Reds to host Everton in Cup duel, while United go to Wolves
RIVALS Liverpool and Everton will meet in the FA Cup third round.
Jurgen Klopp’s Premier League leaders will have home advantage in the Cup Merseyside derby, which will take place on a date between January 3-6.
Holders Manchester City landed a home tie against Port Vale, while Manchester United will visit Wolves, the club that knocked them out of last season’s competition in the quarter-finals.
The draw, conducted at Manchester City’s Etihad Stadium by Tony Adams and Micah Richards, landed dream opportunities for some non-league sides.
National League AFC Fylde will mark their first thirdround appearance with a trip to Sheffield United, with National League North Boston hosting Newcastle if they beat Rochdale in a second-round replay.
Elsewhere, lower league sides Eastleigh or Crewe will entertain Championship strugglers Barnsley, with Hartlepool going to Oxford if they manage to get past Exeter.
Leicester, second in the Premier League, entertain Wigan, with Frank Lampard’s Chelsea welcoming Nottingham Forest to Stamford Bridge. Premier League relegation candidates Watford host League One Tranmere, Southampton are at home to Huddersfield and Brighton meet Sheffield Wednesday.
League Two Newport, FA Cup conquerors of Leicester and Middlesbrough last season, visit Millwall, with all-Championship ties including Swansea’s trip to QPR,
Charlton hosting West Brom and Brentford tackling Michael O’Neill’s Stoke City.
Meanwhile, Mauricio Pochettino has said he is “open to listen to projects”, less than two weeks after being sacked by Tottenham.
Former Argentina defender Pochettino was unseated by Spurs in November after five years at the north London club.
The 47-year-old has returned to Argentina for a break but insisted he is ready for a new challenge.
Arsenal are still seeking a new manager after sacking Unai Em
ery, while Bayern Munich are yet to find a permanent replacement for Niko Kovac.
“There are a lot of clubs and attractive projects for me to take on,” said Pochettino.
“It is my intention to return to manage in Europe. But now I need to be calm for a few days and see what happens.
“For the time being the most important thing is for me to clear my head.
“At my age I don’t need a lot of time to recover. I am open to listen to projects put before me.”