The third round of the FA Cup used to be the most romantic day of the football calendar, a time for giants to be slain and everybody to revel in nostalgia.
The increasing disparity between the top sides and those lower down the pyramid, and the overwhelming domestic focus on the Premier League, has rather changed that, but even amid the ennui that often engulfs the early rounds of the competition these days, a clash between Manchester United and Liverpool stands out.
Last season, United face Leeds United at this stage, fielded a weakened team and suffered a humbling 1-0 defeat; against anther of their great rivals, manager Sir Alex Ferguson vowed it would be different.
“It was a bad result last season against Leeds, especially considering the rivalry between the two clubs,” Ferguson told Inside United magazine.
“In hindsight I could have picked a stronger team. I won’t be making that mistake this time.” The sides last met in an FA Cup tie at Old Trafford in 1999, when United scored twice in the last five minutes to win 2-1 on their way to the Treble.
Liverpool have won just one of 10 away games this season, and this could be manager Roy Hodgson’s last chance to put that right and save his job.
Leeds, meanwhile, have another glamour tie, as they travel to Arsenal for the Saturday lunchtime kick-off, awakening memories of the 1972 FA Cup final in, which they beat the Gunners thanks to Allan Clarke’s goal.
Winger Sanchez Watt, who is on loan at Leeds from Arsenal, has been given clearance to play, provided he recovers from a head injury sustained in Tuesday’s game against Cardiff City.
Sven-Goran Eriksson welcomes his former club to the Walkers Stadium as Leicester City face Manchester City, whose manager Roberto Mancini had a brief spell as a Leicester player.
The biggest chance of a Premier League side falling to opposition from a lower league perhaps comes at Bramall Lane, where Sheffield United host Aston Villa, who slipped into the bottom three with defeat to Sunderland on Wednesday.
Blackpool also have an awkward away game as they travel to Southampton, while Newcastle United go to League Two side Stevenage who held them to a draw in the competition as a non-league side in 1998.
Struggling Chelsea, with only one win in their last nine Premier League games, host Ipswich Town, while West Ham United host Barnsley, Blackburn Rovers face the rapidly improving Championship leaders QPR and Stoke City have what is sure, given the mutual loathing of their fans, to be a feisty tie against Cardiff City.
