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THE FA Cup is the oldest and most renowned annual knockout competition in world football.

It gives lower League teams a chance to fight Premier League giants for a hallowed trophy and a large cash prize.

However, unlike in years gone by, this year’s FA Cup will see one massive rule change.

A surprising new six-year agreement between the Football Association (FA) and the Premier League, means that Cup replays will be SCRAPPED.

That does mean that for the first time third round losers will earn prize money.

Last season, the competition was won by Manchester United, as the Red Devils unexpectedly defeated rivals Manchester City 2-1.

When is the FA Cup third round?

The FA Cup third round takes place this weekend, with a hectic 32 matches across four intense days of football.

Starting with the clash between Sheffield United and Cardiff City on Thursday, the first of three matches that night.

There will be 19 matches on Saturday with non-stop football from 12pm until 8pm.

Sunday has a further seven matches including the biggest clash of the weekend, when Arsenal host Premier League rivals Manchester United.

The action concludes on Monday night with the tasty London derby between Millwall and Dagenham & Redbridge.

What is the prize money in the FA Cup third round?

As mentioned above, for the first time ever, third round winners are entitled to prize money as potentially lucrative replays have been scrapped.

Third round losers will get now earn £25,000 while winners see £115,000 added to their coffers.

As the competition progresses, the financial stakes climb which encourages the teams to perform at their best ability in every round.

For winning the competition, one team will receive a whopping £2MILLION.

The runners up get £1m, with no change to the money available for winning games from the fourth round onwards.

For lower league clubs that go on a good run, the prize money can make or break their finances for the season.

The full breakdown is below:

• Extra Preliminary Round winners (221) – £1,125
• Extra Preliminary Round losers (221) – £375
• Preliminary Round winners (136) – £1,444
• Preliminary Round losers (136) – £481
• First Round Qualifying winners (112) – £2,250
• First Round Qualifying losers (112) – £750
• Second Round Qualifying winners (80) – £3,375
• Second Round Qualifying losers (80) – £1,125
• Third Round Qualifying winners (40) – £5,625
• Third Round Qualifying losers (40) – £1,875
• Fourth Round Qualifying winners (32) – £9,375
• Fourth Round Qualifying losers (32) – £3,125
• First Round Proper winners (40) – £45,000
• First Round Proper losers (40) – £15,000
• Second Round Proper winners (20) – £75,000
• Second Round Proper losers (20) – £20,000
• Third Round Proper winners (32) – £115,000
• Third Round Proper losers (32) – £25,000
• Fourth Round Proper winners (16) – £120,000
• Fifth Round Proper winners (8) – £225,000
• Quarter Final winners (4) – £450,000
• Semi Final winners (2) – £1,000,000
• Semi Final losers (2) – £500,000

What FA Cup third round games are on TV?

Thursday, January 9

• 7pm – Sheffield United vs Cardiff City (BBC Wales)
• 7.45pm – Everton vs Peterborough United (BBC iPlayer)
• 7.45pm – Fulham vs Watford

Friday, January 10

• 7.45pm – Wycombe Wanderers vs Portsmouth
• 8pm – Aston Villa vs West Ham United (ITV1, ITVX and STV)

Saturday, January 11

12pm

• Bristol City vs Wolverhampton Wanderers
• Birmingham City vs Lincoln City
• Middlesbrough vs Blackburn Rovers

12.15pm

• Liverpool vs Accrington Stanley (ITV1, ITVX and STV)

3pm

• Exeter City vs Oxford United
• Preston North End vs Charlton Athletic
• AFC Bournemouth vs West Bromwich Albion
• Reading vs Burnley
• Sunderland vs Stoke City
• Nottingham Forest vs Luton Town
• Brentford vs Plymouth Argyle
• Norwich City vs Brighton & Hove Albion
• Chelsea vs Morecambe (BBC Extended Highlights)
• Leicester City vs Queens Park Rangers (BBC Extended Highlights)

5.45pm

• Man City vs Salford City (BBC One and iPlayer)
• Leeds United vs Harrogate Town (BBC iPlayer)

6pm

• Leyton Orient vs Derby County
• Coventry City vs Sheffield Wednesday
• Mansfield Town vs Wigan Athletic

Sunday, January 12

12pm

• Hull City vs Doncaster Rovers

12.30pm

• Tamworth vs Tottenham Hotspur (ITV1, ITVX and STV)

3pm

• Arsenal vs Man Utd (BBC One and iPlayer)
• Newcastle United vs Bromley (BBC iPlayer)
• Ipswich Town vs Bristol Rovers
• Crystal Palace vs Stockport County

4.30pm

• Southampton vs Swansea City (BBC Wales)

Monday, January 13

• 7.30pm – Millwall vs Dagenham & Redbridge (ITV4 and ITVX)

Cohen made the shocking confession about his dating life during Tuesday's "Watch What Happens Live" episode.

