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FA CUP DRAW: GERRARD’S ASTONVILLA TO FACE MANCHESTER UNITED, HOLDERS LEICESTER HOST WATFORD

The FA Cup third-round draw was revealed on Monday, with Manchester United hosting Steven Gerrard’s Aston Villa and title holders Leicester City welcoming former coach Claudio Ranieri and Watford among the more notable fixtures.

The matches to be played from Jan. 7-10, include teams from the Premier League and second-tier Championship. Replays will return to this season’s competition after being dropped for COVID-19 enforced reasons last term.

It will be Liverpool legend Gerrard’s first trip to Old Trafford since taking over as Villa manager.

Ranieri led Leicester to their improbable run to the Premier League title in 2015-16. Now manager at Watford, Raneiri and his side will visit the Foxes, who earned the Cup under Brendan Rodgers last May in a 2-1 win over Chelsea at Wembley.

West Ham United hosting Leeds United is the other tie featuring two Premier League teams.

Other notable matchups include Chelsea hosting non-league side Chesterfield, Shrewsbury Town visiting Anfield to take on Liverpool, Tottenham Hotspur welcoming Morecambe, Arsenal traveling to Nottingham Forest, and Manchester City away to Swindon Town.

FA Cup third round draw in full:

Boreham Wood v AFC Wimbledon

Yeovil Town v Bournemouth

Stoke City v Leyton Orient

Swansea City v Southampton

Chelsea v Chesterfield Town

Liverpool v Shrewsbury Town

Cardiff City v Preston North End

Coventry City v Derby County

Burnley v Huddersfield Town

West Bromwich Albion v Brighton & Hove Albion

Kidderminster Harriers v Reading

Leicester City v Watford

Mansfield Town v Middlesbrough

Hartlepool United v Blackpool

Hull City v Everton

Bristol City v Fulham

Tottenham Hotspur v Morecambe

Millwall v Crystal Palace

Port Vale v Brentford

Swindon Town v Manchester City

Wigan Athletic v Blackburn Rovers

Luton Town v Harrogate Town

Birmingham City v Plymouth Argyle

Manchester United v Aston Villa

Wolverhampton Wanderers v Sheffield United

Newcastle United v Cambridge United

Barnsley v Ipswich Town or Barrow

Peterborough United v Bristol Rovers

West Ham United v Leeds United

Queens Park Rangers v Rotherham United

Charlton Athletic v Norwich City

Nottingham Forest v Arsenal

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BERNARDO SILVA HITS BRACE AS MANCITY TAKE TOP SPOT WITH WATFORD WIN

Manchester City moved to the top of the Premier League as Bernardo Silva scored twice in a 3-1 victory over Watford at Vicarage Road.

City made the most of Chelsea’s defeat at West Ham earlier in the day with a seventh straight win in all competitions.

Silva struck twice either side of half-time to put the game firmly beyond the Hornets and climb back above Liverpool, who had won 1-0 at Wolves.

The in-form Portugal star weaved past two defenders before slotting the ball past goalkeeper Daniel Bachmann to add to City’s advantage following Raheem Sterling’s opener.

The 27-year-old then followed up his first-half strike with a clever curled effort into the top corner for his side’s third.

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Manchester United sack Solskjaer after heavy Watford defeat

Manchester United have sacked boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer after Saturday’s 4-1 defeat to promoted side Watford.

The Norwegian has been relieved of his duties after just shy of three years in the job, with Michael Carrick set to take charge of their forthcoming games.

The Red Devils say they will look to appoint an interim manager until the end of the season.

A club statement read: “Manchester United announces that Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has left his role as manager. 

“Ole will always be a legend at Manchester United and it is with regret that we have reached this difficult decision. 

“While the past few weeks have been disappointing, they should not obscure all the work he has done over the past three years to rebuild the foundations for long-term success. 

“Ole leaves with our sincerest thanks for his tireless efforts as manager and our very best wishes for the future. 

“His place in the club’s history will always be secure, not just for his story as a player, but as a great man and a manager who gave us many great moments. 

“He will forever be welcome back at Old Trafford as part of the Manchester United family.”

