Home of football statistics and historyThough the Premier League takes a backseat for a fortnight, English football keeps coming thick and fast in early January.
The third round of the FA Cup is set to get underway as we take a look at the best English sides to feature in the competition over the next five days.
If you are looking to bet on the FA Cup and are wondering what is the bet365 bonus code, we’ve got you covered. Before betting, you should read our preview below to see which games to focus on.
Clear-cut Favourites
FA Cup third-round action begins at the County Ground as reigning Premier League champions Manchester City take on League Two side Swindon Town.
Pep Guardiola’s men will be odds-on favourites to overcome lower-league rivals, same as Liverpool, who are set to take on Leauge One outfit Shrewsbury at Anfield in their inaugural 2021/22 FA Cup fixture.
After reconciling with star striker Romelu Lukaku, Thomas Tuchel will look to navigate Chelsea past sub-par Chesterfield in front of attending Stamford Bridge fans.
Another top-five Premier League side will join the FA Cup in the third round, with Tottenham Hotspur entertaining League One relegation fighters Morecambe on home turf.
Arsenal will hope to bounce back from a heartbreaking 2-1 defeat to Man City when they meet Nottingham Forest at the City Ground in an exciting third-round tie.
Other Premier League Teams in FA Cup
Relegation-battling Newcastle United will see their FA Cup game against third-tier team Cambridge United as an opportunity to build momentum ahead of the second half of the season.
Like the Magpies, Everton, who are experiencing a rough patch in the Premier League, will try to get their stuttering domestic season back on the rails against Championship relegation candidates Hull City.
Norwich City‘s trip to The Valley for their first competitive match against Charlton Athletic since 2017 may serve as a confidence-boosting fixture for Dean Smith’s strugglers.
Fresh from a 1-0 triumph at Manchester United, Wolverhampton Wanderers will feel confident against last season’s Premier League basement boys Sheffield United.
Most Exciting Match-ups
Old Trafford is the venue as Man United and Aston Villa go head-to-head in arguably the most exciting FA Cup third-round tie, and you can watch this and other FA Cup games live online.
Following a dreadful performance against Wolves last time out, Ralf Rangnick’s side will seek revenge against Villa for a 1-0 home loss in the first half of the Premier League season.
Steven Gerrard’s men have struggled in the build-up to this fixture, losing back-to-back league matches despite taking the lead on both occasions.
Leicester City‘s first competitive game of 2022 pits them against relegation-threatened Watford at the King Power Stadium.
Brendan Rodgers’ side claimed an overwhelming 4-2 victory at the venue when the sides met in the Premier League in November, making it three consecutive H2Hs without a defeat (W2, D1).
Meanwhile, the Hornets have lost their last six league outings on the trot, including a nightmarish 1-0 home reverse against Tottenham in their opening match of 2022.
West Ham United and Leeds United are set to square off at the London Stadium in another tasty-looking FA Cup showdown.
Both sides have enjoyed a flying start to the new calendar year.
While the Hammers outscored Crystal Palace 3-2 in an all-London Premier League match-up, Marcelo Bielsa’s team cruised to a 3-1 home triumph over Burnley.
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