The FA Cup third round witnessed some epic clashes, with Manchester City delivering a stunning performance against Salford City. Liverpool and Chelsea also secured comfortable wins, while underdogs Plymouth shocked Brentford. Let’s dive into the highlights!
- Manchester City: Absolutely dominated Salford with an 8-0 victory.
- Liverpool: Cruised past Accrington Stanley with a 4-0 win, led by Trent Alexander-Arnold.
- Chelsea: Handed Morecambe a 5-0 thrashing with Joao Felix shining.
- Brentford: Suffered a shocking 1-0 defeat to Plymouth Argyle.
City’s Goal Fest at Etihad
Manchester City showed no mercy as they dismantled Salford City, co-owned by Manchester United legends, with an emphatic 8-0 victory. The game at the Etihad was a one-sided affair, highlighting the gulf in class between the Premier League giants and the League Two side.
Pep Guardiola rotated his squad, giving some players a rest, including Erling Haaland. However, the team’s performance didn’t suffer a bit. Jeremy Doku opened the scoring early, setting the tone for the match. Young talents Divin Mubama and Nico O’Reilly also got in on the action, making it 3-0 before halftime.
In the second half, Jack Grealish converted a penalty for his first goal in over a year, and Doku added another from the spot. The real star of the show, however, was James McAtee, who netted an impressive hat-trick in just 20 minutes. This performance secured his man-of-the-match award and a spot in the history books. McAtee expressed his joy, stating it was a ‘special moment’ he’d never forget.
Liverpool Cruises, Alexander-Arnold Leads
Over at Anfield, Liverpool had no trouble dispatching Accrington Stanley, winning 4-0. Despite Arne Slot making several changes, the team remained dominant. Trent Alexander-Arnold, named captain for the day, led by example.
Alexander-Arnold, who had recently faced criticism, put in a stellar performance that included an incredible goal from outside the box. Diogo Jota opened the scoring, followed by Alexander-Arnold’s brilliant strike, a goal Slot described as “unbelievable.” Jayden Danns and Federico Chiesa, also got in on the action, making it a comfortable win for the Reds.
Chelsea’s Dominance, Brentford’s Upset
Chelsea, not to be outdone, also secured a comprehensive victory, beating Morecambe 5-0. Joao Felix was the star, scoring twice in a rare start. Tosin Adarabioyo also scored a brace, and Christopher Nkunku finally hit the back of the net, netting his 13th goal of the season.
Meanwhile, Brentford suffered a major upset, losing 1-0 to Plymouth Argyle. Despite having a strong home record in the Premier League, they couldn’t overcome a determined Plymouth side. Morgan Whittaker scored the winning goal with a stunning strike from outside the area, sending the Championship strugglers to an unlikely victory.
Other notable FA Cup Results
- Nottingham Forest: Continued their great season with a 2-0 victory over Luton.
- Brighton: Showed dominance with a 4-0 victory at Norwich, Georginio Rutter with a brace.
- Bournemouth: Recovered from an early 1-0 deficit to beat West Brom 5-1.
- Leicester: Engaged in a goal fest by hitting QPR for six, securing an impressive 6-2 victory.
- Wolves: Continued their good run with a 2-1 win against Bristol City.
The FA Cup always delivers shocks and excitement, and this round was no exception. From dominant victories to surprising upsets, football fans were treated to a weekend of non-stop action!
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