He leaves United following a dismal run of five defeats in seven in the Premier League, which also included humbling defeats to rivals Liverpool and Manchester City.

United are down in seventh, already 12 points off Premier League leaders Chelsea.

After splashing the cash on Cristiano Ronaldo, Jadon Sancho and Raphael Varane in the summer, results and performances have not been up to scratch.

Pressure on Solskjaer reached new levels after after a shambolic defeat at Vicarage Road.

Goals from Joshua King, Ismaila Sarr, Joao Pedro and Emmanuel Dennis put the Red Devils to the sword, while captain Harry Maguire was also sent off.

United’s next game is a Champions League group clash against Villarreal, before a trip to Chelsea on Sunday.

Since Sir Alex Ferguson left in 2013, only Jose Mourinho (58.3%) has had a higher win percentage than Solskjaer’s 54.2%.

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EMILE SMITH ROWE SCORES TO HELP ARSENAL EDGE 10-MAN WATFORD

Arsenal go into the international break fifth in the Premier League after Emile Smith Rowe hit the only goal of the game to see off 10-man Watford.

Smith Rowe has hit three in his last three league games and has five in eight across all competitions with his second-half strike here enough to earn a 1-0 win at the Emirates Stadium, with Juraj Kucka sent of for the visitors late on.

Smith Rowe’s form was not enough to earn him a first senior England call-up but Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta will be pleased that his strike here was enough to secure the win in his 100th game in charge.

Captain Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang endured a wholly more frustrating day at the office, seeing a penalty saved and a goal ruled out for offside.

Arteta’s men are now on a 10-game unbeaten run stretching back to August – the longest such streak of the Spaniard’s tenure.

Watford battled valiantly with Claudio Ranieri having made five changes from the home defeat to Southampton – but they had Ben Foster in goal to thank for keeping them level for so long.

The experienced stopped saved his ninth Premier League penalty since 2010, with Aubameyang now missing his last two spot-kicks.

Arsenal thought they had hit the front early on, Watford giving the ball away on the edge of their own box before Bukayo Saka would eventually turn home – only for the England man to be called offside following a VAR check.

The game became scrappy with both sides picking up a couple of cautions, before Arsenal were awarded a penalty just after the half-hour.

Ainsley Maitland-Niles miscued a long-range effort which fell towards Alexandre Lacazette, who was clattered by Danny Rose.

Referee Kevin Friend pointed to the spot but Aubameyang’s penalty was brilliantly saved by Foster.

The incident seemed to spur on Watford, with Kucka having a shot blocked behind and Rose scuffing a strike from the resulting corner.

Arsenal were still creating chances of their own, Foster again in fine form to keep out a Gabriel Magalhaes header just before the break.

The Gunners would impose themselves on the game in the second half but were still unable to click as they have in recent weeks when attacking.

That was until Smith Rowe continued his fine run of form by opening the scoring after 56 minutes.

Benjamin White rode a number of challenges before being tackled, with the ball breaking into the path of Smith Rowe, who added to his goals against Aston Villa and Leicester by finishing well.

Aubameyang’s off-day continued when he slid in to convert substitute Martin Odegaard’s cross-cum-shot on the line, only to see the offside flag rule out the tap-in.

Odegaard gestured in frustration with replays showing his effort would have gone in without Aubameyang’s touch.

Watford had a glorious chance to level as White and Aaron Ramsdale left a clearance for one another and Joshua King stole in but opted to shoot from an acute angle, hitting the side netting of Arsenal’s empty goal.

The Hornets would be reduced to 10 men in the closing stages as Kukca was shown a second yellow card for catching Nuno Tavares in an attempt to clear the ball from the edge of the box.

Albert Sambi Lokonga stung the palms of Foster as Arsenal looked to put the game to bed in stoppage-time, seeing out the six additional minutes to seal another three points.

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CALLUM WILSON GOAL FORCES DRAW FOR MANAGERLESS NEWCASTLE AT CRYSTAL PALACE

Callum Wilson’s wonder goal rescued a point for Newcastle at Crystal Palace but they remain without a Premier League win after nine games this season and it could have been much worse in the capital.

