Five talking points ahead of the FA Cup third round

08 January 2016 11:45

Minnows from up and down the country will be hoping to cause an upset this weekend in the third round of the FA Cup.

Here, Press Association Sport looks at five talking points ahead of the weekend's action.

WILL LIVERPOOL GET THROUGH THE WEEKEND UNSCATHED?

Jurgen Klopp's squad has been ravaged by injury of late. Eleven players are currently out, six of whom have hamstring problems. Philippe Coutinho and Dejan Lovren were the latest players to be struck by Liverpool's hamstring jinx when they had to come off during Tuesday's Capital One Cup win over Stoke. Klopp is without a senior centre-back for his team's FA Cup match against Exeter as the only man left standing, Kolo Toure, suffered cramp against Stoke. With an important month coming up for Liverpool, Klopp will be hoping to avoid yet more injuries - and a cup upset.

WHERE WILL THE BIGGEST UPSET COME FROM?

The most seismic shock would come at Old Trafford if Manchester United lost to Sheffield United. The Blades are eighth in League One, but the South Yorkshire outfit beat Aston Villa and Fulham en route to the semi-finals two years ago so they will be hopeful of producing another shock against Louis van Gaal's out-of-form side. League Two club Wycombe must fancy their chances of pulling off an upset against Premier League basement boys Aston Villa on Saturday. Four-time winners Bolton may not be the force they once were, but it will still be regarded as a big shock if the Championship side lost to non-league Eastleigh, who are in the third round for the first time in their 70-year history.

WILL ADNAN JANUZAJ FEATURE FOR UNITED?

United decided to cut short Adnan Januzaj's season-long loan at Borussia Dortmund on Thursday after becoming annoyed at the forward's lack of playing time at the German club. The Belgian did not start a league game for Dortmund and his only major contribution was in the Europa League. United lack creativity and adventure going forward so could Van Gaal take a risk and throw the 20-year-old straight back into his starting XI?

CAN ARSENAL SET DOWN AN EARLY MARKER IN THEIR CUP DEFENCE?

Arsenal are looking to become the first team to win the FA Cup three years in a row since Blackburn did so between 1884 and 1886. The Gunners face Premier League opposition in Sunderland on Saturday afternoon. Arsenal swept Sunderland aside 3-1 last month, but Black Cats fans will remember the last time they met the Gunners in the FA Cup in 2012, they beat them 2-0 thanks to an Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain own goal and a strike from Kieran Richardson.

WILL IT BE WORTH TRAVELLING 514 MILES FROM BRIGHTON TO HULL?

Brighton fans have the longest trip of the weekend (just beating Liverpool's trek to Exeter) as they face a game in the East Riding of Yorkshire at the KC Stadium. Those making the journey by car will have to endure a nine-hour trip up the A1, but will it be worthwhile? Hull are three points ahead of Brighton in the race for promotion to the Premier League, but the Seagulls defeated their rivals 1-0 on their last meeting in September. It would not be a surprise if this one was a draw, which might not go down well with the Hull fans who would have to make the opposite journey for the replay.

 

Source: PA-WIRE