Holders Liverpool take on familiar FA Cup foes Arsenal while
Paul Ince's Macclesfield Town are hoping for a spot of
giant-killing at Chelsea when the third round gets underway this
weekend.
Liverpool's match on Saturday is one of four all-Premier League
tussles, with leaders Manchester United also hosting Aston Villa,
Everton taking on Blackburn Rovers and Portsmouth facing Wigan
Athletic.
For Liverpool fans, the match at Anfield will rekindle happy
memories of the first FA Cup final hosted by Cardiff in 2001 when
two late goals from Michael Owen earned a 2-1 win over Arsenal.
Arsenal gained revenge the following season by knocking the
Anfield club out in the fourth round but recent form suggests
Arsene Wenger's erratic side are underdogs on Saturday.
Anfield has become a fortress for Rafael Benitez's men, with
Monday's 3-0 victory over Bolton Wanderers making it nine wins and
two draws in 11 home league games this season. Their last home
league defeat came in October 2005.
Arsenal, with five league defeats on the road, including last
weekend's humbling at Sheffield United, look a far cry from the
team who beat Liverpool 3-0 at the Emirates Stadium in
November.
Winners over Manchester United on penalties in the 2005 final,
earning Wenger a fourth FA Cup, Arsenal were relieved skipper
Thierry Henry made a scoring return in Tuesday's 4-0 league win
over Charlton Athletic.
Adding further spice to the tie is that the two sides are
chasing a Champions League place next season and will meet on
Merseyside again on Tuesday in a League Cup quarter-final.
Supporters of fourth division Macclesfield will be dreaming of
adding to the romance of a competition founded in 1871 when they
take on league champions Chelsea at Stamford Bridge on
Saturday.
Macclesfield have already enjoyed a fairytale run since former
England and Manchester United midfielder Ince took over in October,
when they were without a win and bottom of the 92-club pile in
English soccer.
Though they lost his first game in charge, they have been beaten
only once in 13 games since and have won seven of their last eight
in all competitions.
Ince, who at 39 is considering whether to pick himself, possibly
as a late substitute, is realistic about their chances.
"My priority is to stay in this league. For us it's a great
chance for the lads to go and play against world-class players and
enjoy the sights of London...I don't think some of them have even
been to London before." Minor league Tamworth, who also reached the
third round last season, will look to upset the form book against
second division Norwich City.
(China Daily January 5, 2007)