United v Arsenal, City face class of 92 in FA Cup third round, Perez leaving Red Bull
Arsenal will host Manchester United in the round’s biggest game, but the romantics won’t look past Accrington Stanley’s trip to Anfield
There is something incredibly satisfying in seeing Accrington Stanley drawn against Liverpool in the third round of the FA Cup – proving there is still some magic left in a competition that has been largely destroyed by those without the wit to appreciate its importance.
A loss of replays in earlier rounds leaves fewer chances for upsets, for new Ronnie Radfords to make their marks, for the giant-killings that spark lifelong love for the game.
Of course, there is no way those of a certain vintage can’t look at that draw and not think about milk adverts from the 1980s.
Accrington Stanley, who are they?
Manchester United will start their FA Cup title defence with a trip to Arsenal in a third-round draw containing a host of intriguing Premier League v lower league matchups.
Among the best were Tamworth, one of only two non-league clubs in the draw, getting to host Tottenham and Manchester City at home to Salford City – the team owned by members of Man United’s famed “Class of 92” such as Ryan Giggs and Gary Neville.
Accrington Stanley, in sixth-to-last place in League Two, travel to Liverpool in a game Ian Rush absolutely needs to be involved in. Chelsea, meanwhile, will host Morecambe, who are bottom of League Two.
The third round will take place around the weekend of January 11 and 12 and sees the 44 clubs from the Premier League and second-tier Championship enter the competition, joining the 20 lower-league and non-league sides who won in the previous round.
For the record
From the magic of the cup to the less than magical Asian Champions League Elite, where Cristiano Ronaldo took a rest on Monday as his already-qualified Al Nassr lost for the first time in this season’s competition.
