not ready to return, while Jonny (knee) and Raul Jimenez (fractured skull) remain out.
Crystal Palace boss Roy Hodgson is set to rotate some of his squad for the clash at Molineux but will definitely be without Jeffrey Schlupp.
The utility man suffered a hamstring injury in last weekend’s win over Sheffield United and joins Scott Dann (thigh) and Gary Cahill (hamstring) as recent additions to the treatment table, while captain Luka Milivojevic will be assessed after a back spasm on Thursday.
Long-term absentees Wayne Hennessey (thigh), Martin Kelly (calf), Nathan Ferguson (knee) and Connor Wickham (thigh) are still missing.
Stat of the match: Wolves and Crystal Palace haven’t met in the FA Cup since February 2010, when Danny Butterfield scored a six-minute hat-trick for Palace in a 3-1 win at Selhurst Park.
Follow Wolves vs Crystal Palace on Sky Sports’ digital platforms with our dedicated match blog, kicking off at 6.30pm.
Arsenal vs Newcastle, Saturday 5.30pm
Team news: TBC
Stat of the match: Having lost their first three FA Cup ties with Newcastle, Arsenal have progressed/won four of their last five against the Magpies in the competition, most recently a 3-0 win at the Emirates in the fourth round in 2007-08.
Follow Arsenal vs Newcastle on Sky Sports’ digital platforms with our dedicated match blog, kicking off at 4pm.
Manchester United vs Watford, Saturday 8pm
Team news: TBC
Stat of the match: Manchester United have won three of their four FA Cup ties against Watford, with this their first against the Hornets since a 4-1 semi-final win in 2007.
Follow Manchester United vs Watford on Sky Sports’ digital platforms with our dedicated match blog, kicking off at 6.30pm.
Everton vs Rotherham, Saturday 12pm
Team news: TBC
Stat of the match: Rotherham have lost each of their last five away FA Cup ties against top-flight opponents, scoring one goal while conceding 19 – most recently a 7-0 defeat against Manchester City at this stage last season.
Follow Everton vs Rotherham on Sky Sports’ digital platforms with our overall FA Cup blog, kicking off at 11am.
Chorley vs Derby County, Saturday 12.15pm
Team news: TBC
Derby’s first-team coaching staff, backroom team and players are self-isolating due to a coronavirus outbreak at the club so the Rams will field a side predominantly of U23s and U18s, led by development phase coaches Pat Lyons and Gary Bowyer.
Stat of the match: This will be the very first meeting between Chorley and Derby. Derby are the highest ranked in the English football pyramid that Chorley have faced since losing 6-0 against Notts County in the FA Cup first round in 1899-1900.
Follow Chorley vs Derby on Sky Sports’ digital platforms with our dedicated match blog, kicking off at 11am.
Blackpool vs West Brom, Saturday 3pm
Team news: TBC
Stat of the match: Blackpool have been knocked out of four of their five FA Cup ties against West Brom (winning in February 1959), with this the first meeting between the sides in the competition since January 1978 (4-1 West Brom).
Follow Blackpool vs West Brom on Sky Sports’ digital platforms with our overall FA Cup blog, kicking off at 11am.
Bristol Rovers vs Sheffield United, Saturday 3pm
Team news: TBC
Stat of the match: Bristol Rovers have progressed from two of their last three FA Cup ties against top-flight opponents, more than they had in their previous 16 (1).
Follow Bristol Rovers vs Sheffield United on Sky Sports’ digital platforms with our overall FA Cup blog, kicking off at 11am.
Burnley vs MK Dons, Saturday 3pm
Team news: TBC
Stat of the match: Burnley have won all four of their meetings with MK Dons in all competitions, scoring 11 goals and conceding three. This is the first game between the sides since a 5-0 away win for the Clarets in the Championship in January 2016.
Follow Burnley vs MK Dons on Sky Sports’ digital platforms with our overall FA Cup blog, kicking off at 11am.
QPR vs Fulham, Saturday 3pm
Team news: QPR are set to be without Osman Kakay and Lee Wallace for the visit of west London neighbours Fulham in the FA Cup.
Defender Kakay has not featured since mid-December due to a leg injury. Full-back Wallace is still struggling to shake off an ongoing calf problem. Reserve goalkeeper Liam Kelly has joined Motherwell on loan.
Fulham‘s plans have been hindered by the recent positive Covid-19 tests in the squad, but boss Scott Parker planned to give some fringe players a run-out anyway.
Midfielder Stefan Johansen and back-up goalkeeper Marek Rodak are among those likely to feature. Full-back Kenny Tete is fit after a calf injury and could be involved.
Fellow defender Terence Kongolo is back in training after a broken foot but Saturday’s match will come too soon.