Referee Darren England ruled out Christian Benteke’s 87th-minute header for an infringement in the penalty area which would have earned Patrick Vieira’s side a deserved victory.

Benteke had earlier hit both a post and the crossbar while he missed another gilt-edged chance after he opened the scoring in a one-sided contest at Selhurst Park that ended as a 1-1 draw.

Gateshead-born Graeme Jones was in charge of his boyhood club after Steve Bruce was sacked on Wednesday and there were some subtle differences to his former boss on display.

Newcastle reverted to a back five again and Joe Willock was notably dropped to the bench. Opposite number Vieira also made a bold call, with the fit-again Wilfried Zaha only named among the substitutes while Michael Olise was handed his full Palace debut.

It was the Magpies’ second match since a Saudi-backed consortium completed its takeover of the club and home fans in the Holmesdale End unveiled a banner which questioned the merits of the Premier League Owners’ and Directors’ Test in the wake of Saudi Arabia’s sovereign wealth fund owning 80 per cent of the North East outfit.

On the pitch, an early delay occurred after Palace captain Luka Milivojevic needed treatment following a crunching 50-50 tackle with Isaac Hayden.

The only genuine chances of the first half occurred in a six-minute period where Wilson fired into the side netting from a tight angle after the hosts had failed to deal with a free-kick before Benteke headed against a post with 20 on the clock.

Olise had created the opportunity for the Belgian, who should have scored, and the other key flashpoint of the opening 45 was when both managers exchanged words in the 26th minute.

Joel Ward and Wilson came together by the touchline and, after Milivojevic joined in, Newcastle interim boss Jones pushed the Eagles captain which resulted in Vieira and his first-team coach Shaun Derry getting involved.

Eventually referee England took control, with the outcome a caution apiece for Ward and Wilson.

Palace had enjoyed 79 per cent possession during the first half and yet struggled to turn that opportunities, but that soon changed.

An exquisite overhead kick from Benteke almost broke the deadlock in the 50th minute and six minutes later the former Liverpool forward did open the scoring to make it goals in consecutive games.

Tyrick Mitchell produced a wonderful floated ball to the back post where Benteke towered above his rivals to power home a header from six yards to add to his effort at Arsenal on Monday.

He almost doubled his tally soon after but saw another header hit the top of the crossbar and with 65 on the clock it was crucial as Newcastle grabbed an equaliser.

Palace failed to deal with a corner and Wilson produced a sensational overhead kick into the top corner to beat Vicente Guaita and score for the fourth time this season.

Jones introduced Miguel Almiron and Willock after while Zaha was brought on for the hosts before Benteke was presented with another tempting opening.

Odsonne Edouard dummied James McArthur’s pass to put Benteke through but he sidefooted wide to silence Selhurst Park.

More drama was to follow when Benteke headed home McArthur’s corner with three minutes left but, after referee England was told to look at the pitchside monitor by VAR, he disallowed the effort due to Marc Guehi having a handful of Ciaran Clark’s shirt.

It ensured another draw for Palace and a ninth league game without a win for Newcastle.

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JOSHUA KING NETS HAT-TRICK AGAINST FORMER CLUB AS FIVE-STAR WATFORD STUN EVERTON

Joshua King’s hat-trick powered Watford to a stunning 5-2 victory at Everton as Claudio Ranieri got his first win in charge of the Hornets in some style.

King played 11 games without a goal for Everton last season but was in devastating form on his return to Goodison Park, where Watford scored four times in the last 12 minutes to come from behind against Rafael Benitez’s men and record their first victory at the famous old ground.

Everton had looked to be on for the victory after Richarlison came off the bench to head them 2-1 up in the 63rd minute but after Juraj Kucka headed Watford level, King struck twice before Emmanuel Dennis added a final flourish.

King’s first had come 13 minutes in to cancel out an early Tom Davies strike.

It was a stunning finish to the match, all the more so given Ranieri’s men were humbled 5-0 by Liverpool just a week ago in the Italian’s first game in charge.

