Liverpool have been drawn at home to either Newport County or Plymouth Argyle in the third round of the FA Cup, to be played in January.
The Reds will begin their FA Cup campaign on the turn of the year, with Monday night’s draw lining up a third-round clash with one of Newport or Argyle at Anfield.
The tie is to be held on the weekend of January 6-9, with Jurgen Klopp‘s side looking to improve on last season’ run to the fourth round, where they lost to West Ham United after a replay.
Newport are currently bottom of League Two, having taken just 17 points from their first 18 games, while Argyle are third, with 38 points from 19 outings.
The two sides drew their initial second-round clash 0-0 on December 3, and will contest a replay at Newport’s Rodney Parade on December 13, with the victor advancing to the third round to take on Klopp’s title challengers.
Liverpool have never played Newport in their history, while the last of their 10 clashes with Argyle came in 1962, when Roger Hunt sealed a 3-2 victory for Bill Shankly‘s side at Home Park.
If Newport make it to Anfield, the fixture will be of particular interest to John Aldridge, who represented both the Ironsides and Liverpool in his playing career.
The draw represents an simple one for the Reds on paper, potentially allowing Klopp to rest key players ahead of the first leg of their League Cup semi-final clash with Southampton at St Mary’s on January 11.
Naturally, however, whichever of Newport and Argyle makes it to the third round will be motivated by the history of giant-killings in the FA Cup.
FA CUP THIRD ROUND DRAW
Ipswich vs. Lincoln City/Oldham
Barrow vs. Rochdale
Manchester United vs. Reading
Hull City vs. Swansea
Sunderland vs. Burnley
QPR vs. Blackburn
Millwall vs. Bournemouth
West Ham vs. Manchester City
Brighton vs. MK Dons/Charlton
Blackpool vs. Barnsley
Wigan vs. Nottingham Forest
Birmingham vs. Newcastle
Chelsea vs. Notts County/Peterborough
Middlesbrough vs. Sheffield Wednesday
West Brom vs. Derby
Everton vs. Leicester City
LIVERPOOL vs. Newport/Plymouth
Wycombe vs. Stourbridge/Northampton
Watford vs. Burton Albion
Preston vs. Arsenal
Cardiff vs. Fulham
Stoke vs. Wolves
Cambridge vs. Leeds
Bristol City vs. Shrewsbury/Fleetwood
Huddersfield vs. Port Vale
Tottenham vs. Aston Villa
Brentford vs. Halifax/Eastleigh
Bolton vs. Crystal Palace
Norwich City vs. Southampton
Sutton United vs. AFC Wimbledon
Accrington Stanley vs. Luton Town
Rotherham vs. Oxford United/Macclesfield
Ties to be played on the weekend of January 6-9.
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