Sutton’s FA Cup third-round predictions v Billy Bob Thornton

There will be no replays in this year’s FA Cup third round, but will one-off ties mean we see more shocks in the world’s oldest knockout competition?

BBC Sport football expert Chris Sutton has made his predictions for all 32 games and given his verdict on who will make it into round four.

For this week’s matches he is up against actor and musician Billy Bob Thornton, who is a Liverpool fan.

His new film, Trailer Park Boys Presents: Standing on the Shoulders of Kitties, is in cinemas from 10 January.

Do you agree with Chris and Billy’s scores? You can choose who you think will win each tie, below.

There are several reasons why Thornton is a Liverpool fan, including his ancestry.

“When I was growing up, my family thought we were Irish,” he told BBC Sport.

“But then we did a test and it turns out I am like 78% full on English as well as 8% Irish and, for some random reason, 11% French-Swiss.

“I traced my family history all the way back and my dad’s family are from the Liverpool and Lancashire area. My mum’s family are from Yorkshire, so that is like War of the Roses – no wonder they fought so much when I was a kid.

“So I love coming to northern England and I have a real affinity for the Liverpool area. I always loved those people, from when I first came to play at the Cavern Club years ago with my solo band.”

Thornton was given a Liverpool shirt in the early 2000s by his friend, Hollywood stuntwoman Eunice Huthart and a huge Reds fan.

He has not been to Anfield yet but once delayed a gig at the Cavern so he could watch Liverpool on TV with another friend, Gerry Marsden from Gerry and the Pacemakers.

“I’d spent the day with Gerry around Liverpool, including riding a ferry across the Mersey with him, and I asked him if he would perform with me later,” Thornton explained.

“He asked what time we were on and I said 8pm, and he said forget it, go on at 10 because we have got to watch this match. He said we could put a sign on the door and it would be fine.

“So we watched the game in a pub around the corner – it was Liverpool against Bayer Leverkusen and thank God Liverpool won 1-0. Then, when we got up to go to the Cavern to play the show, the entire pub followed us down there. I walked down the street like the pied piper, it was awesome.

“Because of Eunice and Gerry, and also my heritage, I have always followed Liverpool.

“I don’t know much of the details of soccer because I grew up in Arkansas but I root for Liverpool every time they are on.

“There is no question I am going to get to a game there at some point because the Anfield crowd is one of the experiences I want to have in my lifetime.”

Chris Sutton and Billy Bob Thornton were speaking to BBC Sport’s Chris Bevan.

There are no replays. Games will be decided by extra time and penalties.

Gap = league places between the two teams

Watch live on BBC One Wales.

I am not quite old enough to have watched it, but it is exactly 100 years since these two sides met in the FA Cup final.

Sheffield United won 1-0 at Wembley in 1925 – it was their fourth FA Cup triumph, and their last major trophy.

Promotion has to be the Blades’ priority this season, though, rather than ending that long wait for silverware, and the race for the top two places in the Championship is so tight.

Cardiff have other concerns and are in a relegation battle after only one win in their past 12 games. Omar Riza made a good start after replacing Erol Bulut in September, but their results have really dropped off.

The question here, as with many other ties, is how many changes will both managers make?

Like Riza, Blades boss Chris Wilder will probably rotate but United are the home team and should still come out on top. They had a bit of a wobble over the turn of the year with just one point from three games, but I am backing them to edge this.

Sutton’s prediction: 1-0

Billy’s prediction: 1-2

Watch live on BBC iPlayer and the Red Button. Live commentary on BBC Radio 5 Live.

Everton just cannot score and this is a big game for their manager Sean Dyche because it is clear a large proportion of their fans are massively underwhelmed by the way the team is performing.

Things have already turned a bit ugly for Dyche and of course the club has new owners now, so there is lots of speculation about his future.

I still think they will stay up and the most sensible thing would be to stick with him, but defeat would give the fans who are against him another stick to beat him with. You can imagine things escalating if they do lose, so the pressure is really on.

Because of the circumstances, Dyche has got to go strong here with his team selection, and try to find some rhythm in the final third.

I think they will find a way of winning this tie, but I honestly don’t know who will get their goals.

Armando Broja got injured last weekend and, while Dominic Calvert-Lewin will argue he has not been getting the opportunities, he is a shadow of the player he once was. That must be hugely frustrating for Dyche, when he is in such dire need of goals.

Peterborough, in contrast, have no problem finding the net but their form is not great either and they have picked up just one point from their past five matches.

Posh will put up a good fight, though, especially if Tyler Young features against his dad, Ashley, who could be playing for Everton.

I played alongside my son, Ollie, for Wroxham in the Ryman League when I was 39 – the same age as Ashley – but it will be interesting watching them on opposing teams, because Ashley loves a tackle. He doesn’t hold back from anything, so if there is a 50-50 with Tyler then what is going to happen there?!

