Gunners strike fast

Early tallies lift Arsenal past Watford in Cup

Kanu reacts after scoring Arsenal's third goal. Stu Forster/Getty Images

LONDON (AP) -- Two strikes by Michael Owen and a first for Nicolas Anelka put defending champion Liverpool into the fourth round of the FA Cup after a 3-0 victory over Birmingham City on Sunday.

Arsenal cruised into the next round with a 4-2 win at Watford while the only upset of Saturday's third round was Sunderland's 2-1 loss at home to division one West Bromwich Albion.

There were third round wins for Newcastle, Everton, Ipswich, Charlton and Leicester while Chelsea and Blackburn need replays. Five other Premier League clubs were idle because of the freezing weather and five more are in action on Sunday.

Liverpool assistant manager Phil Thompson decided to team up Anelka and Owen for the first time and the result was a one-sided victory over Birmingham, the division one team it edged on penalties in last season's League Cup final.

Owen struck two first half goals to take his tally for the season to 23 in 27 games to put Liverpool in charge and Anelka, on loan from Paris Saint Germain until the end of the season with a view to a permanent move, netted four minutes from the end for his first strike in Liverpool colors.

Two goals in the first nine minutes by Thierry Henry and Freddie Ljungberg put the Gunners in control at Vicarage Road although Gifton Noel-Williams replied for the Hornets.

Nwankwo Kanu, who had already missed an easy chance, made it 3-1 and substitute Dennis Bergkamp added a fourth with his first touch before Marcus Gayle scored a second consolation strike for the home team.

Only 29,000 fans -- including 5,000 from West Brom -- showed up at the Stadium of Light to see Sunderland go ahead after 12 minutes. Kevin Phillips, hoping to gain a place on the England World Cup squad, ended a six-game scoring drought by firing the home team ahead with an overhead shot.

But former Chelsea player Neil Clement leveled from the penalty spot for Albion, who went on to hit the post and crossbar, and Andy Johnson headed the winner in the second half as Peter Reid's team became the first Premier League club ousted.

Former England captain Alan Shearer powered home a free kick for his 13th goal of the season and Clarence Acuna added Newcastle's second in a 2-0 victory over Crystal Palace at St. James' Park while a free kick by Alan Stubbs gave Everton a 1-0 win at division two leader Stoke City.

Dagenham and Redbridge had hopes of becoming the first non-league club to oust a Premier League side but was beaten 4-1 at home by Ipswich which had Marcus Stewart back after a long injury layoff.

Charlton trailed to division two Blackpool until 16 minutes from the end when the Premier League team hit back with a Graham Stuart penalty followed by a Jason Euell strike for a 2-1 win at The Valley while two Jamie Scowcroft headers gave Leicester a 2-1 victory over division three neighbor Mansfield.

Carlo Cudicini made a succession of second half saves for Chelsea in a 0-0 tie at Norwich as the division one team threatened an upset at Carrow Road while Blackburn fell a goal down at Barnsley 14 minutes from the end only for Craig Hignett to snatch a leveler for a 1-1 tie.

The FA Cup games called off included Coventry vs. Tottenham, Rotherham vs. Southampton, Stockport vs. Bolton, Wimbledon vs. Middlesbrough and Wycombe vs. Fulham.

League champion Manchester United is not in action until Sunday when it goes to Aston Villa in the only matchup to involve two Premier League teams. Also on Sunday, Leeds goes to division two Cardiff, Derby hosts Bristol Rovers and West Ham visits another division three club, Macclesfield.

Canvey Island, another of the non-league teams to make it to round three, went out 4-1 at division one Burnley, which is challenging for a place in the Premier League. Division one leader Manchester City downed division two Swindon 2-0.

The Scottish Cup schedule also was badly hit by the weather with nine of the 15 games called off including Alloa against defending champion Celtic and Berwick against Rangers.

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