It was one of the most extraordinary match-winners in FA Cup final history. Two touches from Youri Tielemans, a few yards travelled, a finish into the highest corner past Kepa Arrizabalaga – accompanied by the roars and gasps of 20,000 fans in attendance.
Leicester’s triumph over Chelsea felt a turning point in football’s battle with Covid. The crowds were not yet back in their fullness, but for the first time in more than 12 months, a piece of the country’s oldest competition’s could be chronicled as it should. Not in silence, barring the cheers of the players themselves, but backed by the full spectrum of emotions from thousands of paying onlookers.
As the Premier League‘s big names – including Brendan Rodgers’ holders – enter the FA Cup at the third round, they do so amidst more uncertainty over the viability of the current schedule.
Some of those clubs will see the cup as an inconvenience when fixtures are already piling up due to Covid-enforced postponements, while others will be hoping to write their names into FA Cup folklore by beating an opponent from a higher division.
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When is the FA Cup draw?
As it stands, there are no plans to put the season on pause and unless there are any major developments over the next few weeks, the FA Cup fourth round will take place on the weekend of 5 February, when 16 fixtures are set to be fulfilled.
The draw for the fourth round will be made on Sunday 9 January at approximately 4.50pm, following West Ham’s tie against Leeds United at the London Stadium.
It will be broadcast live on ITV and is to be conducted by David James and Leah Williamson from Wembley Stadium.
By then, all but one tie will have been completed – with Manchester United still to play Aston Villa on Monday 10 January.
FA Cup third-round fixtures
Friday 7 January
• Swindon Town vs Manchester City – 8pm
Saturday 8 January
• Bristol City vs Fulham – 12.30pm
• Burnley vs Huddersfield Town – 12.30pm
• Coventry City vs Derby County – 12.30pm
• Hartlepool United vs Blackpool – 12.30pm
• Mansfield Town vs Middlesbrough – 12.15pm
• Millwall vs Crystal Palace – 12.45pm
• Barnsley vs Ipswich Town or Barrow – 3pm
• Boreham Wood vs AFC Wimbledon – 3pm
• Kidderminster Harriers vs Reading – 3pm
• Leicester City vs Watford – 3pm
• Newcastle United vs Cambridge United – 3pm
• Peterborough United vs Bristol Rovers – 3pm
• Port Vale vs Brentford – 3pm
• Queens Park Rangers vs Rotherham United – 3pm
• West Bromwich Albion vs Brighton & Hove Albion – 3pm
• Wigan Athletic vs Blackburn Rovers – 3pm
• Birmingham City vs Plymouth Argyle – 5.30pm
• Chelsea vs Chesterfield – 5.30pm
• Hull City vs Everton – 5.30pm
• Swansea City vs Southampton – 5.30pm
• Yeovil Town vs AFC Bournemouth – 5.45pm
Sunday 9 January
• Luton Town vs Harrogate Town – 12:30pm
• Cardiff City vs Preston North End – 2pm
• Charlton Athletic vs Norwich City – 2pm
• Liverpool vs Shrewsbury Town – 2pm
• Stoke City vs Leyton Orient – 2pm
• Tottenham Hotspur vs Morecambe – 2pm
• Wolverhampton Wanderers vs Sheffield United – 2pm
• West Ham United vs Leeds United – 2pm
• Nottingham Forest vs Arsenal – 5.10pm
Monday 10 January
• Manchester United vs Aston Villa – 7.55pm
from Football – inews.co.uk https://ift.tt/3t0jKZr
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