Arsenal vs Liverpool takes prime Sunday slot on TV while Alan Shearer doesn’t get his Newcastle wish… full fixture dates and television picks revealed for the FA Cup third round
- Arsenal vs Liverpool will be the only televised FA Cup game on January 6
- Ten London clubs have been drawn at home, including all seven in the top flight
- Why CHRIS SUTTON will write David Raya a LETTER if he ends up with glorious success – It’s All Kicking Off
Arsenal and Liverpool will take the 4.30pm slot on Sunday, January 7 in the third round of the FA Cup.
Their clash will be the only televised FA Cup game that day and will be aired on the BBC, as revealed by the announced television picks.
Newcastle’s trip to Sunderland will be live from 12.45pm on Saturday, January 6 on ITV – meaning Alan Shearer won’t be covering his old club – while Middlesbrough and Aston Villa will follow at 5.30pm on the BBC.
Crystal Palace and Everton kick off proceedings at 8pm on Thursday, January 4 at 8pm on ITV.
Then Tottenham and Burnley will give fans their fill of Friday night football, clashing at 8pm on ITV on January 5 in Ange Postecoglou’s first taste of FA Cup action.
To cap it all off, Wigan welcome Manchester United on Monday, January 8 at 8.15pm on ITV.
Arsenal host Liverpool on Sunday, January 7 at 4.30pm on the BBC in the FA Cup third round
Sunderland will welcome Newcastle on January 6 on ITV, meaning Alan Shearer won’t be broadcasting live on the Magpies
TV picks for FA Cup third round
Thursday, January 4, 2024
Crystal Palace v Everton at 8pm on ITV4 and ITVX
Friday, January 5, 2024
Tottenham Hotspur v Burnley at 8pm on ITV1, UTV, STV and ITVX
Saturday, January 6, 2024
Sunderland v Newcastle United at 12.45pm on ITV1, UTV, STV and ITV
Middlesbrough v Aston Villa at 5.30pm on BBC One, BBC iPlayer and BBC Sport
Sunday, January 7, 2024
Arsenal v Liverpool at 4.30pm on BBC One, BBC iPlayer and BBC Sport
Monday, January 8, 2024
Wigan Athletic v Manchester United at 8.15pm on ITV1, UTV, STV and ITVX
It means that no non-league teams will have their fixtures televised. Nine of the clubs on TV will be Premier League clubs and the lowest-ranked will be Wigan, who are 14th in League One.
All 12 clubs who are televised will receive £85,000 in addition to any prize money.
The Metropolitan Police have been in talks with the FA about rescheduling some of next month’s ties as ten London clubs have been drawn at home – including all seven Premier League clubs – creating a security nightmare.
Further updates will follow to reveal the full fixture schedule, with any extra broadcast details announced at the earliest opportunity.
The third round sees all the Premier League teams and Championship clubs take their first dip into FA Cup action this season.
National League leaders Chesterfield have been handed a big away day at Championship side Watford at Vicarage Road in one of the ties with a bigger disparity.
Gillingham take on Sheffield United at home and will hope to bridge a three-division gap to the Premier League strugglers.
Wimbledon of League Two will host Championship high-flyers Ipswich having dispatched eighth-tier Ramsgate 5-0 in the second round.
Ange Postecoglou’s first FA Cup test will be against Burnley on Friday, January 5 at 8pm on ITV
Crystal Palace will welcome Everton on Thursday, January 4 at 8pm on ITV in one of ten ties to be hosted in London
Arsenal’s clash against Liverpool is one of four all-Premier League ties, something which has drawn criticism.
Jeff Stelling argued that the third round should be seeded to guarantee non-league and lower-league clubs ties against bigger teams.
Arsenal and Liverpool’s showdown will evoke memories of the final in 2001 which saw Michael Owen’s double secure a 2-1 victory and one part of a Cup treble for Liverpool.
That was one of their eight triumphs in the competition, while the Gunners have won the trophy a record 14 times.
Jeff Stelling argued that the third round draw should be seeded to give non-league and lower league clubs matches against bigger teams
FA CUP THIRD ROUND DRAW
Luton Town vs Bolton
Shrewsbury Town vs Wrexham
Arsenal vs Liverpool
Stoke City vs Brighton
Norwich vs Crewe or Bristol Rovers
West Ham vs Bristol City
Tottenham vs Burnley
Fulham vs Rotherham United
West Brom vs Aldershot or Stockport
Southampton vs Alfreton or Walsall
Wimbledon vs Ipswich
Peterborough vs Leeds United
Millwall vs Leicester City
Watford vs Chesterfield
Sunderland vs Newcastle
Sheffield Wednesday vs Cardiff
Crystal Palace vs Everton
Middlesbrough vs Aston Villa
Nottingham Forest vs Blackpool or Forest Green
Wigan vs Manchester United
Manchester City vs Huddersfield Town
Blackburn Rovers vs Cambridge United
Gillingham vs Sheffield United
Swansea City vs Morecambe
Chelsea vs Preston
QPR vs Bournemouth
Coventry vs Oxford
Brentford vs Wolves
Plymouth vs Sutton United
Maidstone United vs Stevenage or Port Vale
Newport County or Barnet vs Eastleigh
Hull City vs Birmingham City
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