Looking ahead to the best FA Cup Third Round ties

On the first weekend of 2018 all football fans will get to see how the Premier League clubs get on against the sides from the lower leagues as the third round of the FA Cup gets underway.

And what better way to get things started than with a massive Merseyside derby? Liverpool will take on Everton at Anfield that’s sure to be one of the most thrilling FA Cup third round matches in years. With Liverpool in strong from, and Everton enjoying having Wayne Rooney back in their ranks, this game on 5 January is sure to provide plenty of heat on the cold winter’s night.

However, there will be another tough derby on 8 December when Crystal Palace travel to Falmer Stadium to take on Brighton in what’s going to be another epic battle between these two Premier League sides.

All eyes will be on the previous FA Cup winners, Arsenal, on 7 January where they will play a fascinating third round clash against Nottingham Forest at the City Ground. With Arsene Wenger desperate to get some silverware this season, it’s going to be thrilling to see how they cope against the Reds.

Manchester United shouldn’t have too much trouble taking on Derby County at Old Trafford on 6 December. But Manchester City face a much more difficult task when they take on Burnley at the Etihad Stadium and it’s going to be interesting to see how the tipsters at Bethut see this tough match playing out.

Whilst the FA Cup can’t match the UEFA Champions League in providing some top-class clashes, it always has the potential to deliver plenty of opportunities for some giant killing.

This year’s FA Cup third round certainly provides the potential for some big upsets. One of particular game that’s captured plenty of people’s attention is the game between Fulham and Southampton that could see fans at Craven Cottage getting a great result for the new year.

The game between Shrewsbury Town and West Ham on 7 January is another clash that has plenty of giant-killing potential. The West Ham side have struggled in the Premier League, and it’s clear that Shrewsbury are looking forward to providing a massive upset for this televised FA Cup showdown.

Other games that could provide some interesting results include Norwich versus Chelsea. Antonio Conte’s side should win this match, but with the Carrow Road faithful cheering on Norwich, it’s going to be fascinating to see what happens.

And who knows what’s going to happen on 6 January where the struggling Premier League team, Swansea, have to travel to Molineux Stadium to take on the Championship leaders, Wolverhampton Wanderers.

Some of the other FA Cup third round highlights include Birmingham City versus Burton Albion, and Bolton Wanderers versus Huddersfield Town. But with other fierce clashes between Tottenham and Wimbledon, and Sunderland and Middlesborough, it’s clear that this is a weekend of FA Cup football that will be full of drama.