United are fighting for Amorim
Ruben Amorim’s 3-4-3 tactics have little place in English football, it was said. Recent Manchester United performances of the resurrected Harry Maguire in tandem with Lisandro Martínez and Matthijs de Ligt suggest it can work if with sufficient energy in midfield to protect the trio. Manuel Ugarte and Kobbie Mainoo offer that, and the wing play of Alejandro Garnacho in setting up Bruno Fernandes’s goal, plus Amad Diallo’s raiding runs at the Emirates Stadium, suggest the framework of a team. Penalty hero Altay Bayindir revealed he is a capable goalkeeper, a possible cult hero. There are complications. The club’s finances, chickens of the Glazer ownership now coming home to roost, may trigger selling “pure profit” youth products like Garnacho and Mainoo to fund recruitment. There are significant miles to travel, but the previous weekend’s draw at Anfield, and this 10-man heist at Arsenal are signs of a motivated team playing for their manager, closely following instructions. About time, too. John Brewin
Match report: Arsenal 1-1 Manchester United (3-5 on pens)
Why aren’t Brentford up for the Cup?
Plymouth won’t care and nor should they, but there is something depressing about the refusal of sides like Brentford to play their strongest lineup in the FA Cup. “It’s a massive missed opportunity. We are disappointed,” said Thomas Frank. But at the same time he acknowledged that collectively Brentford had “dropped 10%”. It’s true that they have Manchester City and Liverpool as their next two games in the Premier League but equally Brentford haven’t beaten a top-flight side in this competition since 2005-06, and even that was only a Sunderland team on their way to a then-record Premier League low of 15 points. Even when they reached the quarter-final of the Carabao Cup this season, it was a much-changed side that lost at Newcastle. Perhaps that makes financial sense, but it inevitably raises questions about the point of football when prioritising the league means compromising the chance of actually winning something. Jonathan Wilson
Match report: Brentford 0-1 Plymouth
Twine bends it like Beckham
Despite Bristol City’s 2-1 loss to Wolves on Saturday, the team and their supporters had something to take away from the match: a sensational free-kick goal from Scott Twine. The 25-year-old midfielder, who had an earlier free-kick saved, stepped up just before half-time to take the set piece. Twine, who signed permanently for Bristol City last summer, bent the ball around the wall and slotted it into the top right corner, giving Sam Johnstone no chance. “It’s not coincidence, he practises it,” said the Bristol City manager, Liam Manning. “I’ve seen him do it numerous times. A moment of real quality. I thought Twiney spoke really well just now in the changing room about belief. I think we showed [that in the] second half, we took care of the ball and showed a bit of belief and purpose. We took the game to them a little bit instead of being on the back foot, so a lot of positives to take from it and a lot of lessons.” Sarah Rendell
Match report: Bristol City 1-2 Wolves
Tamworth’s heroes deserved better
Extra time and Tottenham scoring three goals to deny Tamworth proved the perfect encapsulation of the selling of the FA Cup’s family silver. Now that replays are considered below the elite’s purview, the Lambs – the heroes of this season’s early rounds – were denied their trip to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, and a sample of the luxury life. Spurs no longer have to pay for failing to beat a team of part-timers, of accountants, a zip salesman, bricklayers, teachers, retail workers, a personal trainer and college support workers. As the Uefa competitions bloat up, 25-man-plus squads of players are now deemed incapable of playing any extra matches, the world’s oldest competition is instead custom-designed to rich clubs’ needs. All while the Premier League is yet to agree a trickle-down settlement to the EFL and further down the pyramid. A game that embodied the romance of the FA Cup during 90 minutes ended up displaying the game’s unapologetic self-interest. John Brewin
Match report: Tamworth 0-3 Tottenham
Harrogate’s Weaver issues plea to fans
For the smaller clubs, high-profile FA Cup third-round matches against teams higher up the pyramid are about much more than just 90 minutes on the pitch. They bring publicity, finance and, in Harrogate’s case, an increased fanbase. The finance earned from their loss to Leeds will help the bank balance but the more significant matter was they had 4,000 fans in the away end, about 1,200 more than attend home fixtures in League Two, where they sit 21st, five points above the relegation places. “I think the challenge for all of us, even the fans, is please come to see us against Cheltenham to sustain our life in the Football League,” the Harrogate manager, Simon Weaver, said. “We need that vocal support and we need numbers. We had 4,000 for an away trip tonight. We’d love dearly to have 4,000 regularly at home and be proud of their team.” Will Unwin
Match report: Leeds 1-0 Harrogate
