• FA Cup

Liverpool, Everton & Arsenal head FA Cup coverage

Will Liverpool be celebrating in the third round of the FA Cup? © Getty Images

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ESPN will broadcast live and exclusive coverage of three games from the FA Cup third round as the nation's biggest teams enter the knockout competition.

ESPN's first third round match will see Swansea v Arsenal on Sunday January 6, followed by a line-up of two potential giantkillings: Lincoln or Mansfield v Liverpool on the Sunday and Cheltenham or Hereford v Everton featuring on Monday January 7.

Swansea welcome Arsenal to the Liberty Stadium, live from 1pm, just over a month after handing them a shock 2-0 home defeat in the Barclays Premier League. The Gunners have lifted the FA Cup 10 times, and four times in Arsene Wenger's reign, but haven't reached the final since 2005. Michael Laudrup's Swans are currently riding higher in the league than Arsenal and will be looking to continue their impressive form over the north Londoners, having beaten them in two out of three meetings since their return to the top flight. This will be the sides' first meeting in the FA Cup since 1968, a game which Arsenal won 1-0.

That is followed at 3.45pm with Liverpool facing the winners of the second round replay between Lincoln and Mansfield. The Conference National sides played out a 3-3 draw this past weekend and both will have extra motivation to win the replay with the prospect of a visit from the Premier League giants. Seven-time winners Liverpool reached the final of last year's competition, falling 2-1 to Chelsea, and Brendan Rodgers will be keen to add to the club's illustrious history in his first season as manager.

The live and exclusive action closes out on Monday January 7 from 7pm when Everton, winners of the FA Cup in 1995, travel to face Cheltenham or Hereford as they also look to avoid a potential giantkilling. David Moyes' men last reached the final in 2009, losing 2-1 to Chelsea, while they progressed to the semi-finals last season, losing a Merseyside derby at Wembley to Liverpool. Cheltenham, who currently sit in the automatic promotion places in League Two, made it to the third round of the tournament last season, where they lost to Tottenham. Hereford are currently in the Conference National and have reached the fourth round as recently as 2010/11.

Simon Potter, head of programming and production, ESPN, EMEA, said: "The third round of The FA Cup is one of the most highly anticipated weekends of the British football calendar and we're delighted to be able to share that with our viewers. The draw has thrown up some outstanding fixtures that highlight how truly unique and diverse the FA Cup is. In one weekend, ESPN will bring fans some true David versus Goliath match-ups, as well as an all-Premier League clash with a recent history for shock results."

ESPN also has added its two FA Cup second round replays to its schedule on the 12th and 13th December.

Second round replays
Mansfield Town v Lincoln City - Wednesday 12th December, 7:30pm
Hastings United v Harrogate Town - Thursday 13th December, 7:30pm

Third round
Swansea v Arsenal - Sunday January 6, 1pm
Lincoln or Mansfield v Liverpool - Sunday January 6, 3.45pm
Cheltenham or Hereford v Everton featuring on Monday January 7.

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.