FA Cup Third-Round Draw Reveals Key Clashes for Liverpool, Man United, and Arsenal

The official draw for the third round of the FA Cup has set the stage for several high-profile matchups involving Premier League giants. Conducted in the early hours of December 9, the draw marked the entry of top-flight clubs into the competition, with managers including Mikel Arteta, Arne Slot, and Ruben Amorim learning their teams’ next opponents. The event took place ahead of the Brackley Town vs. Burton Albion fixture and featured a mix of Premier League sides and lower-tier clubs, including three teams from outside the league structure.

Manchester United, looking to rebound after a disappointing League Cup exit, will host Brighton at Old Trafford in a match that could test their resilience. Liverpool, eager to regain momentum after an inconsistent campaign, were paired with Barnsley, offering a chance to stabilize their form. Arsenal, meanwhile, are set for an away trip to Portsmouth as they aim to maintain their domestic consistency and extend their run in the competition.

Among the standout fixtures, Tottenham Hotspur will face Aston Villa in the biggest clash of the round, while Manchester City encounter lower-tier opposition in Exeter City. The third round is scheduled to take place from January 9 to 13, 2026, with matches spread across stadiums throughout England, setting up a diverse and competitive start to the tournament’s next phase.

Following are the complete results of the third round of the FA Cup draw:
• Wolverhampton Wanderers vs Shrewsbury Town
• Doncaster Rovers vs Southampton
• Tottenham Hotspur vs Aston Villa
• Port Vale vs Fleetwood Town
• Preston North End vs Wigan Athletic
• Ipswich Town vs Blackpool
• Wrexham vs Nottingham Forest
• Charlton Athletic vs Chelsea
• Manchester City vs Exeter City
• West Ham United vs Queens Park Rangers
• Sheffield Wednesday vs Brentford
• Fulham vs Middlesbrough
• Everton vs Sunderland
• Liverpool vs Barnsley
• Burnley vs Millwall
• Norwich City vs Walsall
• Portsmouth vs Arsenal
• Derby County vs Leeds United
• Swansea City vs West Bromwich Albion
• Salford City vs Swindon Town
• Boreham Wood vs Brackley Town or Burton Albion
• Grimsby Town vs Weston-super-Mare
• Hull City vs Blackburn Rovers
• Newcastle United vs AFC Bournemouth
• MK Dons vs Oxford United
• Cheltenham Town vs Leicester City
• Cambridge United vs Birmingham City
• Bristol City vs Watford
• Stoke City vs Coventry City
• Macclesfield vs Crystal Palace
• Manchester United vs Brighton & Hove Albion
• Sheffield United vs Mansfield Town

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