Under pressure managers face FA Cup firing squad

The most romantic weekend of the football season beckons, as the minnows of the football league dream of glory in the third round of the FA Cup - but for a clutch of high-profile managers this weekend will be anything but enjoyable as they try and negotiate the potential banana skins laid in their path.

The man with his head most firmly on the chopping block is Roy Hodgson of Liverpool. But his Anfield outfit have the toughest test imaginable on Sunday - a trip to Old Trafford to take on bitter rivals and league leaders Manchester United.

There is a certain amount of irony in the fact that it could be Sir Alex Ferguson who delivers the mortal blow to Hodgson. For, as folklore has it, it was the FA Cup that saved Ferguson from the sack 21 years ago. The Scotsman was set for the chop after three (unsuccessful) seasons at United. But his side narrowly beat Nottingham Forest in the third round of the Cup in 1990, earning him a stay of execution. They then went on to win the trophy and the rest, as they say, is history.

But it is unlikely that Fergie will take pity on Liverpool. When he arrived at Old Trafford in 1986 he made it his express desire to knock Liverpool "off their fucking perch", and he has shown little sign of warming to the Merseyside club down the years.

To make matters worse for Liverpool, United were humbled last year in the third round by Leeds. And this week the United boss said: "It was a bad result last season against Leeds, especially considering the rivalry between the two clubs. In hindsight I could have picked a stronger team. I won't be making that mistake this time."

The only silver lining for Hodgson is that defeat at the hands of United isn't nearly as embarrassing being knocked out of a cup competition by, say, Northampton - who did for Liverpool in the Carling Cup last year.

Another under fire manager is Carlo Ancelotti, whose Chelsea team can't seem to buy a win at the moment. If he was under any illusions about the lack of job security in his profession, then the news that the manager he was due to line up against on Sunday - Roy Keane of Ipswich - has been fired should set him straight.

While all eyes were on the Italian before the game, the news from Portman Road of Keane's sacking will deflect some of the attention onto the visitors to Stamford Bridge.

It's hard to know which is the more out-of-form team at the moment. Both have managed just one win in their last nine league games, but surely the Premier League champions can't lose to the team lying 19th in the Championship and who are without a manager?

Avram Grant's future as West Ham boss looks insecure at best, so a visit from mid-table Championship side Barnsley is just what he doesn't need. If the Hammers fail to overcome the Yorkshire side at Upton Park then he will surely be done for.

Roy Hodgson isn't the only Liverpool man with problems at the moment, former Anfield boss Gerard Houllier, now in charge at Aston Villa, is also eyeing the exit door even though he has only been in Brimingham for four months. His Villa side must travel to Sheffield United on Saturday and even though he has been given a 'vote of confidence' Houllier must know defeat could sound the death knell.

His opposite number at Bramall Lane will be Micky Adams, who only took over at United in December following the departure of Gary Speed who left to become manager of Wales.

Arsene Wenger is under no immediate threat of the sack, but he does need to win some silverware, which means he will be taking the FA Cup very seriously this season. However, Arsenal will be facing some stiff opposition on Saturday afternoon when Leeds come to town. Last season the Yorkshire club went to Old Trafford and beat Manchester United in the third round, and they will have every confidence that they can inflict the same embarrassment on the Gunners this year.

Arsenal will need to be wary of the threat posed by Leeds, who are flying high in the Championship although they have not won for four games.

Moneybags Manchester City take on Leicester City on Sunday where they face their former boss Sven Goran-Eriksson, who is now in charge at the Walkers Stadium. The former England manager was a popular figure at Eastlands during his time in charge, but his standing among the Man City fans will plummet if he masterminds another early exit for Citizens, who were embarrassed by Nottingham Forest at this stage in 2009.

Tottenham face a tricky tie against Londoners Charlton Athletic of League One on Sunday, but home advantage should be enough to see them through.

Championship leaders QPR will fancy their chances against Blackburn Rovers, and Stevenage, who famously took Newcastle to a replay in 1998 when they were a non-league club, believe that they have unfinished business to settle with the Magpies. ·