Patrick Vieira lifted the FA Cup four times as a player and will be keen to steer Crystal Palace into round four at the expense of Millwall. The Lions were once regarded as a team to fear on home turf by Premier League clubs but their recent record in this event is only moderate.
Manchester City have been hit by a Covid outbreak ahead of their FA Cup trip to Swindon but it is still hard to envisage the Robins pulling off a shock result. Pep Guardiola will miss the visit to The County Ground, along with at least seven first-team players.
Chelsea have been far from convincing over the festive period and may have to settle for a workmanlike win against Brighton at Stamford Bridge. Albion are enjoying a solid season and tend to be involved in tight tussles, with their 17 games this term producing just 33 goals.
United have produced plenty of drama in the Champions League but now have the chance to qualify for the last 16 with a match to spare as they head to Spain. Victory over Villarreal would see them reach the knockout stage and a draw will be enough if the other match in the group is also a stalemate.
Chelsea only need a point to reach the last 16 of the Champions League but will hope for more when they host Juventus. The Italian side are already guaranteed a place in the knockout stage and that can play into the hands of the Londoners.
Only a point separates these two European powerhouses in Group A and it is highly likely that this contest in Manchester will decide who finishes in top spot. Despite two talented squads on display, both clubs are still waiting to collect their first trophy in Europe’s premier club competition.
Liverpool have already qualified for the knockout stage of the Champions League as group winners so Jurgen Klopp can afford to rest some players on Wednesday. Porto, on the other hand, are a point clear of third-placed Atletico Madrid so they have everything to play for at Anfield.
Antonio Conte takes charge of Tottenham for the first time at home in the Premier League when Leeds visit on Sunday. The Italian saw his side claim a goalless draw at Everton last weekend, the same day as Marcelo Bielsa’s Leeds team secured an encouraging point at home to Leicester.
There have already been five managerial changes in the Premier League this season but Ole Gunnar Solskjaer survived the international break and now takes his Manchester United team to struggling Watford. United have only won one of their last six games but are still firm favourites to get the better of Watford.
Burnley picked up an unexpected point at Chelsea before the international break and will look to build on that at home to Crystal Palace. We’re not reading too much into that result, though, given how dominant Chelsea were and 10th-placed Palace have been much more impressive this season.
Chelsea dropped points at home prior to the international break and the Premier League leaders have had a frustrating wait to make amends. Burnley became the first team other than title contenders Liverpool and Manchester City to take points off Chelsea this season with a 1-1 draw at Stamford Bridge.
Newcastle cannot just wait until January signings arrive to step up their relegation fight and new manager Eddie Howe will be desperate to make a winning start at St James’ Park. His first three home matches in charge are against fellow strugglers Brentford, Norwich and Burnley so Howe has an early chance to get the Toon Army onside.
New Norwich manager Dean Smith faces Southampton for the second time in a fortnight and will hope for revenge at Carrow Road. A 1-0 defeat against the Saints prior to the international break resulted in Smith being sacked by Aston Villa so he will know all about his first opponents now he has moved to East Anglia.
Argentina are looking to make it three consecutive victories over arch-rivals Brazil in Tuesday night’s World Cup qualifier. La Albiceleste won 1-0 in both a November 2019 Superclasico de las Americas clash in Saudi Arabia and this summer’s Copa America final in Rio.