The FA Cup third round weekend is almost in the books - and it provided the usual mix of thrills, spills, upsets and memorable moments.
Holders Arsenal crashed out at the hands of managerless Championship side Nottingham Forest in one of the weekend's biggest upsets, while the round's big giantkillers are League Two Coventry City, who saw off Stoke - with Mark Hughes soon being relieved of his duties.
Elsewhere, Liverpool had new signing Virgil van Dijk to thank for providing the winning goal in Friday night's Merseyside derby and both of the Manchester sides made it through to Monday night's draw.
Premier League champions Chelsea will face a replay after a goalless draw at Norwich, as will West Ham, who failed to see off Shrewsbury Town.
Here are eight talking points from the weekend's action.
1. Arsenal played with fire - and got burned
Arsene Wenger made nine changes for the FA Cup, putting all his eggs in the Carabao Cup as he plans to field a strong line-up in Wednesday’s semi final at Chelsea.
But Wenger should know by now the FA Cup has been his salvation during rough times at Arsenal and his line-up lacked experience, quality and, most of all, fight.
The way they surrendered was pathetic as some of the older heads really lacked courage. But that’s what happens when you send a negative message by resting players.
John Cross
2. Night to remember for Van Dijk
An eventful evening for Virgil van Dijk! If ever the desire of Liverpool's fans to see a proper defender was evident, it was before kick off at Anfield last night.
The greeting that met the announcement of his name name spoke volumes about the suffering they have endured with a defence that has suffered so much uncertainty for so long.
The defender certainly showed himself, with a pummelling challenge on Yannick Bolasie, a glorious chance at 1-0 which he headed straight at Jordan Pickford, and then the panic as Bolasie's cavalry charge produced a brilliant Everton leveller.
The Dutchman wasn't at fault, and the fans would still have been happy even before than memorable goal at the end. What a night.
David Maddock
3. Jose takes no chances
Jose Mourinho always likes a shiny new trophy in the cabinet every year so with the League gone, the Carabao Cup too and success in the Champions League a tall order the FA Cup is his best hope of silverware this season.
No surprise then that the Manchester United boss wasn't taking any risks with his line up.
Plenty of his big guns joined skipper Paul Pogba in the starting side with Romelu Lukaku fit enough to be on the bench.
Steve Bates
4. Guardiola's team selection shows his intent to win every trophy
Pep Guardiola has dismissed talk of the Quadruple as unrealistic, but his strong team selection suggests the City boss believes a haul of all four trophies available is within his side's grasp.
With three exceptions – Ederson, Kyle Walker and Kevin De Bruyne, the latter two coming on - Guardiola picked his strongest possible side, indicating his commitment to do all he can to win the FA Cup.
With the Premier League title all but won and City in the semi-finals of the League Cup, and overcoming a scare here, the Quadruple is most definitely on, despite Guardiola playing it down.
David McDonnell
5. Batshuayi put in the show window
If this was to be the last time that we see Michy Batshuayi in a Chelsea shirt then he had to make it count. Conte quite clearly doesn’t fancy the Belgian. Despite the noises to the contrary in his press conferences, the Italian has made that quite clear with his team selection (or lack of it). So this was a rare chance for Batshuayi to remind prospective buyers (or loan clubs) that he still does have it. It didn’t go well during the first half.
He struggled to get on the ball and when he did, he couldn’t hold it up. To be fair the Chelsea first-half display was shocking, their worst for some time. But he is the one who needs the regular first team action to get a chance of the World Cup. At the moment it is touch and go.
Darren Lewis
6. Coventry put Hughes out of his misery
The writing was probably on the wall for Mark Hughes before Stoke made the short trip to Coventry following the Potters' recent form - but there was no way he could stay in the job after the League Two side's stunning upset of the Premier League strugglers.
After losing six of their last eight matches and dropping into the relegation zone, a trip to a feisty, proud lower-league side with FA Cup pedigree was the last thing the Welshman will have wanted and with hindsight a shock looked inevitable.
Stoke now have more than a week until they are back in action by which time they will hope to have a new manager in the dugout. The new man's first match? A trip to Old Trafford.
7. FA Cup magic in short supply
The FA Cup continues its struggle to recapture the imagination of football fans up and down the country. Third-round day was in years gone by, one of the highlights of the football calendar. But with so many of this weekend's ties played out in front of half-empty stadiums, it is clear the world's oldest knockout competition has lost its allure. Bournemouth, Birmingham, Bolton, Cardiff, Brentford, Ipswich, QPR - the list goes on - attracted pitiful crowds and although the likes of Coventry and Exeter proved the exception, the famous tournament is becoming a shadow of its former self.
Mark Walker, Press Association
8. Decision to rest players backfires
Most Premier League managers understandably chose to rest their star players at the end of a heavily-congested Christmas schedule, but the plan back-fired for some as Chelsea, Bournemouth, Leicester, Swansea and West Ham all drew to land themselves a replay and an extra fixture. Chelsea and Arsenal made the most changes (nine) - the Gunners spiralling to a shock exit at Nottingham Forest - while Everton (five), Burnley and Stoke (both four) were also knocked out, the latter in humiliating fashion to bottom-tier Coventry, which cost boss Mark Hughes his job.
Mark Walker, Press Association