A WOMAN has been rushed to hospital by helicopter after suffering life-threatening injuries in a car crash.

Gardai got a report of a two-car collision on the N3 at Lisgrey in Virginia, Co Cavan at around 1pm today.

Brian Lawless/PA Wire

A woman, aged in her 70s, was brought by air ambulance to the Mater Hospital in Dublin with life-threatening injuries.

Gardai said the road will remain closed overnight and diversions have been put in place.

Southbound traffic will have to divert at Lavey to Bailieborough via R165 then to Virginia via R178.

Meanwhile, northbound road users divert at Virginia to Ballyjamesduff via R194 then to N3 at New Inn via R196

The scene has been preserved for a technical examination by a Garda forensic team.

A Garda spokesman added: “Investigation ongoing.”

Cavan County Council also said that following the serious collision, the N3 will be closed overnight.

It added on X: “Road users are urged to follow the signage and adhere to these diversion routes, and not attempt to take any short cuts which may be particularly treacherous given prevailing weather conditions.”

Separately on Monday, a man in his 40s was rushed to hospital with serious injuries after a hit-and-run collision in Louth.

Gardai and emergency services rushed to the scene of the collision between a vehicle and a cyclist on the R132 in Dromiskin on January 6.

VEHICLE ‘FAILED TO REMAIN AT SCENE’

The incident took place near Whitehouse Cross at around 6.25pm.

The cyclist was brought to Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in Drogheda to be treated for serious injuries.

Gardai said that the vehicle involved in the incident “failed to remain at the scene” and the driver has yet to come forward.

Gardai have urged anyone with any information to come forward.

GARDA APPEAL

A spokesperson said: “Gardai are appealing to anyone who may have witnessed the collision to come forward.

“In addition, road users who may have dash-cam footage of the incident from 6.15pm to 6.45pm or were travelling on the Old Dublin Road between Castlebellingham and Dundalk are also urged to contact Gardai.

“Anyone with information is asked to contact Ardee Garda Station on (041) 6853222, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111, or any Garda Station.”

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THE January transfer window can make or break a team’s season.

A new striker can breathe a lease of life into a struggling attack (think Robbie Keane to Celtic in 2010). A strong defender can solidify a team at the back (think Virgil van Dijk to Liverpool in 2018).

SNS

McDiarmid Park, home of St Johnstone[/caption]

SNS

Will Simo Valakari right the ship in Perth?[/caption]

Whether a team is challenging for the league, chasing European football or trying to avoid relegation, bad moves in the winter window can have drastic consequences.

St Johnstone are bottom of the Premiership standings at the moment, eight points adrift of Hearts and the club’s directors have made it clear: it is NOT acceptable.

They have vowed to support recently-installed boss Simo Valakari however and have pledged funds towards a January spending spree.

In a surprise statement, the McDiarmid Park board revealed that discussions are already underway with several potential new signings.

However, they say the targets they have identified are also being pursued by other clubs.

In a statement released this evening, the board of directors said: “Dear supporters,

“There is no sense in sugarcoating it: the recent results have been disappointing. While we, like you, are extremely frustrated by this, we want to assure you that no one at the club has given up on the season.

“Led by Simo and Gus, the football department is working relentlessly to improve the squad during this transfer window. We have earmarked funds to be spent on strengthening the team and that figure has increased further with recent loan terminations.

“Simo and Gus have held productive discussions with numerous skilled and dynamic players, who we believe will contribute to both this season and future campaigns. We are excited to strengthen our squad further.

“As soon as we are able, we will share further details of other transfers. However, it is important to note that we are not the only club pursuing these players. While the process may seem slower than we’d like, please know that it remains our top priority.

“Simo and our players have our full support. They are training hard, giving everything to turn our fortunes around.

“Additionally, CEO and interim chairman, Francis Smith, alongside all the dedicated staff at McDiarmid Park, are working tirelessly to improve the club’s business operations, ensuring we generate the revenue necessary to continue bringing in the talent we need – now and in the future.

“Lastly, we want to express our deepest gratitude to you, our supporters. Your time, attention, financial investment and energy mean the world to us. The passion and dedication you show, even in difficult times, does not go unnoticed. You are the lifeblood of St Johnstone FC and we are immensely thankful for your unwavering support.