Guardiola encourages Grealish to deliver
Jack Grealish’s 49th-minute penalty broke a 392-day drought to his previous Manchester City goal, the opener in the 2-2 draw with Crystal Palace in a Premier League match on 16 December 2023. Pep Guardiola said: “Of course I’m really pleased, I want the best for my players, all of them; I want them to perform well. But in the end they have to deliver. I see him [Grealish] in the year of the treble – he was a main player for us, but after that there are two options: think it’s me [Guardiola’s responsibility] or think about what you can do better. Not [only] Jack, everyone. And he made, also, the first assist for the first goal [Jérémy Doku’s], and the assist for the last one for [James] McAtee.” Jamie Jackson
Match report: Manchester City 8-0 Salford City
Liverpool’s teenage talents shine
Rio Ngumoha impressed on his record-breaking debut for Liverpool, becoming the club’s youngest ever starter at 16 years and 135 days of age, but was not the only teenage prospect to deliver against Accrington Stanley. The welcome return of Jayden Danns lifted the Liverpool performance as the League Two side tired and provided another glimpse of a talent that genuinely excites the club’s academy staff. The 18-year-old’s brief cameo was his first appearance of the season after suffering a stress fracture in his back last summer. He made an instant impact, taking his overall FA Cup record to three goals in 45 minutes of action. “What I like most about him, and most of the academy players, is the mentality,” said Arne Slot. “He is a striker but if [Diogo] Jota and Darwin [Núñez] is playing as a 9, he has to play as an 11 or a 6 or whatever position we need him. He will always give all he has. If that is your mentality you can get the most out of your potential. He will have a very good career because of his mentality, I am very sure of that.” Andy Hunter
Match report: Liverpool 4-0 Accrington
Maresca plays long game with James
It was a gentle workout for Reece James. Chelsea’s captain was back to face Morecambe after recovering from his latest injury and the plan always was to take him off at half-time. “The idea is to slowly, slowly build the right condition,” said Enzo Maresca, who is looking to ensure that James does not break down again. Maresca knows how important the right-back could be if he stays healthy. James is one of the best in the world when he is fit but that is a rare occurrence these days. This was only his fourth start of the season. Chelsea have not been able to rely on him and James will surely be back on the bench when Bournemouth visit on Tuesday night. Yet with Malo Gusto struggling for form it is important that Maresca has options. Chelsea’s hopes of qualifying for the Champions League will grow if James is available. Jacob Steinberg
Match report: Chelsea 5-0 Morecambe
Palace make light of big-name absentees
While the uncertainty over Trevoh Chalobah and Marc Guehi’s futures rumbles on after the former missed Sunday’s narrow win over Stockport due to a “contractual issue”, the return of Chadi Riad could not have come at a better time for Oliver Glasner. The Morocco defender injured his knee on only his second appearance after joining Crystal Palace in the summer but was the beneficiary of Chalobah’s absence as he made his comeback to help Palace keep a clean sheet against Stockport and book a fourth-round trip to Doncaster. Chalobah is due to return against Leicester in midweek but Riad is likely to have plenty of opportunities if Chelsea follow up on their desire to cut short his loan. “First of all, we needed some players, because we had many ill players during the week, so it was good for Chadi to get many minutes,” Glasner said. “He was injured in the first Carabao Cup game against Norwich, and now in the first FA Cup game he’s back, so really delighted for him personally, and of course it gives us more options.” Ed Aarons
Match report: Crystal Palace 1-0 Stockport
Birmingham trip a conundrum for Howe
By the time Newcastle travel to Birmingham for an FA Cup fourth-round tie in early February they will know if they have reached the Carabao Cup final and whether Champions League qualification remains on the agenda in the league. Assuming Eddie Howe’s side do not surrender the 2-0 semi-final first-leg lead they recorded at Arsenal, a place in a Wembley final will be secured. But can they afford to chase glory in a second cup competition, particularly when their Saudi owners crave the top-four finish that would guarantee a return to the Champions League? It will be intriguing to see Howe’s teamsheet looks at Birmingham – particularly if, as expected, profitability and sustainability rules dictate he is unable to strengthen a squad that lacks depth in January. At least Newcastle’s manager seems likely to still have Martin Dubravka to rely on after the club’s hierarchy agreed to veto the Slovakia goalkeeper’s proposed move to Saudi’s Al-Shabab. “Touch wood, Martin will stay,” said Howe on Sunday. “We hope he’s very much part of our future.” Louise Taylor
Match report: Newcastle 3-1 Bromley
