Met Police are in talks with the FA over rescheduling some of next month’s FA Cup third-round ties after all SEVEN London-based Premier League sides were handed home draws 

• All seven London-based Premier League teams have been drawn home fixtures 
• Arsenal will host Liverpool in the standout tie of the third round of the FA Cup
• IAN LADYMAN: Liverpool are two players short for another great period – It’s All Kicking Off 

The Met Police are in talks with the FA about rescheduling some of next month’s FA Cup third-round ties after the draw produced a security nightmare for the force.

In a quirk of fate all seven of London’s Premier League clubs have been drawn at home, as have Millwall and QPR.

The ties are due to be played between Friday January 5 and Monday January 8, with the precise timings yet to be determined.

The Met Police are expected to have a strong input into the scheduling due to the logistical challenges.

To compound matters for the Met much of their policing resource is being taken up by marshalling the weekly pro-Palestine marches that have been taking place in central London on Saturdays.

Liverpool’s trip to the Emirates to face Arsenal is the standout tie in the third round draw  

Spurs will welcome Burnley to Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in the third round of the FA Cup 

In another unfortunate twist both Luton (Kenilworth Road pictured) and Watford have been drawn at home so Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire Police will also be in for a busy weekend

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In another unfortunate twist both Luton and Watford have also been drawn at home so Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire Police will also be in for a busy weekend.

The Met Police and FA declined to comment. 

Arenal’s welcome of Liverpool headlines an intriguing third round of the FA Cup. It will be the first time the sides have met in the competition since 2014 when Arsene Wenger’s Gunners won their fifth-round tie at the Emirates 2-1.

The clash will evoke memories of the final in 2001 which saw Michael Owen’s double secure a 2-1 victory and one part of a Cup treble for Liverpool. 

That was one of their eight triumphs in the competition, while the Gunners have won the trophy a record 14 times. 

FA CUP THIRD ROUND DRAW 

Luton Town vs Bolton

Shrewsbury Town vs Wrexham 

Arsenal vs Liverpool

Stoke City vs Brighton

Norwich vs Crewe or Bristol Rovers

West Ham vs Bristol City

Tottenham vs Burnley

Fulham vs Rotherham United

West Brom vs Aldershot or Stockport

Southampton vs Alfreton or Walsall

Wimbledon vs Ipswich

Peterborough vs Leeds United

Millwall vs Leicester City

Watford vs Chesterfield or Leyton Orient

Sunderland vs Newcastle

Sheffield Wednesday vs Cardiff 

Crystal Palace vs Everton 

Middlesbrough vs Aston Villa 

Nottingham Forest vs Blackpool or Forest Green

Wigan vs Manchester United

Manchester City vs Huddersfield Town

Blackburn Rovers vs Cambridge United

Gillingham vs Sheffield United

Swansea City vs Morecambe

Chelsea vs Preston

QPR vs Bournemouth

Coventry vs Oxford

Brentford vs Wolves

Plymouth vs Sutton United 

Maidstone United vs Stevenage or Port Vale

Newport County or Barnet vs Eastleigh

Hull City vs Birmingham City  

IT’S ALL KICKING OFF! 

It’s All Kicking Off is an exciting new podcast from Mail Sport that promises a different take on Premier League football.

It is available on MailOnline, Mail+, YouTube, Apple Music and Spotify.

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