Stat of the match: QPR have progressed from the FA Cup third round in each of their last two seasons, last managing that feat in three consecutive seasons between 1994/95 and 1996/97.
Follow QPR vs Fulham on Sky Sports’ digital platforms with our overall FA Cup blog, kicking off at 11am.
Stoke vs Leicester, Saturday 3pm
Team news: Stoke striker Steven Fletcher is expected to miss Saturday’s FA Cup third round visit of Leicester. The striker suffered a groin injury after falling awkwardly against Bournemouth at the weekend.
Boss Michael O’Neill is already without strikers Tyrese Campbell (knee) and Lee Gregory (groin). Goalkeepers Angus Gunn (ankle) and Adam Davies (groin) are out while left-back Morgan Fox has been battling a hamstring problem.
Leicester duo Jamie Vardy and James Maddison are likely to sit out. Striker Vardy has a long-standing hip problem while midfielder Maddison suffered a knee injury in the win at Newcastle.
Ricardo Pereira (groin) has returned to training but will not feature but fellow defender Caglar Soyuncu (groin) is available for the Foxes. Roma loanee Cengiz Under is a doubt after the winger picked up an ankle knock.
Stat of the match: The last three meetings between Stoke and Leicester at the bet365 Stadium have all ended 2-2, all in Premier League meetings between September 2015 and November 2017.
Follow Stoke vs Leicester on Sky Sports’ digital platforms with our overall FA Cup blog, kicking off at 11am.
Saturday’s other FA Cup ties
- Boreham Wood vs Millwall, 12pm
- Luton Town vs Reading, 12pm
- Norwich vs Coventry, 12pm
- Nottingham Forest vs Cardiff, 12pm
- Blackburn vs Doncaster, 3pm
- Exeter vs Sheffield Wednesday, 3pm
- Oldham Athletic vs Bournemouth, 3pm
- Stevenage vs Swansea, 3pm
- Wycombe vs Preston, 3pm
- Brentford vs Middlesbrough, 6pm
- Huddersfield vs Plymouth, 6pm
Postponed FA Cup ties
- Southampton vs Shrewsbury (coronavirus)
Chelsea vs Morecambe, Sunday 1.30pm
Team news: TBC
Stat of the match: Chelsea and Morecambe will face off for the very first time. Chelsea’s last defeat against a side they were facing for the first time was against Steaua Bucharest in March 2013.
Follow Chelsea vs Morecambe on Sky Sports’ digital platforms with our overall FA Cup blog, kicking off at 12.30pm.
Crawley Town vs Leeds, Sunday 1.30pm
Team news: TBC
Stat of the match: Crawley have reached the third round for the first time since 2012-13 when they were eliminated by Premier League side Reading.
Follow Crawley Town vs Leeds on Sky Sports’ digital platforms with our dedicated match blog, kicking off at 12.15pm.
Manchester City vs Birmingham, Sunday 1.30pm
Team news: TBC
Stat of the match: This is the first FA Cup meeting between Man City and Birmingham since a third round tie in January 2001, Man City winning 3-2 at Maine Road.
Follow Man City vs Birmingham on Sky Sports’ digital platforms with our overall FA Cup blog, kicking off at 12.30pm.
Marine vs Tottenham, Sunday 5pm
Team news: TBC
Stat of the match: This will be Tottenham’s first FA Cup match against non-league opposition since January 1995, beating Altrincham 3-0 in a third round tie.
Follow Marine vs Tottenham on Sky Sports’ digital platforms with our dedicated match blog, kicking off at 3.30pm.
Newport County vs Brighton, Sunday 7.45pm
Team news: TBC
Brighton will be without Tariq Lamptey, who has suffered a setback in his recovery from a hamstring injury. Striker Percy Tau has been recalled from his loan at Anderlecht and is available to play.
Stat of the match: This will be the fourth FA Cup meeting between Newport County and Brighton, with Newport winning the first 3-1 in November 1948, before losing 1-8 in November 1955 and 1-2 in November 1966.
Follow Newport vs Brighton on Sky Sports’ digital platforms with our dedicated match blog, kicking off at 12.15pm.
Sunday’s other FA Cup ties
- Barnsley vs Tranmere, 1.30pm
- Bristol City vs Portsmouth, 1.30pm
- Cheltenham vs Mansfield, 1.30pm
Stockport vs West Ham, Monday 8pm
Team news: TBC
Stat of the match: This is the first time Stockport County and West Ham have faced in any competition since December 1996, with Stockport winning 2-1 in a League Cup fourth round replay.
Follow Stockport vs West Ham on Sky Sports’ digital platforms with our match commentary.
Source: Read Full Article