Sutton’s prediction: 2-0

Billy’s prediction: 3-0

Live commentary on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra.

Fulham boss Marco Silva left Watford under a bit of a cloud in 2018, so it will be interesting to see what sort of reception he gets from their travelling fans.

Watford had been going pretty well under Tom Cleverley but three successive defeats have halted their progress a bit.

Fulham have had a great season so far, and they have a lovely balance about the way they play.

It would be great for them to have a cup run to go with their impressive league form, and hopefully Silva will be thinking that they should have a real go at the FA Cup, because they can beat anyone on their day.

As long as they go full strength, or close enough to it, they should get through this tie. That’s my thinking for most Premier League sides facing lower league sides in the third round, but of course that is not always the case.

Sutton’s prediction: 3-1

Billy’s prediction: 2-0

Wycombe are absolutely flying at the top of of League One, and they are top scorers in their division with only one defeat in their past 22 games.

They have a few players attracting interest from bigger clubs, including striker Richard Kone who only joined them from non-league Athletic Newham a year ago.

Portsmouth boss John Mousinho spent a couple of years at Wycombe as a player, but I don’t see this being a happy return for him – I see an upset here.

Sutton’s prediction: 1-1, Wycombe to win on penalties

Billy’s prediction: 2-3

Live commentary on BBC Radio 5 Live.

Julen Lopetegui never felt like the right fit for West Ham, and we are about to find out whether Graham Potter can do any better.

Villa boss Unai Emery is still fighting on the European front in the Champions League, as well as trying to get back in it for next season.

That has placed huge demands on his squad already – so you could argue they don’t need a cup run too – but I still think they will go through, especially because West Ham are badly missing the injured Jarrod Bowen up front.

Sutton’s prediction: 2-1

Billy’s prediction: 2-1

This tie should really be called the Chris Sutton derby, because these are two clubs where I really excelled at, as a player and manager. I expect I will be mentioned in the programme.

Michael Skubala has done a fine job as Lincoln boss, who only just missed out on the play-offs last season.

I’ve been impressed by what Chris Davies has done at Birmingham too.

They are an enormous club and you think they should be able to bounce back after being relegated, but this is the first senior management job he has taken on. He has had an excellent grounding in football with various coaching roles but being in the hot seat yourself is very different.

This will be close, but I am going with Birmingham to sneak it because they are at home.

Sutton’s prediction: 2-1

Billy’s prediction: 2-1

Live commentary on BBC Radio 5 Live.

Bristol City have picked up a bit of form of late, with three wins and a draw since Christmas.

They did well in the FA Cup last season, knocking out West Ham and then taking Nottingham Forest to a replay, and I fancy them to cause a bit of a shock here too.

Vito Pereira made a good start as Wolves boss but they were well beaten by Forest on Monday. He will want to get some momentum back, but how strong does he go?

I suspect he will give some of his fringe players a go, which will make an awkward tie even harder.

Sutton’s prediction: 2-2, Bristol City to win on penalties

Billy’s prediction: 1-0

Blackburn boss John Eustace has done an incredible job, bearing in mind the club’s financial situation. They are going to do well to keep hold of him.

Rovers are punching well above their weight because they were one of the favourites to be relegated last summer.

They have already won at the Riverside this season, but their issue is scoring goals and their squad is looking thin.

Middlesbrough have moved above them and into the play-off places in the past couple of weeks. Boro are on a good run and I can see them getting through this tie too.

Sutton’s prediction: 2-0

Billy’s prediction: 3-1

Live commentary on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra.

This will be a great day out for Accrington but you can’t really make a case for them against the Premier League leaders, no matter what side Arne Slot puts out.

It will be a team of fringe Liverpool players but it will still have great quality. Their success so far this season is because their squad is so strong.

Sutton’s prediction: 4-0

Billy’s prediction: I love to root for the underdog, except when they are playing my team! 3-1

What does Leicester boss Ruud van Nistelrooy do here?

His side are in the relegation zone, after five straight defeats. While you may say they should focus on trying to stay up, they are clearly desperate for some confidence and the FA Cup could help give them some.

I suspect he will a) want to get a win under his belt and b) avoid the embarrassment of losing to a Championship side at home.

QPR are in mid-table but they have just won back-to-back games, against Luton and Watford, and they will make things difficult for the Foxes.

It is going to be close but Van Nistelrooy badly needs a win to end this run his side are on, and I think he will get it.

Sutton’s prediction: 2-1

Billy’s prediction: 2-2, QPR to win on penalties

The injuries to Evanilson and Enes Unal this week are a blow for Bournemouth but, even without them, they are still dangerous going forward.

The Cherries are another club like Fulham and Brentford, where I look at them and hope they throw a lot at the FA Cup this season.

I said the same last year, when Bournemouth reached the last 16…