The FA Cup third round featured some unusual names as many Premier League teams chose to rest some regulars and bring in fringe members of their squad, with differing results.
Here, Press Association Sport takes an in-depth look at the numbers behind the squad shuffles and how it impacted the respective teams.
Newcastle (1 change 178 total appearances; 1-0 defeat to Watford)
As in the Premier League Newcastle failed to make an impact in the cup, despite a strong side including Ayoze Perez, with the only change being Kevin Mbabu coming in for the injured Jack Colback. Newcastle had the better chances as well, but somehow ended up with yet another FA Cup third-round defeat.
Crystal Palace (3 changes 157 total appearances; 2-1 win over Southampton)
Despite chasing a European spot in the league Crystal Palace reflected their manager Alan Pardew's affection for the FA Cup and went in strong - especially in defence - against Southampton. Pardew's efforts bore fruit as the Eagles shrugged off the Saints equaliser to successfully push for a winner.
Manchester United (3 changes 335 total appearances; 1-0 win over Sheffield United)
A starting XI featuring Anthony Martial, Wayne Rooney, Juan Mata and Ander Herrera failed to muster a shot on goal for more than an hour. Only Wayne Rooney's late penalty rescued a very strong Red Devils side.
Watford (4 changes 145 total appearances; 1-0 win over Newcastle)
Watford, still ostensibly aiming for Premier League survival despite a strong start, rested 14-goal man Odion Ighalo. But another in-form player in Troy Deeney added a goal to his six from the Premier League as the Hornets successfully held off some concerted Newcastle pressure.
Southampton (4 changes 171 total appearances; 2-1 defeat to Crystal Palace)
Southampton made four changes, and also showed a changed formation with one up front. The bulk of the team that lost to Norwich in the league were once again chasing the game, and a brief comeback was undone by Wilfried Zaha's winner.
West Brom (4 changes 165 total appearances; 2-2 draw with Bristol City)
West Brom's competitive team selection failed to break down Bristol City until the 67th minute, substitute Saido Berahino getting the opener. City could even have caused an upset but for James Morrison scoring deep into injury time for the Baggies.
Chelsea (4 changes 248 total apperances; 2-0 win over Scunthorpe)
Guus Hiddink, who won the FA Cup with Chelsea in his first spell as interim boss in 2009, picked a blend of experience and youth. Diego Costa scored the opener while teenage midfielder Ruben Loftus-Cheek sealed the win.
Arsenal (5 changes 211 total appearances; 3-1 win over Sunderland)
With one eye on the league title, Gunners boss Arsene Wenger made a few changes with German duo Mesut Ozil and Per Mertesacker among those rested. It nearly backfired for the holders , but two of Wenger's starters - Joel Campbell and Olivier Giroud - helped complete the comeback around substitute Aaron Ramsey's effort.
Aston Villa (6 changes 147 total appearances; 1-1 draw with Wycombe)
Finalists last season, Villa are struggling to find the right combination in this campaign. Half-a-dozen changes against League Two Wycombe looked to have done the trick as they led for 50 minutes, but conceding a clumsy penalty left manager Remi Garde winless in 10 games.
Norwich (7 changes 163 total appearances; 3-0 defeat to Manchester City)
Norwich are far from safety in the Premier League and it was reflected in their team selection, with leading scorer Nathan Redmond and Dieumerci Mbokani on the bench. The Canaries then wilted in the face of Sergio Aguero's pressure, and crashed out in round three for the third year running.
Manchester City (7 changes 195 total appearances; 3-0 win over Norwich)
Unlike their opponents Norwich, Manchester City could afford to ring in the changes. Kelechi Iheanacho and Fabian Delph started and, with Sergio Aguero scoring the opener and setting up another, City's strength in depth proved more than adequate.
West Ham (7 changes 141 total appearances; 1-0 win over Wolves)
With Slaven Bilic's Plan A not working, it was the substitutes that helped seal it, with Andy Carroll coming off the bench to help starting man Nikica Jelavic score the winner.
Tottenham (7 changes 158 total appearances; 2-2 draw with Leicester)
Tottenham's decision to leave leading scorer Harry Kane on the bench looked risky in a see-saw game. As fate would perhaps have had it, Kane's late penalty saved manager Mauricio Pochettino the need to explain away seven changes.
Sunderland (7 changes 146 total appearances; 3-1 defeat to Arsenal)
Sunderland were taking a big risk with seven changes against Arsenal, and so it proved. Jeremain Lens - one of the seven - scored early on but with Jermain Defoe unused on the bench, it proved an uphill battle as Arsenal cruised home.
Leicester (8 changes 117 total appearances; 2-2 draw with Tottenham)
Leicester's second string proved the Foxes may have the depth to at the very least secure a top-four finish in the league and they fought back from a goal down to lead 2-1 in north London. A side missing Jamie Vardy (injury) and Riyad Mahrez acquitted themselves well and were perhaps unlucky to draw.
Everton (8 changes 114 total appearances; 2-0 win over Dagenham)
Everton got their balance right. Romelu Lukaku was injured, while Ross Barkley, Tom Cleverley and Leighton Baines were among those resting. But with Arouna Kone's first goal for two months, manager Roberto Martinez's tactics were justified.
Stoke (9 changes 129 total appearances; 2-1 win over Doncaster)
Stoke boss Mark Hughes had experience on the pitch despite nine changes but the Potters still had to hang on for the win. However, no one would begrudge Hughes planning long-term, having seen his side rise from the bottom of the table in October to fighting for a European spot in 10th place.
Swansea (10 changes 91 total appearances; 3-2 defeat to Oxford)
Swansea left out Andre Ayew and Gylfi Sigurdsson among their 10 changes. Ninety minutes later, Swansea were on the end of the biggest cup shock of this round thanks to a Kemar Roofe brace. It was the worst possible start to Alan Curtis' reign after he was confirmed as manager until the end of the season, though even he conceded Oxford were full value for the win.
Bournemouth (11 changes 87 total appearances; 2-1 win over Birmingham)
Eddie Howe may have regretted making a clean sweep ahead of Bournemouth's visit to St Andrew's as Birmingham were ahead after 40 minutes. In the end, Glenn Murray snatched a late winner for Howe, who nevertheless insisted the changes were "wise".
Liverpool (11 changes 34 total appearances; 2-2 draw with Exeter)
Liverpool arguably had the worst injury crisis of the Premier League teams in action this weekend. Their starting XI against Exeter boasted only 34 appearances between them, with Christian Benteke responsible for 21 of those. Credit, therefore, in a draw, though manager Jurgen Klopp has already promised a similar experiment in the replay.
Source: PA
