This weekend’s FA Cup third round brings with it the integration of clubs from right down England’s footballing pyramid. With that comes the chance of history being made with giant-killings and upsets, but which of the Premier League’s big dogs is most at risk of being toppled by a relative minor?
During the Premier League era, Liverpool have been knocked out by lower league opposition on eight separate occasions, making them the most susceptible of the country’s major sides.
Jurgen Klopp has endured a tough start to life at Anfield, gaining the same number of points per game as his predecessor Brendan Rodgers had earlier in the season. He has guided them to the brink of a return to Wembley – where they have enjoyed vast success over the years – but fans will be wary of a potential banana skin at fourth tier Exeter on Friday night.
• When is Exeter vs Liverpool and where can I watch it?
Liverpool most recently fell 3-2 to Oldham in the fourth round in 2013, but have also been on the wrong end of an upset at the earliest possible stage on four occasions.
Oldham's players celebrate knocking Liverpool out in 2013
Bolton (1993), Bristol City (1994), Burnley (2005) and Reading (2010) have each seen off the five-time European champions in the third round and although greater financial gains have widened the gap between the Premier League elite and those lower down, Exeter, who held Manchester United to a goalless draw in 2005, could be in with a chance.
Fellow Merseysiders Everton have been felled seven times, five of which have come on home soil. A tie against Dagenham and Redbridge at Goodison Park this weekend should provide no real problem but history suggests they should remain wary.
Oldham also knocked Everton out in 2008
Manchester City, West Ham and Newcastle have all been the victims of giant killings six times whilst they were in the Premier League, while Arsenal have suffered such fate four times. Crucially, only one of those four was at all recent: Arsenal fared terribly in the FA Cup during the Premier League’s early years, losing to lower league sides in 1994, 1995 and 1996, but defeat to Blackburn in 2013 (which, incidentally, was their last FA Cup defeat in any guise) is the only time since 1997 that they have been knocked out by a lower league opponent.
Bradford won 4-2 at Stamford Bridge last January
Chelsea’s inexplicable and unprecedented 4-2 loss to Bradford last January was only their third serious upset, though given their recent form League One side Scunthorpe may fancy their chances on Sunday.
• Van Gaal taking no chances against Sheffield United
Tottenham’s two such losses gives them an impressive record but they face Premier League 'title-chasers' Leicester this weekend, who knocked them out in the fourth round last season.
Man Utd v lower league opposition - FA Cup since 1992
| Games | |
|---|---|
| Eliminated | 1 |
| Progressed | 27 |
Manchester United, beaten only by Leeds at the third round stage in 2010, are the kings of avoiding a giant killing. They are a vastly different outfit to that which Sir Alex Ferguson built but a home tie against Sheffield United should not provide too many problems.
United, Chelsea, Liverpool, West Ham, Everton and Aston Villa all face underdogs from lower leagues this weekend and it wouldn’t be surprising to see at least one more piece of FA Cup history being made with the giant crashing out.
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