“We are a proud, family-oriented club and, like any family, we are at our strongest when united in pursuit of the same goal. Right now, that goal is simple: getting back to winning games on the pitch.

“Rest assured, everyone on the board and at the club shares this objective. Each of us has a role to play and together we have a great chance of climbing the table.

“Thank you again for your continued support.”

Keep up to date with ALL the latest news and transfers at the Scottish Sun football page

CAGLIARI are weighing up a fresh move for Rangers striker Cyriel Dessers.

The Serie A strugglers are long-term admirers of the 30-year-old – who has fallen out of favour at Ibrox.

Willie Vass

Cyriel Dessers could be on the move again[/caption]

Getty

Cyriel Dessers has fallen out of favour[/caption]

PA

Rangers’ Cyriel Dessers[/caption]

Italian reports claim Cagliari have made three previous attempts to sign Dessers and could now try again in the coming weeks.

The Nigeria cap has already had a year-long spell in Italy with Cremonese and Rangers won’t stand in his way if a suitable deal is tabled.

Dessers started the season as Philippe Clement’s No1 striker – but has fallen behind Hamza Igamane and Danilo in the pecking order.

He joined Rangers for £4.5million last summer and is under contract until 2027.

More to follow.

Keep up to date with ALL the latest news and transfers at the Scottish Sun football page

YOUR iPhone has four easy-to-miss modes with a dizzying array of perks – from boosting battery life to upgrading your bedroom.

I’m The Sun’s tech expert, Sean Keach, and I’ve got all the details on how to unlock each one on your iPhone.

Apple / The Sun

Your iPhone has some powerful modes that you might’ve missed[/caption]

The Sun

Low Power Mode is a great way to instantly boost your iPhone’s battery life[/caption]

‘Yellow Mode’

The first one is easy and tremendously useful if you regularly struggle with battery life.

It’s a special mode that massively extends your charge – and turns your battery icon yellow to show that it’s working.

The effect takes place instantly, making it a valuable tool if you’re far from a charger.

Its official name is Low Power Mode, and it’ll limit performance and certain features to save on battery life.

 “Low Power Mode reduces the amount of power that your iPhone or iPad uses when the battery gets low,” Apple explains.

“Low Power Mode temporarily reduces background activity like downloads and mail fetch until you can fully charge your iPhone.”

Some features might take loner to update or complete – and others might not work at all.

The official list of what Low Power Mode might affect includes:

• 5G (except for video streaming) on iPhone 12 and iPhone 13 models
• Auto-Lock (defaults to 30 seconds)
• Display brightness
• Display refresh rate (limited up to 60 Hz) on iPhone and iPad models with ProMotion display
• Some visual effects
• iCloud Photos (temporarily paused)
• Automatic downloads
• Email fetch
• Background app refresh

To turn it on, just go into Settings > Battery and then hit the Low Power Mode toggle.

You can also add it to your Control Centre (the quick settings unlocked by swiping down from the top right – or up from the bottom on a Home Button iPhone) by customising it.

And if you don’t like either of those options, you can also just ask Siri.

Your iPhone should prompt you to activate Low Power Mode if your battery drops to 20% anyway.

And it will also deactivate automatically once your iPhone gets back up to 80% charge.

The Sun

You can also turn Low Power Mode on through the Control Centre[/caption]

Look for your iPhone’s battery icon returning to its normal colour to make sure that it’s off.

Extreme Lockdown

Another handy feature to know about is Lockdown Mode.

It’s described as an “extreme protection” mode that Apple says “hardens your iPhone from a cyberattack”.

The feature was added in 2022 with the iOS 16 update and is totally free – although even Apple admits that it’s so powerful “most people” won’t ever need to turn it on.

The Sun

Lockdown Mode is a powerful way to prevent cyberattacks[/caption]

“Lockdown Mode is optional and should be used only if you believe you might be targeted by a highly sophisticated cyberattack,” Apple says.

“Such as by a private company developing state-sponsored mercenary spyware.

“Most people are never targeted by attacks of this nature.”

It makes a number of changes to how your iPhone works.

The Sun

You can find Lockdown Mode in the Security section of your iPhone Settings app[/caption]

For example, most message attachment types will be blocked – and links and their previews in texts won’t work either.

Some websites will stop loading properly, and FaceTime calls will be blocked unless you’ve called that person before.

Your iPhone won’t automatically join “non-secure” Wi-Fi networks, and location info will be removed from any photos that you share.

