FA Cup: Third round draw announced, Manchester United to face Reading
The magic of FA Cup returns in January as teams from all over England fight it out to get their hands on world's oldest football competition. Manchester United are the defending champions as Louis van Gaal departed by winning a trophy in his last game for United.
Manchester United got a home draw against Reading which will see the return of Japp Stam to Old Trafford. The centre-back was a cult figure during his three-year stint with the club but was sold by Sir Alex Ferguson after differences emerged between the two. Ferguson later admitted that it was his mistake to let Stam go. Reading are doing well in the Championship and will provide a stern test for Jose Mourinho's men.
Liverpool legend Steven Gerrard and Ian Wright conducted the third round draw as the former Liverpool captain handed the Reds a home tie against either Newport or Plymouth. After handing a relatively easy draw for Klopp's team, Gerrard joked as he said, "That should get me a job with Jurgen Klopp."
On the other hand, Wright could not provide a home draw for his team Arsenal as the Gunners face a trip to Preston.
Meanwhile, Pep Guardiola will get his first taste of FA Cup action against West Ham United while Antonio Conte's Chelsea are handed a home draw against Championship side Peterborough or Notts County. Apart from City vs West Ham; Sunderland and Burnley, Hull City and Swansea and Everton against Leicester City make up the other all-Premier League encounters.
All the matches are going to be played between January 6-9 and the fourth round is going to be played out in the final weekend of January.
Let's take a look at the FA Cup third round draw in full :
Ipswich Town v Lincoln City/Oldham Athletic
Barrow v Rochdale
Manchester United v Reading
Hull City v Swansea City
Sunderland v Burnley
Queens Park Rangers v Blackburn Rovers
Millwall v Bournemouth
West Ham United v Manchester City
Brighton & Hove Albion v MK Dons/Charlton Athletic
Blackpool v Barnsley
Wigan Athletic v Nottingham Forest
Birmingham City v Newcastle United
Chelsea v Notts County/Peterborough United
Middlesbrough v Sheffield Wednesday
West Brom Albion v Derby County
Everton v Leicester City
Liverpool v Newport County/Plymouth Argyle
Wycombe Wanderers v Stourbridge/Northampton Town
Watford v Burton Albion
Preston North End v Arsenal
Cardiff City v Fulham
Stoke City v Wolverhampton Wanderers
Cambridge United v Leeds United
Bristol City v Shrewsbury Town/Fleetwood Town
Huddersfield Town v Port Vale
Tottenham Hotspur v Aston Villa
Brentford v Halifax Town/Eastleigh
Bolton Wanderers v Crystal Palace
Norwich City v Southampton
Sutton United v AFC Wimbledon
Accrington Stanley v Luton Town
Rotherham United v Oxford United/Macclesfield Town