Holders Liverpool take on 2005 winners Arsenal

The FA Cup third round features four all-Premier League clashes. The plum fixture is the one between holders Liverpool and the previous season's victors Arsenal, at Anfield this evening.

With the Premiership challenge likely to develop into a two-horse race between Manchester United and Chelsea, Arsenal and Liverpool will continue to fight for third and fourth places and a passport to the Champions League.

After today's match at Anfield, Liverpool and Arsenal will cross each others' shadows once more on Tuesday at the same venue in a postponed League Cup quarter-final. These games will give Spaniard Rafael Benitez ample time for revenge after Liverpool lost 0-3 at the Emirates Stadium in the Premier League.

On past FA Cup commitments, the Gunners edge 'Pool 6-5 (including four draws). Among these matches are three finals:

• 2001 Liverpool 2-1 (Owen 2 - Ljungberg).

• 1971 Arsenal 2-1 aet (Kelly, George - Heighway).

• 1950 Arsenal 2-0 (Lewis 2).

One marathon tie was the semi-final showdown of 1989 that featured four matches to determine a winner - (Hillsborough) 0-0; (replay, Villa Park) 1-1; (second replay, Villa Park) 1-1; (third replay, Coventry) Arsenal won 1-0.

The remaining seven matches:

2002 (4th round) Arsenal-Liverpool 1-0; 1964 (5th) Arsenal-Liverpool 0-1; 1963 (5) Arsenal-Liverpool 1-2; 1936 (4) Liverpool-Arsenal 0-2; 1927 (5) Arsenal-Liverpool 2-0; 1923 (1) Liverpool-Arsenal 0-0, (replay) Liverpool 4-1 at Highbury; 1912 (1) Woolwich Arsenal-Liverpool 1-4.

Other big-boys bashes

Three other all-Premiership ties read: Everton-Blackburn (Premiership this season: Ewood Park 1-1); Manchester United-Aston Villa (Villa Park: United won 2-0); Portsmouth-Wigan (Fratton Park: Pompey won 1-0).

The Rovers have offered Robbie Savage a new contract but may lose captain Lucas Neil. Everton's loss at Manchester City's sent them tumbling to eighth position.

Everton hold the upperhand 7-2 in past FA Cup clashes with Blackburn. The last meeting came in round four in 1986, when the Blues won 3-1.

The Red Devils, who top the Premiership and the all-time winners list with 11 FA Cup triumphs (followed by Arsenal on 10), will be without the injured Louis Saha tomorrow.

Villa's Mark Delaney is still injured and the club will be at the front this month to bolster their squad. The sides, so seeped in FA Cup tradition, have met on ten occasions and were never involved in a replay.

The 1957 clash occurred in the final at Wembley, where Villa beat United 2-1 (McParland 2 - Taylor). Yet, in the remaining meetings United lead heavily 8-1.

Portsmouth and Wigan have never met in the FA Cup.

Striker Kanu, who hinted of an Ajax return, has been told by Portsmouth boss Harry Redknapp that his future lies at Fratton Park.

The player wishes to join his first love in Holland in the autumn of his career and is keen to re-create the glory days of the mid-1990s.

Wigan have already signed Norwegian midfielder Haestad and Swedish defender Granqvist.

The only two non-league sides left in the competition hail from the Conference.

Aldershot are positioned in slot no.11 but Tamworth are a place off rock bottom. While Aldershot play at League One side Blackpool, Tamworth entertain Championship side Norwich City at The Lamb.

The Shots reached another milestone when they made it to the third round proper for the first time in their history. To go into the hat and mingle with the big fish for the first time Aldershot beat fellow non-Leaguers Basingstoke 3-1 in a replay.

Tamworth's plight is to stay away from relegation a dive to the sixth tier of English football.

The Canaries, who will probably leave The Lamb chirping, are placed 17th in the Championship. To reach this stage Tamworth saw off Burton and Rushden and Diamonds, among others.

Tottenham lost at Leicester 3-2 in this same round last season. The Spurs, considered as genuine FA Cup fighters, will play Championship outfit Cardiff tomorrow.

On their last meeting at Ninian Park, the Welsh side triumphed 1-0 in the third round in 1977. But on the remaining two occasions in 1923 and 1922 Tottenham emerged triumphant.

League champions Chelsea, who are facing difficulties in their bid to overtake Manchester United in the race for the Premiership crown, will be at Stamford Bridge against lowly Macclesfield - now managed by Paul Ince.

Since Ince took over he succeeded in lifting them from the bottom place in League Two - the no.92 slot in the English game - and steer the Silkmen for the fifth time to round three in the last ten years.

Ince suffered a major setback when three of his players - Jonny Brain, Andrew Teague and Jimmy McNulty - suffered serious injuries and are out of the reckoning.

Premiership surprise packet Reading will play hosts to Championship side Burnley. Last Saturday, the Royals thrashed West Ham 6-0.

Reading, on 30 points, are six points adrift from the UEFA Cup zone.

The only tie between the duo came in 1965 when in the fourth round Burnley won 1-0 at Turf Moor after a 1-1 draw at Elm Park.

At Molineux, Wolves square up to League One side Oldham Athletic.

After the 2-0 home win over Barnsley, Mick McCarthy, said that his side could win promotion via the play-offs.

Last week, he signed wingers Michael McIndoe from Barnsley for £250,000 and young Michael Kightly (Manchester United also showed interest) from non-League side Grays for a nominal fee.

On past commitments, Oldham won a third round tie 1-0 at home in 1930 and Wolves held the upperhand at Molineux 4-1 in a fourth round combat in 1967.

Fulham meet Leicester at the Walkers Stadium. The Cottagers toasted defender Moritz Volz (ex-Arsenal), whose goal (the first in a 2-2 draw) at Chelsea marked a magical milestone as it became the Premiership 15,000th goal since the start of the League in 1992-93.

Leicester have a remarkable record against Fulham in the cup, having won all four ties that came in 1974, 1960, 1923 and 1922.