Arsenal 0-0 Liverpool – FA Cup third round: Live score, team news and updates as two of the competition’s favourites meet in their first match of the campaign with both managers going strong

OFF THE BAR! Arsenal really should be two or three goals up!

It was a problem of Liverpool’s own making with Joe Gomez losing out to Bukayo Saka, who immediately threaded Kai Havertz through.

With Alisson narrowing the angle, Havertz unselfishly laid across for Reiss Nelson, but his effort was blocked and fell to Martin Odegaard.

Odegaard’s follow-up was venomous and clattered the crossbar.

SAVE! Kai Havertz shot from the edge of the box but was denied by Alisson. The goalkeeper scooped up the loose rebound.

CHANCE! Arsenal are all over their opponents.

Ben White’s long throw found Martin Odegaard and he in turn teed up Jorginho. The ball was then moved over to Reiss Nelson.

Nelson cracked one at goal, forcing Harvey Elliott to block for a corner.

This has been a strong start from the hosts.

They worked the ball patiently to Martin Odegaard in a central position on the edge of the penalty area, but he didn’t shoot.

Instead, the ball went right and the danger faded.

CHANCE! Arsenal should really be ahead!

Aaron Ramsdale punted a long ball forward and brilliantly picked out Reiss Nelson down the inside-right channel.

With Trent Alexander-Arnold beaten, Nelson steamed toward the byline and let fly, with his strike hitting the side netting.

These two sides have won a collective 22 FA Cups.

One of them will crash out at the first hurdle today.

Any last-minute score predictions? I’m feeling goals today…

We’re just minutes away from kick-off now.

Writing in his programme notes, Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard admitted the team are determined to lift more silverware.

‘We are all disappointed with how we ended with the last two matches in 2023 and we know we will have to raise our level today.

‘As a club we are very proud of our record and history in the FA Cup, so we don’t need any extra motivation when we start off in the competition.

‘This group is desperate to win trophies, so we will be giving everything to get the job done today and give us the chance to do that.’

It’s a big day for this man.

This is Aaron Ramsdale’s first home appearance since September, with summer signing David Raya having become Arsenal’s No 1.

A standout display in this one may well catch his manager’s attention.

Jurgen Klopp is relieved Liverpool’s hectic festive fixtures are over.

Someone has to step up and fill Mo Salah’s shoes while he is away at the Africa Cup of Nations – and could Harvey Elliott be that man?

He’s versatile and a real favourite under Jurgen Klopp, so it’s no surprise that he has been handed another start in this third-round tie.

There is certainly a gaping hole on that right flank and Elliott has played there before, perhaps handing him the edge over his team-mates.

He has scored two Premier League goals this season and memorably netted the late winner against Crystal Palace.

Klopp said: ‘All the players in our squad, who are with us in the same dressing room, are ready for games. That’s how it is, no doubt about it. So, four years ago, we played against Everton in the FA Cup and Curtis Jones fired that ball into the far corner. It was one of the best nights of our lives; [it was] Everton, a derby, a very young team, and we won this game somehow. It was great. But can you go to Arsenal and play a team of boys, in the situation Arsenal is in, where they will probably go all-in? Of course not. We are Liverpool, we cannot go there like that. And there is no need to.’

Well, Arsenal have suffered some bumps in the road during the winter period but, this time, it’s Liverpool’s turn!

The Reds’ team bus appeared to get caught in traffic en route to the Emirates before driving through a red light.

At least they’re as eager to make kick-off as supporters are!

Well, with the teamsheets now confirmed, you can really feel the anticipaton building between these two sides.

Both Klopp and Arteta have fielded strong line-ups for the third-round tie, with only a couple of youngsters making it onto the pitch.

With their recent 1-1 draw in the Premier League fresh in the memory, you’d imagine this could become a thrilling match.

Tube strikes are set to cause chaos for fans travelling to Arsenal’s FA Cup clash against Liverpool at the Emirates on Sunday.

Transport for London (TfL) have advised people to complete their journeys by 5:30pm, as there will be little to no service anticipated on the majority of the London Underground network until Friday.

This could spell disaster for thousands of supporters across London, with Arsenal’s third-round tie likely to be the most effected.

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Well, it might have little to do with this afternoon’s tie in north London, but take a moment to appreciate this bit of magic from Leeds’ Patrick Bamford in an earlier FA Cup clash this afternoon.

The English striker controls the ball on his chest before turning and unleashing a lethal first-time strike at goal, which sails into the net.

Can we see something like that at the Emirates, please?

Liverpool stars Diogo Jota and Joe Gomez are spotted making their way into the stadium in north London.

Will either one of the visiting stars make the difference for their side this afternoon?

Arsenal XI: Ramsdale; White, Saliba, Gabriel, Kiwior; Rice, Odegaard, Jorginho; Saka, Nelson, Havertz

Subs: Raya, Walters, Cedric, Sousa, Smith Rowe, Nwaneri, Trossard, Nketiah, Martinelli

Liverpool XI: Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Gomez, Konate, Quansah; Mac Allister, Jones, Elliott; Diaz, Nunez, Gakpo

Subs: Kelleher, Jota, Gravenberch, Clark, Chambers, Gordon, McConnel, Bradley, Nyon

Arsenal will discard their famous red shirt this weekend and instead wear a one-off all white kit in their third round FA Cup clash against Liverpool.

It is to mark the third year of their No More Red campaign with adidas, which was first launched in 2022 to support work done by the Gunners to keep young people safe from knife crime and youth violence.

This will be the third year in a row in which the Gunners will wear the all white kit as a one-off, while Arsenal Women will wear the kit for the first time when they play Watford in a fourth round FA Cup match on January 14.

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While today’s hosts may be struggling for form of late, the same cannot be said for the visitors – who have been flying in recent weeks.

Jurgen Klopp’s side have asserted themselves atop the Premier League table, with a three-point lead, and will look to bring that form with them to the Emirates this afternoon.

They’ll be without first-team stars such as Dominik Szoboszlai and Andrew Robertson, but that won’t deter them this afternoon.

Arsenal are sweating on the fitness of Gabriel Jesus for today’s FA Cup third round tie against Liverpool.

Mail Sport understands the Brazil international has suffered a knee injury. The severity of the issue is unclear – but there is hope it will not be a long-term problem.

The development means Jesus is a doubt for today’s crunch clash at the Emirates Stadium.If Jesus misses out, it will be a blow to Mikel Arteta’s side – who are hoping to return to winning ways following a run of two successive losses.

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The Arsenal boss and his players have arrived at the Emirates as they look to get back to winning ways after their struggles throughout the winter period.

The Gunners have suffered back-to-back defeats against West Ham and Fulham but will look to put that behind them as they take on Liverpool.

Welcome to Mail Sport’s live blog covering this afternoon’s FA Cup third-round clash between Arsenal and Liverpool.

It promises to be an exciting affair between two of England’s best teams but which one will take the bragging rights from north London this evening?

We’ll have team news shortly, ahead of the 4:30pm kick-off, so don’t go anywhere!