But while they celebrated what they will hope is the start of a turnaround to their fortunes, Ranieri’s old friend Benitez was left to ponder a second consecutive home defeat and their ninth of 2021 – one shy of the club’s record in a calendar year.

The early signs had been good for the hosts.

With Richarlison deemed fit enough only for the bench after six weeks out with a knee injury, Benitez made two changes to the side beaten 1-0 at home by West Ham last week and both players to come in – Davies and Anthony Gordon – were involved as they struck just three minutes in.

Benitez had said he needed to find someone with the right energy to replace the injured Abdoulaye Doucoure and it soon became apparent why Gordon got the nod as he drove Everton forward, playing in Demarai Gray whose low cross was turned in by Davies for his first goal of the season.

But a set-piece offered Watford a route back into the game as Craig Cathcart flicked on Ozan Tufan’s free-kick for King to turn in at the far post and though the flag initially went up for offside, VAR would overturn the decision and level the scores.

Encouraged, Watford continued to create chances – Moussa Sissoko drilled a shot wide from the edge of the area after good link-up from Adam Masina and Cucho Hernandez, with the latter then seeing a bending shot deflected narrowly wide.

Richarlison was sent out to warm up as the second half got under way, with Everton seeking a spark as Watford threatened again – Jordan Pickford making a superb save to deny King at close range.

Benitez responded by sending on Richarlison on the hour mark but his decision to replace Gordon was greeted with boos from the stands.

They turned to cheers three minutes later, however, as Richarlison beat Ben Foster to Michael Keane’s ball to head into an open net.

Watford responded well. Kucka drew a good save from Pickford with a shot from the edge of the area before some calamitous defending almost gifted openings to King and substitute Joao Pedro.

They were warnings which went unheeded. Kucka headed level from Hernandez’s corner and then two minutes later Watford hit Everton on the break as Dennis played in King to fire beyond Pickford.

Having lost their lead, Everton lost their way entirely.

Terrible defending saw them pass up opportunities to clear the ball before it fell for King to finish his hat-trick in the 86th minute.

As the home fans streamed for the exits, Dennis added an exclamation mark in stoppage time.

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FIRMINO HATRICK, SALAH, MANE ON TARGET AS LIVERPOOL WHIP WATFORD IN RANIERI’S FIRST GAME

Roberto Firmino struck a hat-trick and Mohamed Salah scored for the eighth consecutive game as Liverpool delivered a masterclass in a 5-0 demolition of Watford on Claudio Ranieri’s Premier League return.

Jurgen Klopp’s side dominated from the outset to extend their unbeaten league run to 18 games, with Sadio Mane opening the scoring with his 100th Premier League goal.

Firmino doubled Liverpool’s lead just before half-time with a tap-in before adding his second from close range seven minutes after the break, capitalising on a parry from goalkeeper Ben Foster.

Salah provided Liverpool’s fourth with another moment of individual brilliance in the box before curling the ball in to the far corner and Firmino completed his treble in added time.

It was not the welcome return to the Premier League that former Chelsea and Leicester boss Ranieri would have hoped for, after replacing the sacked Xisco Munoz, with the full scale of Watford’s bid to stay in the top flight evident.

Liverpool started the game brightly and deservedly went ahead after nine minutes. Salah had already rattled the crossbar only to be flagged for offside before Mane’s first-time finish from the Egyptian’s exquisite pass brought up his personal milestone.

Foster had cleared the ball, but Salah won it back before shrugging off Danny Rose to send Mane through with the outside of his boot. The Senegal international timed his run to get ahead of his marker and then slotted the ball past the goalkeeper when one-on-one.

Salah had two more chances to add to Liverpool’s tally before the half-hour mark, but the first was blocked by a defender and the second Foster was able to come off his line and gather after a rare poor touch from the forward.

After the early exchanges, Watford had just 11 percent possession and Liverpool’s second looked inevitable.

The ball made its way across the pitch from Mane to James Milner on the overlap and the former England international put in a low cross for Firmino to tap home from close range completely unmarked in the 37th minute.

