- Arsenal vs Liverpool will be the only televised FA Cup game on January 7
- Ten London clubs have been drawn at home, including all seven in the top flight
- Why CHRIS SUTTON will write David Raya a LETTER if he ends up with glorious success – It’s All Kicking Off
Arsenal‘s FA Cup third round clash with Liverpool has been given the prime Sunday 4.30pm slot after the television picks were announced.
Their clash will be the only televised FA Cup game on January 7 and will be aired on the BBC.
Newcastle’s trip to Sunderland will be live from 12.45pm on Saturday, January 6 on ITV – meaning Alan Shearer won’t be covering his old club – while Middlesbrough and Aston Villa will follow at 5.30pm on the BBC.
Crystal Palace and Everton kick off proceedings at 8pm on Thursday, January 4 at 8pm on ITV. The game was moved forward outside of the Friday-Monday window on police advice after 10 London teams were drawn at home.
Then Tottenham and Burnley will give fans their fill of Friday night football, clashing at 8pm on ITV on January 5 in Ange Postecoglou’s first taste of FA Cup action.
Arsenal host Liverpool on Sunday, January 7 at 4.30pm on the BBC in the FA Cup third round
Sunderland will welcome Newcastle on January 6 on ITV, meaning Alan Shearer won’t be broadcasting live on the Magpies
To cap it all off, Wigan welcome Manchester United on Monday, January 8 at 8.15pm on ITV.
It means that no non-league teams will have their fixtures televised. Nine of the clubs on TV will be Premier League clubs and the lowest-ranked will be Wigan, who are 14th in League One.
All 12 clubs who are televised will receive £85,000 in addition to any prize money.
The Metropolitan Police were in talks with the FA about rescheduling some of next month’s ties after 10 London clubs have been drawn at home – including all seven Premier League clubs – creating a security nightmare.
Further updates will follow to reveal the full fixture schedule, with any extra broadcast details announced at the earliest opportunity.
The third round sees all the Premier League teams and Championship clubs take their first dip into FA Cup action this season.
National League leaders Chesterfield have been handed a big away day at Championship side Watford at Vicarage Road in one of the ties with a bigger disparity.
Gillingham take on Sheffield United at home and will hope to bridge a three-division gap to the Premier League strugglers.
AFC Wimbledon of League Two will host Championship high-flyers Ipswich having dispatched eighth-tier Ramsgate 5-0 in the second round.
Ange Postecoglou’s first FA Cup test will be against Burnley on Friday, January 5 at 8pm on ITV
Crystal Palace will welcome Everton on Thursday, January 4 at 8pm on ITV in one of ten ties to be hosted in London
Arsenal’s clash against Liverpool is one of four all-Premier League ties, something which has drawn criticism.
Jeff Stelling argued that the third round should be seeded to guarantee non-league and lower-league clubs ties against bigger teams.
Arsenal and Liverpool’s showdown will evoke memories of the final in 2001 which saw Michael Owen’s double secure a 2-1 victory and one part of a Cup treble for Liverpool.
That was one of their eight triumphs in the competition, while the Gunners have won the trophy a record 14 times.
Jeff Stelling argued that the third round draw should be seeded to give non-league and lower league clubs matches against bigger teams
