By Daily Sports on December 6, 2016

Manchester United will begin their FA Cup defence at home to a Reading side managed by their former defender Jaap Stam, while their local rivals Manchester City visit West Ham United in the third round after the draw was made on Monday.

Premier League leaders Chelsea will host Notts County or Peterborough, English champions Leicester City will visit fellow top-flight side Everton, while Liverpool welcome Newport County or Plymouth Argyle in ties to be played between January 6-9.

Arsenal, who like Manchester United have won the famous old trophy a record 12 times, travel to Preston North End, while north London rivals and eight-times winners Tottenham Hotspur entertain Aston Villa, who won the FA Cup on seven occasions.

Seventh-tier Stourbridge United, the lowest ranked team left in the competition, face a rearranged second-round tie at home to Northampton Town on December 13 before they can contemplate a visit to league Two (fourth-tier) Wycombe Wanderers.

There are four all-Premier League ties, including Hull City at home to Swansea City and Burnley away to Sunderland.

Second-tier Reading’s boss Stam was a favourite during three years at United, where the Netherlands international was part of the famous 1998-99 treble-winning side under Alex Ferguson. He also won league titles either side of that historic season.

Stam’s ex-United teammate Andy Cole expects the Dutchman to get a good reception on his return to Old Trafford.

“I look forward to that,” he told the BBC. “He’s done very well at Reading. I’m really pleased for him.”

Stam took over at Reading in the close season and has guided them to third place in the Championship. United are sixth in the Premier League under their new manager Jose Mourinho.

FA CUP THIRD ROUND DRAW

Ipswich Town v Lincoln City

Barrow v Rochdale

Manchester United v Reading

Hull City v Swansea City

Sunderland v Burnley

Queens Park Rangers v Blackburn Rovers

Millwall v Bournemouth

West Ham United v Manchester City

Brighton & Hove Albion v MK Dons/Charlton Athletic

Blackpool v Barnsley

Wigan Athletic v Nottingham Forest

Birmingham City v Newcastle United

Chelsea v Notts County/Peterborough United

Middlesbrough v Sheffield Wednesday

West Brom Albion v Derby County

Everton v Leicester City

Liverpool v Newport County/Plymouth Argyle

Wycombe Wanderers v Stourbridge/Northampton Town

Watford v Burton Albion

Preston North End v Arsenal

Cardiff City v Fulham

Stoke City v Wolverhampton Wanderers

Cambridge United v Leeds United

Bristol City v Shrewsbury Town/Fleetwood Town

Huddersfield Town v Port Vale

Tottenham Hotspur v Aston Villa

Brentford v Halifax Town/Eastleigh

Bolton Wanderers v Crystal Palace

Norwich City v Southampton

Sutton United v AFC Wimbledon

Accrington Stanley v Luton Town

Rotherham United v Oxford United/Macclesfield Town

*Ties to be played Jan. 6-9

•Sourced from Reuters. Photo shows Manchester United Manager Jose Mourinho.

Source Daily Sports

Posted December 6, 2016

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