FA Cup third round: Pep Guardiola’s first taste of tournament to come against West Ham at the London Stadium
Serial domestic trophy winner Pep Guardiola will mark his first taste of FA Cup action with an all-Premier League tie after Manchester City were handed an away trip against West Ham in the third round.
Guardiola guided Barcelona to two Copa del Rey titles during his four-year managerial stint at Camp Nou before twice winning the DFB-Pokal – the German equivalent of the FA Cup – with Bayern Munich.
Slaven Bilic led the Hammers to the quarter-final last term in his debut campaign as a manager in the competition. West Ham’s march was ended by eventual winners Manchester United at Upton Park.
Holders United will begin their quest to retain the trophy by welcoming former centre-half Jaap Stam, now manager of Reading, back to Old Trafford as the 12-time winners host the Royals.
Another manager awaiting their induction to the FA Cup is Antonio Conte and his Chelsea side will host either Notts County or Peterborough, whose second round clash is to be determined by a replay.
The other top-tier London sides have avoided Premier League opponents. Arsenal will travel to Preston North End in a repeat of their 1999 third round tussle, while last season’s runners-up Crystal Palace make the trip to League One high-flyers Bolton.
A number of Premier League clubs have been handed home draws. Tottenham have been pitted against Steve Bruce’s Aston Villa at White Hart Lane, Liverpool will play either Newport or Plymouth Argyle and Watford host Burton.
Ronald Koeman’s Everton face defending top-flight champions Leicester City, while they are not alone in having to navigate an all-Premier League affair. Hull are to play Swansea and Sunderland face Burnley at the Stadium of Light.
The draw has also conjured an intriguing London derby as non-league Sutton United have been drawn at home to League One AFC Wimbledon, who scored four times in the final 10 minutes to beat Curzon Ashton 4-3 on Sunday.
Elsewhere, QPR will play fellow championship outfit Blackburn Rovers, Millwall come up against Bournemouth, Fulham travel to Cardiff and Brentford face either Halifax or Eastleigh at Griffin Park.
Key third round tussles:
Man Utd v Reading, Hull v Swansea, Sunderland v Burnley, QPR v Blackburn, Millwall v Bournemouth, West Ham v Man City, Brighton v MK Dons/Charlton, Chelsea v Notts County/Peterborough, West Brom v Derby, Everton v Leicester, Liverpool v Newport/Plymouth, Wycombe v Stourbridge/Northampton, Watford v Burton, Preston v Arsenal, Cardiff v Fulham, Tottenham v Aston Villa, Brenford v Halifax/Eastleigh, Bolton v Crystal Palace, Sutton v AFC Wimbledon
Ties to be played 6-9 January