By Chris Sampson
- Lopetegui fury after controversial draw at Anfield
- Stevenage shocker for Villa, City cruise past Chelsea
- Windass double boosts Wednesday
UK -The FA Cup third round is traditionally one of the most exciting weekends on the football calendar. 2023 lived up to the hype.
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Liverpool 2 Wolverhampton Wanderers 2
Wolverhampton Wanderers boss Julen Lopetegui was furious after his side were denied a late winner in a pulsating encounter against Liverpool at Anfield.
The away end erupted into raucous celebrations when Toti backheeled Hwang Hee-Chan’s low centre into the net in the 82nd minute. However, a flagged offside in the build-up was upheld by VAR – even though ITV reported video official Mike Dean did not have a camera angle of the alleged offence. An enraged Lopetegui visited referee Andy Madley with his captain Ruben Neves after the game to seek clarification.
Wolves had taken the lead in the 26th minute after an error from Alisson Becker. The Liverpool goalkeeper badly misplaced a pass and Goncalo Guedes tapped home.
A superb crossfield pass from Trent Alexander-Arnold saw Darwin Nunez’s equally classy left-footed volley find the net to pull Liverpool level on the stroke of half-time. Mohamed Salah then side-footed the hosts ahead on 52 minutes. Debutant Cody Gakpo’s deep cross was nodded on by Toti, who by deliberately playing the ball was ruled to have played Salah onside, a decision hotly disputed by Wolves. The Egyptian buried the chance to give Jurgen Klopp’s side the advantage.
Hwang then came off the bench to earn Wolves a replay. Matheus Cunha’s cross hit Ibrahima Konate and then Hwang’s side before going in on 66 minutes.
Then Wolves thought they had won the game when Toti flicked home, but the linesman had ruled it offside earlier in the move. Given the nature of Liverpool’s second goal it was a bitter pill for Wolves to swallow. However, Lopetegui will be encouraged by the spirit shown by his team as they continue to show signs of improvement after a disastrous opening to the season. Klopp will again be frustrated by the lack of rhythm and defensive solidarity shown by his injury hit side.
Both sides will now face a replay at Molineux amid an already packed schedule later this month.
Aston Villa 1 Stevenage 2
A fantastic late comeback from Stevenage saw Steve Evans’ side reach the FA Cup fourth round at the expense of Aston Villa. The fourth tier team hit two goals in the final two minutes to seal a famous victory.
The visiting players and manager Evans celebrated with their supporters at full-time, delighted to have seen off a Premier League team.
Substitute Dean Campbell fired in a superb 90th-minute winner after Jamie Reid’s equaliser from the penalty spot – the spot-kick awarded after last man Leander Dendoncker was shown a straight red card for bringing down Campbell.
Morgan Sanson’s first goal for Villa had given Unai Emery’s side a half-time lead over a side ranked 59 places below them in the football pyramid. But the hosts, despite their overall superiority, were unable to extend their advantage and they were made to pay in a remarkable conclusion to the match.
The reward for League Two Stevenage is a trip to Stoke City of the Championship outfit Stoke City in the fourth round.
Manchester City 4 Chelsea 0
Manchester City strolled into the FA Cup fourth round with a routine victory over a disappointing Chelsea at the Etihad Stadium. The Citizens swept the visitors aside with three first-half goals to set up a meeting with league leaders Arsenal the next round.
City’s win over Chelsea at Stamford Bridge on Thursday may have been hard-fought but Pep Guardiola’s side were untroubled throughout this time round.
Riyad Mahrez set them on their way with a brilliant 23rd-minute free-kick before World Cup winner Julian Alvarez scored a second from the spot seven minutes later following Kai Havertz’s handball. Phil Foden scored City’s third after 38 minutes, turning in Kyle Walker’s cross after he had been played in by Thursday’s match-winner Mahrez.
Graham Potter responded with a change in formation, but it made little or no difference. The former Brighton boss now finds himself under real pressure. The travelling Chelsea supporters expressed their discontent by chanting the name of Thomas Tuchel, the Champions League-winning manager sacked by new owner Todd Boehly in September.
Mahrez got his second from the spot late on after Kalidou Koulibaly bundled Foden to the floor following Bernardo Silva’s superb through ball.
This has been a satisfying few days for City. In midweek they closed the gap on leaders Arsenal in the league to five points before progressing smoothly to the next round of the FA Cup.
Owls clip Magpies’ wings, Seasiders chop down Forest
League 1 high-fliers Sheffield Wednesday progress to the fourth round after a Josh Windass brace saw off Newcastle United. It was only the Magpies’ second defeat of the season as Wednesday’s brave approach brought them a deserved victory. Eddie Howe made eight changes after Tuesday’s draw with Arsenal, mindful of his side’s EFL Cup quarter-final against Leicester in midweek. And it demonstrated that while Newcastle, who sit third in the Premier League, have a first XI to match anyone, their squad depth requires improvement. For Darren Moore and Wednesday it was a huge boost to morale as they look to continue their challenge for promotion.
Championship strugglers Blackpool convincingly beat Premier League Nottingham Forest at Bloomfield Road. The Seasiders, in the relegation zone in the second tier, took a 17th-minute lead through Marvin Ekpiteta. Forest, who changed their entire starting XI, missed a number of chances to equalise. They were made to pay when Ian Poveda, CJ Hamilton and Jerry Yates struck in the second half before Ryan Yates claimed a consolation.
Forest’s run to last season’s quarter-finals buoyed their ultimately successfully push for a long-awaited promotion back to the Premier League. But Steve Cooper’s team selection suggested he was happy to sacrifice this season’s competition to focus on avoiding an immediate return to the Championship. Especially with his side due to face Wolves in the quarter-finals of the EFL Cup.
Manchester United continued their recent good form with victory over Everton, while a Harry Kane goal was enough for Tottenham to overcome Portsmouth. Leicester City edged past Gillingham, the Football League’s bottom team, with a goal from Kelechi Iheanacho. Championship leaders Burnley disposed of Premier League Bournemouth, and there were wins for Southampton, Preston, Reading, Sheffield United and Sunderland. Brighton and Hove Albion enjoyed an emphatic five-one win at Middlesborough with World Cup winner Alexis Mac Allister scoring twice. League leaders Arsenal won three-nil at Oxford United to set up a fourth round meeting with Manchester City.
National League Wrexham made it through to the fourth round at the expense of Coventry. Fellow non-league sides Boreham Wood and Chesterfield both gained creditable draws and face replays.
The FA Cup fourth round takes place from 27 to 30 January. The third round replays will take place on Tuesday January 17 and Wednesday January 18. Forest Green Rovers and Birmingham City are yet to confirm a date for their third round tie after the original game was postponed due to a waterlogged pitch.
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