The FA Cup third round is this weekend as the Premier League teams enter, so here are five potential shocks to watch out for including Tottenham Hotspur hosting Burnley.
A 0-0 draw between Crystal Palace and Everton kicked off the third round of the FA Cup this Thursday. While Manchester City will play host to Championship side Huddersfield Town on Sunday. Pep Guardiola’s side will bid to defend their title after winning the FA Cup last term.
Manchester City lifted the FA Cup for a seventh time as part of a European treble with their Premier League and Champions League titles. But they remain some way shy of Arsenal for the most trophies in the competition. The Gunners have won the FA Cup a record 14 times.
Many teams will also still harbour hopes of following Leicester City in 2020/21 by becoming first-time FA Cup winners. The Foxes beat Chelsea 1-0 at Wembley through Youri Tielemans’ goal. But the Belgian will now be trying to help Aston Villa win their first FA Cup since 1957.
The Villans will embark on their latest FA Cup adventure when Unai Emery takes Aston Villa to Middlesbrough on Saturday. But the claret-and-blue outfit are also one of the five teams HITC Football is tipping to suffer a third-round shock. So, who else might spring a surprise?
Middlesbrough vs Aston Villa, FA Cup third round, Saturday 6 January
Aston Villa have already been one of the shocks of the 2023/24 season, with Emery making the Birmingham natives potential Premier League title contenders. The Villans sit second in the top-flight table after 20 fixtures. They are also in the Europa Conference League Last 16.
Middlesbrough, on the other hand, sit just 12th in the Championship after 26 games and are four points off the play-off spots. But coach Michael Carrick will feel his team have a chance of creating an FA Cup third-round upset if Aston Villa focus on their Premier League dreams.
Emery has no reason to field a much-changed team at the Riverside with Aston Villa playing one game a week. Yet if the Spaniard looks to rest multiple big-name players, Boro will have their tails up. They can also use the momentum for their EFL Cup semi-final against Chelsea.
Tottenham Hotspur vs Burnley, FA Cup third round, Friday 5 January
The FA Cup third round features a few all-Premier League affairs, including Friday night’s tie between Tottenham and Burnley. It is also the first time that the two teams have met in the tournament since January 2015. But the Clarets may feel they can avoid repeating that loss.
Burnley are on a tricky run of form with two wins in their last 14 games in all competitions. But Tottenham have shown they can be beaten with five defeats in their last 10 games. The north London club have even also failed to keep a clean sheet in 10 of their last 11 matches.
Tottenham will also be without a raft of the players who inspired their 5-2 win at Turf Moor in September. Son Heung-Min scored a hat-trick but he has joined the South Korea side at the Asia Cup. While James Maddison (ankle) and Cristian Romero (hamstring) still have injuries.
Millwall vs Leicester City, FA Cup third round, Saturday 6 January
Leicester are flying high 10 points clear at the top of the Championship table after 26 games this season. But HITC Football is tipping Millwall to cause an FA Cup third-round shock when they host the Foxes. Even though the Lions sit 15th in the second-tier table after 26 fixtures.
Foxes boss Enzo Maresca will know that promotion back to the Premier League is the target at the King Power Stadium. So, he will not want to risk any players picking up injuries in the FA Cup. And Millwall have also hit form at the perfect time for their encounter this Saturday.
Millwall have won each of their last three Championship matches and are unbeaten in five. Joe Edwards has also won four and drawn three of his 11 fixtures since taking charge of the club last November. A run in the FA Cup would further fuel his early momentum at The Den.
Sunderland vs Newcastle United, FA Cup third round, Saturday 6 January
The FA Cup third round has thrown up the first Tyne-Wear derby since March 2016 and the first staged at the Stadium of Light since October 2015. Yet despite Sunderland now being a Championship side, they will feel still they can beat Premier League team Newcastle United.
Sunderland are also unbeaten in the last nine Tyne-Wear derbies since Newcastle won 1-0 at the SoL in August 2011. While the factor of the home crowd can help Sunderland to put aside their one-division difference against Newcastle. Form can also be thrown out of the window.
Sunderland have won two of their last five Championship matches but have only lost one of Michael Beale’s four in charge yet. Newcastle have also only won one of their last six Premier League games. And the Black Cats will believe they can tack on another defeat on Saturday.
Hull City vs Birmingham City, FA Cup third round, Saturday 6 January
Hull City are on a tricky run of form with three wins in their last eight Championship fixtures. But the Tigers remain play-off candidates in seventh place, just a point behind Sunderland in the top-six. Hull also have the eighth-best offence on 40 goals in 26 games so far this term.
Yet Birmingham City could cause an FA Cup third-round shock when the Blues visit the MKM Stadium on Saturday. Not only are the Second City side without a manager after they sacked Wayne Rooney, but the Blues have only won two of their past 15 matches in the second-tier.
Steve Spooner has taken up the helm on an interim basis and will oversee Birmingham’s FA Cup third-round tie with Hull. Few onlookers from outside of St Andrew’s may expect much from the Blues. But when better to show a response than an FA Cup tie with a league rival.
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