Top-flight FA Cup opposition for United, Chelsea

LONDON (AFP) –

Chelsea striker Fernando Torres, pictured on December 1 at Upton Park, where the team lost 3-1 to West Ham. The out-of-form FA Cup holders must travel to Southampton as they begin their defence of the trophy.

Manchester United, Arsenal and holders Chelsea were all handed ties with fellow Premier League sides in the draw for the FA Cup third round on Sunday.

Chelsea, winners of four of the last six tournaments, will travel to Southampton, while current league leaders United face an away game at West Ham United, who eliminated Alex Ferguson’s side in the fourth round in 2001.

Arsenal, meanwhile, face a swift reunion with Swansea City, whose 2-0 success at the Emirates Stadium on Saturday bumped Arsene Wenger’s men down to 10th place in the English top flight.

In the only other all-Premier League tie, Queens Park Rangers were drawn at home to West Bromwich Albion, with English champions Manchester City due to face second-division Watford.

Liverpool, runners-up to Chelsea last season, face an away game at either Lincoln City or Mansfield Town, two former league clubs who now play in the fifth-tier Conference National.

Tottenham Hotspur will play League One (third division) side Coventry City in a repeat of the 1987 final, which saw Coventry prevail through an extra-time own goal by Spurs defender Gary Mabbutt.

The ties are scheduled to be played on the weekend of January 7-8, 2013.

FA Cup third-round draw:

Crystal Palace v Stoke City

Brighton and Hove Albion v Newcastle United

Tottenham Hotspur v Coventry City

Wigan Athletic v Bournemouth

Fulham v Blackpool

Aston Villa v Ipswich Town

Charlton Athletic v Huddersfield Town

Barrow or Macclesfield Town v Cardiff City

Barnsley v Burnley

Manchester City v Watford

Swansea City v Arsenal

Leicester City v Burton Albion

Millwall v Preston North End

Cheltenham Town or Hereford United v Everton

Derby County v Tranmere Rovers

Crawley Town v Reading

Aldershot Town v Rotherham United or Notts County

Middlesbrough v Harrogate Town or Hastings United

Accrington Stanley or Oxford United v Sheffield United

Southampton v Chelsea

Queens Park Rangers v West Bromwich Albion

Peterborough United v Norwich City

Lincoln City or Mansfield Town v Liverpool

Bolton Wanderers v Sunderland

Nottingham Forest v Oldham Athletic

West Ham United v Manchester United

Hull City v Leyton Orient

Blackburn Rovers v Bristol City

Leeds United v Birmingham City

Bury or Southend United v Bradford City or Brentford

Luton Town v Wolverhampton Wanderers

Sheffield Wednesday v MK Dons