FA Cup third round: How and where to watch, best matches of the round and when is the fourth-round draw?
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The FA Cup third round is one of the most savoured periods in the English football calendar.
It is when the 44 Premier League and Championship clubs enter the competition, joining the 20 lower-league and non-league clubs who made it through last month’s second round.
Matches are spread across five days, with games running from Thursday through until Monday.
Here’s your guide on how to follow all of the action from the 32 ties.
Standout matches of the third round
It is always exciting when the Premier League teams enter the fray as lower-league clubs hope to draw the big names and potentially cause an upset.
League Two Accrington Stanley won’t have far to travel for their match on Saturday but they face the toughest of tasks in Premier League leaders Liverpool.
Two non-league sides remain in the competition with Tamworth, the lowest-ranked team remaining in the cup, hosting Tottenham on Sunday as reward for their penalty shootout win against League One side Burton Albion.
Fellow National League outfit Dagenham & Redbridge will go to Championship side Millwall in the last match of the third round on Monday.
Saturday’s tie at Etihad Stadium will have extra needle as Manchester City host neighbours Salford City, who are owned by the ‘Class of ’92’ – former Manchester United players Gary Neville, Ryan Giggs, Phil Neville, Paul Scholes and Nicky Butt.
Arsenal take on holders Manchester United in an all-Premier League affair on Sunday with Aston Villa facing West Ham on Friday in the only other match between two top-flight teams.
Which matches will the BBC show live on TV?
The BBC will show the FA Cup third-round games between Manchester City and Salford City and Arsenal v Manchester United.
Pep Guardiola’s side are at home to the League Two side on Saturday, 11 January at 17:45 GMT.
Arsenal host holders United on Sunday, 12 January at 15:00.
Both games will be live on BBC One, the iPlayer and the BBC Sport website.
BBC One Wales will also show live coverage of Cardiff City’s tie against Sheffield United from Bramall Lane on Thursday, 9 January at 19:00.
Everton’s home tie against Peterborough United on the same day will be available via the red button at 19:45.
There will be a highlights programme with all of the goals, analysis and talking points on BBC One and on the iPlayer on Saturday, 11 January at 22:30.
What other games are on TV?
ITV will show three games.
They start their coverage with Aston Villa’s home tie against West Ham on Friday at 20:00 and show Tottenham’s trip to Tamworth at 12.30 on Saturday.
And on Monday, they will televise Millwall’s fixture against Dagenham & Redbridge at 19:30.
What about radio and online coverage?
The BBC Sport website will have live text commentary and updates from all 32 of the third-round matches.
In addition to the extensive coverage on BBC local radio there will also be live commentaries of the following matches on BBC Radio 5 Live and 5 Sports Extra as well as via BBC Sounds.
Thursday, 9 January
Fulham v Watford (19:00) – Radio 5 Sports Extra.
Everton v Peterborough United (19:45) – Radio 5 Live
Friday, 10 January
Aston Villa v West Ham (20:00) – Radio 5 Live
Saturday, 11 January
Bristol City v Wolves (12:00) – Radio 5 Live
Liverpool v Accrington (12:15) – Radio 5 Sports Extra
Brentford v Plymouth Argyle (15:00) – Radio 5 Live
Leeds United v Harrogate Town (17:45) – Radio 5 Live
Manchester City v Salford (17:45) – Radio 5 Sports Extra
Sunday, 12 January
Tamworth v Tottenham (12:30) – Radio 5 Live
Newcastle United v Bromley (15:00) – Radio 5 Live
Crystal Palace v Stockport County (15:00) – Radio 5 Sports Extra
When is the FA Cup fourth round draw?
The draw for the fourth round will follow Arsenal’s match against Manchester United at Emirates Stadium on Sunday, 12 January.
Matches will take place across the weekend of Saturday, 8 February.
