Only all-Premier League clash at Old Trafford tomorrow

When the draw of the FA Cup third round was made last month, many were eager to see how many teams from the top flight would be paired against each other and who were the ones to pick non-League sides in their first hurdle of the competition.

The draw came up with just one all-Premier League clash as Manchester United face fierce rivals Liverpool. They play at Old Trafford tomorrow.

The two ‘football foes’ have already met at the ‘Theatre of Dreams’ this season with the Red Devils prevailing in a nail-biting encounter 3-2.

United have a positive record in terms of past encounters with Liverpool, having won eight of the last 11 meetings. Still, Liverpool prevailed in the last cup meeting between these two sides when in 2006 they chalked up a 1-0 win, courtesy of a Peter Crouch goal.

That was Liverpool’s first win over the Red Devils in the FA Cup for 85 years.

The remaining scores read:

1998-99: (fourth round) Man. United-Liverpool 2-1.

1995-96: (final, Wembley) Man. United-Liverpool 1-0.

1984-85: (semi-final, Goodison Park) United-Liverpool 2-2; United won replay at Maine Road 2-1.

1978-79: (semi-final, Maine Road) United-Liverpool 2-2; United won replay at Goodison Park 1-0.

1976-77: (final, Wembley) Man. United-Liverpool 2-1.

1959-60: (fourth round) Liverpool-Man. United 1-3.

1947-48: (fourth round, Goodison Park Liverpool-United 0-3.

1920-21: (first round) United-Liverpool 1-1; Liverpool won replay 2-1.

1902-03: (first round) Man. United-Liverpool 2-1.

1897-98: (second round) Man. United-Liverpool 0-0; Liverpool won replay 2-1.

While United continue to lead the Premier League standings, the Reds are in disarray with regards the future of their manager Roy Hodgson and their negative performances, particularly away from home.

The writing is on the wall for the ex-Fulham boss and the 1-3 setback at Blackburn may hasten things up for his departure. Kenny Dalglish and Phil Thompson are being mentioned to take over the side until the end of the campaign.

So, the two non-League sides left in the competition are York City and Dover Athletic.

Dover are in the Conference South League while York, the Minstermen, lost their Football League status in 2004. York were rewarded for their second-round victory over Darlington with an FA Cup trip to Premier League side Bolton.

York were joined in the third round draw by Dover who earned a visit to Huddersfield. In the first round, York saw off Rotherham at home 3-0 while Dover tamed Gillingham 2-0 away.

Bolton are considered as one of the dark horses to lift the FA Cup in May with their positive form in the Premier League.

Stevenage, who only gained Football League recognition this season as champions of the Conference, will meet Newcastle at the Lamex Stadium in a repeat of the 1998 fourth round tie when the non-League side held the Magpies to a 1-1 draw at home before losing 2-1 in the replay at St James’s Park.

Leeds United have a tough task on their hands when they face Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium.

Last season, Leeds began with a bang in the tournament, eliminating Manchester United 1-0 at Old Trafford courtesy of a Jermaine Beckford goal.

However, their cup adventure was ended in the next round when they lost in a replay at Tottenham 3-1 after the first match at Elland Road had ended in a 2-2 draw.

The last time Leeds and Arsenal met in the competition was in season 2003-04 when the Gunners prevailed 4-1 in a third-round tie.

In total, these two teams met seven times in the FA Cup, including the final of 1972 where Leeds emerged triumphant 1-0.

The other victory for the Whites came in 1996-97. Arsenal won the remaining five encounters.

FA Cup holders Chelsea face Ipswich at Stamford Bridge.

Chelsea met the Suffolk side on three previous occasions in the FA Cup, winning all the ties, conceding one goal in the process.

Tomorrow, Sven-Goran Eriksson’s Leicester City host his former club Manchester City at the Walkers Stadium.

Manchester City are well involved in this season’s Premier League title race while the Filberts are in mid-table in the Championship.

In the 1960s, the two teams crossed swords for four successive seasons from 1965-66 to 1968-69.

In 1969, the two teams met at Wembley Stadium in the final and the Mancunians won 1-0. Manchester City won the six other duels.

Two interesting ties will be those pitting Championship teams against those from the Premier – Millwall vs Birmingham and Blackburn vs Queens Park Rangers.

Midlands trio Wolves, West Brom and Aston Villa all face tough away trips to Doncaster, Reading and Sheffield United respectively, while Everton travel to Scunthorpe. This will be the first meeting between these two teams.

Fixtures and forecast

FA Cup – third round
Arsenal-Leeds (13:45) - 1
Blackburn-QPR - X
Bolton-York - 1
Brighton-Portsmouth - X
Bristol City-Sheffield Wed. - 1
Burnley-Port Vale - 1
Burton Albion-Middlesbrough - 2
Coventry-Crystal Palace - X
Doncaster-Wolves - 2
Fulham-Peterborough - 1
Huddersfield-Dover - 1
Hull-Wigan - X
Millwall-Birmingham (14:30) - 1
Norwich-Leyton Orient - 1
Preston-N. Forest - X
Reading-West Brom - 2
Scunthorpe-Everton - 2
Sheffield Utd-Aston Villa - 2
Southampton-Blackpool - X
Stevenage-Newcastle (17:30) - 2
Stoke-Cardiff - 1
Sunderland-Notts County - 1
Swansea-Colchester - 1
Torquay-Carlisle - X
Watford-Hartlepool - 1
West Ham-Barnsley - 1

Tomorrow:
Chelsea-Ipswich (16:00) - 1
Leicester-Man. City (17:00) - 2
Man. Utd-Liverpool (14:30) - X
Tottenham-Charlton (14:30) - 1

Second round – replay
Lincoln City-Hereford - 1

League One
Bournemouth-Plymouth - 1
Dagenham-Rochdale - X
Exeter-MK Dons - X
Oldham-Swindon - 1
Tranmere-Walsall - 1

League Two
Accrington Stanley-Bury - X
Aldershot-Oxford Utd - 1
Bradford-Barnet - 1
Crewe-Wycombe - X
Northampton-Cheltenham - 1
Shrewsbury-Morecambe - 1
Southend-Chesterfield - X
Stockport-Gillingham - 2

Hot four
Bournemouth, Bradford, Norwich and Watford.