Watford continued to struggle in the second half, and it did not take long for Foster to be forced into another save, when Salah found space in the box to get a curled strike in, which the Watford goalkeeper was just able to turn over the bar.

Firmino put the game to bed in the 52nd minute. Andy Robertson attempted to find Salah at the far post when Craig Cathcart intercepted, forcing Foster into a save, but he could only parry and it was another tap-in for the Brazilian.

The visitors only had to wait two more minutes for their fourth of the afternoon with Salah, whose goal grabbed the headlines against Manchester City last time out, producing another stunning finish.

Salah showed impressive footwork to leave multiple defenders behind him as he crafted an opening for a curled strike into the far corner.

It looked as if the game would end 4-0 before Firmino turned home a ball across the box from substitute Neco Williams at the death.

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CLAUDIO RANIERI APPOINTED NEW WATFORD BOSS

Watford have announced the appointment of Claudio Ranieri as their new head coach on a two-year contract.

The Italian former Chelsea and Leicester boss succeeds Xisco Munoz, who parted company with the Hornets on Sunday.

He takes over a side 15th in the Premier League with seven points from their opening seven matches.

Ranieri, 69, is Watford’s 13th permanent manager since owners the Pozzo family took control of the club in 2012.

He boasts a wealth of experience, with clubs such as Napoli, Fiorentina, Valencia, Juventus, Roma, Inter Milan and Atletico Madrid also on his CV.

He famously guided Leicester to the Premier League title in 2016 and last worked in England during a brief stint at Fulham in 2018-19.

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CLAUDIO RANIERI SET TO BE APPOINTED AS WATFORD MANAGER

Claudio Ranieri is expected to complete a deal to become Watford manager.

The vastly experienced Italian manager will replace Xisco Munoz at Vicarage Road, the PA news agency understands.

The 69-year-old will become Watford’s 13th permanent manager since owners the Pozzo family took control in 2012.

Ranieri steered 5000/1 shots Leicester to the most improbable of all Premier League titles in 2016, in what remains the crowning glory of a lengthy managerial career.

And now the ever-popular coach is understood to be mere formalities away from confirming his first job in English football in two years.

Ranieri endured a tough spell at Fulham in 2019 in his last foray in England, winning just three of his 17 matches at Craven Cottage before being replaced by assistant Scott Parker.

But now Watford’s board believe Ranieri is the right man to kick-start the Hornets’ season after just two wins in seven matches in the new top-flight campaign.

Munoz had only been in charge at Vicarage Road for 10 months, leading the club back to the Premier League, when he was unseated by Watford’s bosses on Sunday.

The Hornets have managed league wins over Aston Villa and Norwich but four losses and a draw elsewhere proved enough for the club hierarchy to make an early change.

Ranieri left Sampdoria at the end of last season and has been out of work since, but is now preparing to make his Premier League return.

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LEICESTER CITY FORMER MANAGER, CLAUDIO RANIERI IN TALKS FOR PREMIER LEAGUE RETURN

Former Leicester City boss Claudio Ranieri is reportedly in talks over a return to the Premier League.

The 69-year-old Premier League -winning manager was most recently in charge of Sampdoria but now looks set to become the new head coach of Watford.

The Hornets sacked Xisco Munoz this morning after picking up just seven points from their opening seven games.

According to Italian journalist Gianluca Di Marzio, talks are “ongoing” between Ranieri and Watford over a move to Vicarage Road.

Di Marzio also states that Ranieri is “ready” to return to the top flight of English football.

Ranieri would become the second former Leicester boss to lead Watford in recent seasons after Nigel Pearson’s brief yet successful spell in charge.

Since leaving Leicester in 2017, Ranieri has managed Nantes, Fulham, Roma and Sampdoria but looks set to return to England once more.

He is currently priced at just 1/3 with a bookmaker after Di Marzio’s report emerged.

While Ranieri will undoubtedly have little time to succeed at Watford, he showed at Leicester that he can produce instant results.

Luckily for Leicester, it seems likely that enough time has passed for him to want to recruit any of the club’s backroom staff.

His familiar bubbly personality and engaging press conferences could light up the Premier League once again if he is able to get results at Watford.