January 9 – Holders Liverpool were held to a 2-2 home draw by Wolverhampton Wanderers on a weekend when no fewer than eight of the 20 Premier League sides were dumped out of the FA Cup, the world’s oldest domestic knockout competition, at the first time of asking.
Manchester City cruised to a 4-0 win at home to Chelsea in the third round’s big heavyweight clash – the London club’s sixth defeat in last nine matches in all competitions, piling more pressure on coach Graham Potter who succeeded Thomas Tuchel as manager in September.
The FA Cup has a reputation for upsets and the biggest came at Villa Park where Aston Villa were knocked out by fourth-tier Stevenage Town (pictured) who scored twice in the last two minutes for a famous 2-1 win.
Newcastle, who sit third in the Premier League, also got knocked out, losing 2-1 to League One (third-tier) side Sheffield Wednesday for whom Josh Windass netted twice in the second half.
And top flight Nottingham Forest, who made 11 changes, paid the price as they went out 4-1 to Championship strugglers Blackpool.
Elsewhere Premier League Leeds made a late come back from two goals down to force a replay with Championship side Cardiff, while Wrexham, in the National League (tier 5) had their best win since being taken over by Hollywood co-owners Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney, beating Championship side Coventry in a 4-3 thriller.
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