Arsenal's Premier League title prospects were enhanced without them even kicking a ball on Wednesday as their closest challengers Manchester City and Aston Villa both dropped points.
Promoted Sunderland, who have defied expectations to stay in the top half of the Premier League table, could be the worst affected with six players going to the tournament, while the likes of Fulham, Manchester United, Burnley and Crystal Palace will also have to make do without some key personnel.
Manchester City defeated Salford City in the FA Cup, while Burnley suffered a surprising defeat to Mansfield Town. West Ham United and Norwich City also secured victories in their respective matches.
IMAGES from the English Premier League matches played on Saturday
Liverpool secured a dominant win over West Ham, while other Premier League matches saw Brentford edge Burnley in a seven-goal thriller and Everton secure a late victory against Newcastle.
City, Liverpool all cruise in respective FA Cup matches played on Saturday.
Cash on target as Villa hand Man City their first defeat since August
Goals from Omar Marmoush and Antoine Semenyo powered Manchester City to a muchneeded 20 home win over Wolverhampton Wanderers on Saturday, lifting Pep Guardiola's men provisionally to within four points of leaders Arsenal in the Premier League title race.
From Royal Challengers Bengaluru's historic first IPL title to star javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra finally breaking the iconic 90-meter mark to India women winning their first cricket World Cup, this was the year of long-awaited victories and record-breaking feats.
Images from the English Premier League matches played on Saturday
Second-string Liverpool were thumped 3-0 by Crystal Palace as Ismaila Sarr struck twice for the visitors in the League Cup on Wednesday, booking the London side's spot in the quarter-finals and piling more misery on Arne Slot's struggling side.
Manchester City maintained their squeeze on Arsenal at the top of the Premier League with a 3-0 victory at Crystal Palace on Sunday, a result that keeps Pep Guardiola's side lurking two points behind the leaders and ready to pounce.
IMAGES from the Premier League matches played on Sunday
Gabriel Martinelli scored his first hat-trick for Arsenal as the Premier League leaders beat second-tier strugglers Portsmouth 4-1 to reach the FA Cup fourth round.
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola admitted he was surprised that Norwegian striker Erling Haaland declined to take a penalty for his side in Saturday's FA Cup final against Crystal Palace with the kick subsequently being missed by Omar Marmoush.
Arsenal missed a chance to tighten their grip on the Premier League title race with a 1-1 draw at 10-man Chelsea on Sunday.
Manchester City posted a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Brentford to jump to fifth spot in the English Premier League table on Sunday.
Arsenal's Max Dowman impressed manager Mikel Arteta as he became the club's youngest starter at just 15 years and 302 days in Wednesday's 2-0 League Cup win over Brighton & Hove Albion, earning the coach's praise for his impact in the game.
Selhurst Park continues to prove a bafflingly tough place to play for United, who have not won there in their past five games and have just one goal to show for that stretch.
Championship side Oxford United beat League Two's MK Dons on penalties after their match ended 1-1, while a couple of League One teams moved on, with Wigan Athletic beating Championship side Preston North End 1-0, and Port Vale defeating League Two's Fleetwood Town 1-0.
A round-up of Saturday's action in the Premier League.
Chelsea battled from two goals down to beat West Ham 3-2 in the Premier League on Saturday with a stoppage-time Enzo Fernandez winner.
IMAGES from the EPL matches played on Saturday
Arsenal's miserly defence has conceded three Premier League goals so far this season and manager Mikel Arteta hopes their fortress-like foundation can finally deliver the silverware that has eluded the North London club for so long.
Carragher said manager Arne Slot should build the team around Alexander Isak and Florian Wirtz.
Arsenal maintained a searing pace at the top of the Premier League with a straightforward 2-0 win at Burnley, while Liverpool snapped a dreadful four-match losing run with a 2-0 victory over Aston Villa to climb provisionally to third.
Erling Haaland took his league tally this season to 11 in eight games with both goals in City's 2-0 home win over Everton -- a result that temporarily put City above Arsenal on goals scored.
Arsenal's Calafiori secures 1-0 win at Manchester United; Crystal Palace hold Chelsea to 0-0 draw.
Christensen, Rashford on target as Barcelona beat Guadalajara in Copa del Rey
Arsenal re-established their five-point lead at the top of the Premier League with a 2-0 home win against Brentford on Wednesday and for the second evening running the goals flowed as Aston Villa won 4-3 in a thriller at Brighton and Hove Albion.
Eberechi Eze scored a majestic hat-trick as Arsenal trounced north London rivals Tottenham Hotspur 4-1 to open up a commanding six-point lead.
Premier League leaders Arsenal needed two own goals, the second deep in stoppage time, to scrape a 2-1 home win over bottom club Wolverhampton Wanderers and open a five-point gap, while earlier on Saturday Mohamed Salah put aside a tumultuous week to help Liverpool beat Brighton and Hove Albion 2-0.
Crystal Palace scored a stoppage-time winner to edge Liverpool 2-1 while Manchester United and Chelsea lost by an identical 3-1 margin in the English Premier League on Saturday.
Liverpool end victorious season with 1-1 draw with Crystal Palace
IMAGES from the Premier League matches played on Sunday
Millwall goalkeeper Liam Roberts has had his suspension for a high-footed challenge on Crystal Palace forward Jean-Philippe Mateta extended to six matches, the FA said on Friday.
It took 10 Premier League games for the first cracks to appear in Manchester City's facade last season, but Pep Guardiola got a much earlier reminder of his side's fall from grace on Saturday in another defeat to Tottenham Hotspur.
Manchester City seized the opportunity of Arsenal's 2-1 loss at Aston Villa earlier in the day to climb within two points of the leaders.
Arsenal marked Mikel Arteta's 300th game in charge with a convincing 2-0 home victory over West Ham United in the Premier League on Saturday.
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