The list of features that Lockdown Mode affects includes:

• Messages
• Web browsing
• FaceTime
• Apple services
• Photos
• Device connections
• Wireless connectivity
• Configuration profiles

And all of these features will stop working:

• SharePlay
• Shared Albums
• FaceTime Live Photos
• FaceTime Continuity Handoff

If you feel like you do need to turn Lockdown Mode on, it’s very easy.

The Sun

Lockdown Mode affects several features on your iPhone[/caption]

Go to Settings > Privacy & Security > Lockdown Mode, and then follow the prompts to switch it on.

Keep in mind that your iPhone will need to restart to activate Lockdown Mode.

‘Red Mode’

If you liked “yellow mode” then you’ll love “red mode”.

It’s a featured called StandBy that turns your iPhone into a useful bit of furniture.

Apple

StandBy turns your iPhone into a useful display that serves a purpose even when you’re not holding it[/caption]

“You can use StandBy to turn your iPhone into a bedside clock, a photo frame, a display for viewing widgets or Live Activities in full screen, and more,” Apple explains.

You might not have seen it as it was only added with iOS 17 in 2023 – and triggering it requires an odd process.

Go to Settings > StandBy and make sure that it’s turned on.

Then connect your iPhone to a charge and set it down on its long side (so the screen is landscape).

If the phone isn’t properly standing or connected (or it’s moving) then it won’t work.

Press the side button and StandBy should activate.

It’ll also work if you have a fancy MagSafe wireless charger that lets your iPhone “float” in a landscape position – like these clever iPhone chargers.

You can customise it very easily just be swiping up and down or left to right.

The Sun

StandBy can be toggled on in Settings, and then activated by laying the iPhone on its side while it’s charging[/caption]

It’s a better experience if you’ve got an Always-On iPhone model where the screen can stay active. Those models include:

• iPhone 14 Pro
• iPhone 14 Pro Max
• iPhone 15 Pro
• iPhone 15 Pro Max
• iPhone 16 Pro
• iPhone 16 Pro Max

For other iPhones, you’ll need to activate StandBy by tapping the screen, or nudging the surface that the iPhone is on.

So why is it “red mode”?

Well if you’re using it at night – and you really should – then the iPhone screen will turn red.

“When Night Mode is turned on for StandBy, the screen adapts to low ambient light at night,” Apple explains.

“And displays items with a red tint so that it’s not intrusive while you’re sleeping.”

Clever!

Apple

If you use StandBy in the dark, the screen will tint to a comfortable red[/caption]

Stolen Phone Protection

The last entry on this list is Stolen Device Protection, which is meant to hinder phone-snatching thieves.

Specifically, it’s meant to protect you from pilferers who have seen you type in your iPhone password.

“You can use Stolen Device Protection to protect against the rare instance when someone has stolen your iPhone and knows your passcode,” Apple said.

“Stolen Device Protection prevents the person from performing critical device and Apple Account operations (like changing your device passcode or Apple Account password).

The Sun

Stolen Device Protection is a must-have if you’re worried about phone-snatchers[/caption]

“It does this by requiring biometric authentication with Face ID or Touch ID. There is no passcode to fall back on.”

It’s a location-based feature that is meant to kick in when you’re away from familiar locations like your home and work.

So if someone steals your device while you’re out, they can’t make any “critical” changes.

That means they’ll need to use Face ID or Touch ID rather than a passcode to access your stored passwords or credit cards.

There’s also a Security Delay that means you’ll have to wait an hour to change your Apple Account password – performing a second Face ID or Touch ID scan to make it happen.

That way, someone can’t steal your phone, unlock it with your face or finger on the spot, then run off and change the passcode.

They’d need to stay with you for an entire hour to reset your Apple Account password.

“In the event that your iPhone is stolen, the security delay is designed to prevent a thief from performing critical operations so that you can mark your device as lost and make sure your Apple account is secure,” Apple explains.

The Sun

Toggle Stolen Device Protection on in Settings to activate it[/caption]

This change normally won’t kick in if you’re at home or work – although you can set it up to happen anywhere, if you prefer.

To use it, make sure that your Apple Account has two-factor authentication turned on.

You’ll also need:

• An iPhone passcode
• Face ID or Touch ID
• Significant Locations turned on in the Location Services part of your Settings
• Find My switched on

The Sun

You can edit the feature to make it so Security Delay works at all locations – not just familiar ones[/caption]

Then just go to Settings > Face ID & Passcode to turn Stolen Device Protection on.

You can tweak the setting as you prefer.

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