There is always so much intrigue when it comes to the third round of the FA Cup. The date of the draw is always one to put down in your calendar. This season’s Third Round draw happened on December 2nd and there was one big stand-out tie that everyone was talking about.
It will be a Merseyside derby at Anfield between Liverpool and Everton that is the highlight fixture of the round.
The dates for the FA Cup third-round matches are January 3rd – 6th, 2020. Liverpool, who seem certain to be heading towards Premier League glory this season, have been made second-favourites for the FA Cup at 6/1 by Bet365* (betting odds taken from bet365 on December 2nd, 2019 at 7:45 pm)
Citizens the front-runners
It is current holders Manchester City are the front-runners according to the bookmaker. City are 10/3 to get the title* (betting odds taken from bet365 on December 2nd, 2019 at 7:45 pm). Considering they are not likely to pull off a Premier League title defence in this campaign, they may well go forward with extra focus on getting this silverware in the cabinet at least. City will host League Two side Port Vale in the third round.
Manchester United face Wolves in another of the big matches to come out of the hat for the third round draw. Leicester, who have put together an impressive season under Brendan Rodgers, and who will no doubt have plenty of FA Cup punter-appeal are at 16/1 to be crowned champions* (betting odds taken from bet365 on December 2nd, 2019 at 7:45 pm). They start with a home game against Championship side Wigan.
More of the top-ties
National League side AFC Fylde have one of those dream ties that non-league clubs hope for. They will be taking on Premier League side Sheffield United at Bramall Lane. Fellow non-leaguers Boston could also be lining up against top-flight opponents because they will take on Newcastle if they can win their second-round replay against Rochdale.
Chelsea and Tottenham will both be going head to head with Championship opposition. The Blues will kick off at home against Nottingham Forest, while Jose Mourinho’s Tottenham make the trip to the northeast to take on Middlesbrough. In another cracking Premier League v Championship tie, Arsenal could have their hands full at the Emirates against promotion-hopefuls Leeds.
FA Cup Outright Winner Odds:
Manchester City 10/3
Liverpool 6/1
Tottenham 7/1
Chelsea 8/1
Manchester United 12/1
Arsenal 12/1
Leicester 16/1
Everton 22/1
Wolves 25/1
West Ham 40/1
Crystal Palace 50/1
66/1 bar
Premier League Betting at Bet365
FA Cup Third Round Draw in full
Leicester City v Wigan Athletic
QPR v Swansea City
Fulham v Aston Villa
Chelsea v Nottingham Forest
Wolves v Manchester United
Charlton Athletic v West Brom
Rochdale or Boston United v Newcastle United
Cardiff City v Forest Green Rovers or Carlisle United
Oxford United v Exeter City or Hartlepool United
Sheffield United v AFC Fylde
Southampton v Huddersfield Town
Liverpool v Everton
Bristol City v Shrewsbury Town
Bournemouth v Luton Town
Brighton v Sheffield Wednesday
Bristol Rovers or Plymouth Argyle v Coventry City or Ipswich Town
Eastleigh or Crewe Alexandra v Barnsley
Manchester City v Port Vale
Middlesbrough v Tottenham
Reading v Blackpool
Watford v Tranmere Rovers
Preston v Norwich City
Millwall v Newport County
Crystal Palace v Derby County
Rotherham United v Hull City
Brentford v Stoke City
Fleetwood Town v Portsmouth
Arsenal v Leeds United
Gillingham v West Ham United
Burton Albion v Northampton Town
Burnley v Peterborough United
Birmingham City v Blackburn Rovers
The new Wembley trends
Since the FA Cup Final moved to the new Wembley Stadium in 2007, there has been a clear trend of teams who either just have a knack for the Cup or who target it full on. Chelsea won that first final at the new Wembley Stadium against Manchester United and that is one five wins that they have taken since it moved there.
Arsenal have won it three times, Manchester City twice and Manchester United once. Portsmouth and Wigan are the only other two sides besides those four Premier League teams to have won the FA Cup Final in the last 13 editions.
So the other way to look at it, is that in the last 13 editions, Chelsea, Arsenal and Man City have collected 10 titles between them. It cuts the field down a bit. So despite the size of the tournament and the thrills and spills, it coughs up, some familiar faces keep throwing the famous old trophy up in the air.