This being the third consecutive Fox Sports-centric post this morning. We have this regarding England’s domestic soccer tournament, the FA Cup.
It also marks the return of several English Premier League clubs to Fox Sports after losing the rights to NBC last year. Fox’s platforms on broadcast and cable will air games throughout the weekend starting the the Blackburn Rovers hosting Manchester City.
A total of seven EPL teams will be in action on Fox, Fox Sports 1 and Fox Sports 2. Fox Soccer Plus will also carry one FA Cup game, but that will not involve any EPL teams.
In addition, games will be streamed on Fox Sports Go and on the Fox Soccer2Go apps.
And the great Goals on Sunday program returns. Glad to see it come back albeit for a week only.
We have the schedule for you.
THE FA CUP RETURNS TO FOX SPORTS
English Giants Arsenal and Tottenham Face-Off Saturday on FOX; Exclusive Interviews with Theo Walcott and Brad Friedel In Pregame Show
FOX Sports 1 & FOX Sports 2 Combine for Six Telecasts; FOX Sports GO and FOX Soccer 2Go Live Stream All Eight Third-Round MatchesLos Angeles – The FA Cup, the world’s oldest soccer competition and England’s main domestic cup tournament kicks off third round action this weekend, featuring a massive cup clash between North London rivals Arsenal and Tottenham, broadcast live on FOX from Emirates Stadium, Saturday, Jan. 4 at 12:00 PM ET.
Arsenal currently leads the Barclays Premier League standings and doesn’t show signs of slowing down, despite untimely injuries to star midfielders Mezut Ozil and Aaron Ramsey. Forwards Olivier Giroud and Theo Walcott are set to lead the line against a resurgent Spurs, following the firing of manager Andre Villas-Boas. Only three points away from a UEFA Champions League spot in seventh place, Tottenham looks to the attacking threats of Aaron Lennon and former Gunner Emmanuel Adebayor to cause trouble away from home on Saturday.
Seven other exciting encounters this weekend include record 11-time FA Cup champions Manchester United hosting Swansea City, while Manchester City travels to meet Championship side Blackburn Rovers and Jose Mourinho’s Chelsea visits Derby County. All games are live on FOX Sports 1, with Nottingham Forest vs. West Ham United and Grimsby Town vs. Huddersfield Town, live on FOX Sports 2 and Macclesfield vs. Sheffield Wednesday, live on FOX Soccer Plus. See schedule below for all dates, times and match-ups.
FOX Sports’ lead soccer team, host Rob Stone, with analysts Eric Wynalda, Warren Barton and Brian McBride, break down all the third round action live from the FOX Network Center in Los Angeles. Saturday’s pregame show on FOX features exclusive interviews with Theo Walcott and Tottenham goalkeeper Brad Friedel, on the crosstown rivalry between the two clubs. Walcott also discusses Arsenal’s form and its eight-year trophy drought. FA CUP GOALS, with highlights, analysis and commentary, airs immediately after all the weekend action wraps up on Sunday at 1:30 PM ET on FOX Sports 1.
The FOX Sports GO and FOX Soccer 2Go apps live stream the entire third-round draw to authenticated online, mobile and tablet devices. Customers of participating providers may access the live streams of the matches through the FOX Sports GO app for iOS devices, as well as through FOXSportsGO.com. Fans can also follow minute-by-minute commentary via @FOXSoccer and @FOXSoccerTrax Twitter accounts using #FACupOnFOX.
Replay matches, if necessary, are set to take place Tuesday, Jan. 14 and Wednesday, Jan. 15, with live coverage on FOX Sports 1 kicking-off with Stone, Wynalda and Barton on FA CUP MATCH DAY at 2:00 PM ET.
See below for the complete television schedule (all times ET)
Saturday, January 4
7:30 AM — Blackburn vs. Manchester City, FOX Sports 1*
10:00 AM — Rochdale vs. Leeds, FOX Sports 1*
9:55 AM — Macclesfield v Sheffield Wednesday, FOX Soccer Plus+
9:55 AM — Grimsby Town v Huddersfield Town, FOX Sports 2*
12:00 PM — Arsenal v Tottenham, FOX*Sunday, January 5
6:55 AM — Nottingham Forest v West Ham United, FOX Sports 2*
9:00 AM — Derby County v Chelsea, FOX Sports 1*
11:25 AM — Manchester United v Swansea City, FOX Sports 1*
1:30 PM — FA Cup Goals on Sunday, FOX Sports 1*** Available on FOX Sports GO and FOX Soccer 2Go
** Available on FOX Sports GO
+ Available on FOX Soccer 2Go
And we’re done here.
