Betting reaction to FA Cup third-round draw
IT’S looking like a wide-open Premier League title race this season and the FA Cup could be heading a similar way with Coral offering 11-2 the field after Monday's third-round draw.
Manchester City have been usurped as market leaders and drifted out to 6-1 after being handed a tricky tie at fellow Premier League outfit Norwich, with Arsenal new favourites at 11-2.
The draw could have been kinder to City and all of their chief rivals have been given easier-looking paths through to the fourth round of the competition.
Holders Arsenal are at home to Sunderland, a side they beat 3-1 at the Emirates on Saturday as the Gunners aim for a hat-trick of triumphs following successes in 2014 and 2015.
Manchester United are also at home with Sky Bet League One side Sheffield United the visitors to Old Trafford, while Liverpool are heading to Sky Bet League Two team Exeter.
Jurgen Klopp’s men had been 12-1 prior to the draw but have been cut to 8-1, while Chelsea are 7-1 having been given a home tie with either Leyton Orient or Scunthorpe.
The tie of the round in terms of Premier League ranking sees fifth-placed Tottenham hosting surprise leaders Leicester in a repeat of last season’s clash when the Foxes came out on top at White Hart Lane.
Everton got the plum draw of either Dagenham or Whitehawk at Goodison Park and the Toffees are 16-1 for FA Cup glory.
FA Cup third-round draw: Watford v Newcastle, West Brom v Bristol City, West Ham v Wolves, Salford or Hartlepool v Derby, Exeter v Liverpool, Tottenham v Leicester, Colchester v Charlton, Peterborough v Preston, Northampton v MK Dons, Arsenal v Sunderland, Newport v Blackburn, Ipswich v Portsmouth, Birmingham v Bournemouth, Wycombe v Aston Villa, Sheffield Wednesday v Fulham, Oxford v Swansea, Brentford v Chesterfield or Walsall, Bury v Bradford, Manchester United v Sheffield United, Everton v Dagenham or Whitehawk, Southampton v Crystal Palace, Eastleigh v Bolton, Nottingham Forest v QPR, Carlisle v Yeovil, Chelsea v Leyton Orient or Scunthorpe, Doncaster v Stoke, Leeds v Rotherham, Cardiff v Grimsby or Shrewsbury, Huddersfield v Reading, Middlesbrough v Burnley, Norwich v Manchester City, Hull v Brighton. Ties to be played Jan 8-11.
