It’s Liverpool today in the FA Cup and this is a game of huge importance for a number of reasons. I don’t know exactly how many so I won’t make this a numbered list, but:
- We went to Anfield last weekend and afterwards we had to admit, That’s a paddlin’
- The FA Cup remains a very real trophy chance for us this season
- Revenge for the paddlin’
- A good result is also needed to lift the mood which is, after the paddlin’, somewhat subdued
- With Bayern coming on Weds, we could do with the confidence boost of a win
- We must spare people from being blinded by Brendan Rodgers shiny new teeth
- Do not want to see Sturridge do that celebration
- Skertl’s ‘Oh’ face is scary and disturbing, please no more Skertl ‘Oh’ face
And others besides but I can’t think of them. Arsene Wenger was asked if Liverpool were the last team he’d want to play after the result at Anfield. His response was that they would be the first team he’d want to play. Personally, I would prefer to play a League Two team stricken with the lurgy, but I do see his point.
He has to get a real reaction from the team today whose pride was really hurt after the way they played last time. After the drab midweek encounter with United, we can at least say that we’ve leveled ourselves off after the 5-1, and that today Liverpool should find themselves up against an Arsenal team that won’t be as generous defensively and quite so craven overall.
In terms of the team it’ll be interesting to see what he does. With Mikel Arteta suspended for the midweek game against Bayern I think he could start today and while I know it’s not a combination many people enjoy, I wouldn’t be surprised to see Flamini alongside him. After being cut open through the centre of midfield repeatedly the last time we played the Mugsmashers this would, almost certainly, tighten things up in there.
With Cazorla ‘out’ (although he doesn’t look very ill here!) I think Podolski will come in on the left. You could make good cases for the involvement of Oxlade-Chamberlain and Gnabry from the start too, and up front I suspect it’s going to be Nicklas Bendtner or Yaya Sanogo. Olivier Giroud looks knackered and after a game in midweek that took a lot out of him physically – and reputationally – I think the manager will look to one of his alternatives.
On Wednesday Sanogo was warming up, Bendtner stayed on the bench, is that a hint at a change in sub-striker priority? It would be a gamble to go with the youngster, in fairness, and would lead to accusations of not taking the game seriously. Bendtner, at least, has the experience to cope with a game in which there will be a considerable amount of pressure.
Of course he could give Podolski another chance in the centre, flanking him with The Ox and Gnabry/Rosicky or even Wilshere, so it’s not simple to say how we’re going to line up today. There are positives and negatives of every approach.
If Liverpool are suspect anywhere it’s certainly at the back, something we have to take advantage of – just booting in anywhere in the general direction of Kolo seems to be a good tactic these days. We know how good they are up top if they’re allowed to be, and that’s the key to today’s game: denial of service. Hence the reason I think we might see the Flamteta midfield axis, and everyone else tasked with doing their defensive job properly, which did not happen when the two sides last met.
After what happened in that game it’s hard to be really confident about today. I’m sure they’ll be desperate and determined to show that what happened was not truly representative of them or the qualities of the two sides. On that day Liverpool played out of their skin, Arsenal played like they’d been flayed before kick-off and given a good roll around in some salt for good measure.
But Liverpool are a confident team with plenty of momentum right now, and those opponents are always dangerous to face. I suppose we have to remember that the last time they came to the Emirates we controlled that game well and were deserved winners. A performance like that ought to be the blueprint for today.
If there’s cautiousness on our behalf playing Liverpool again, we’d do well to forget that quickly. A sluggish start won’t do much for us, and plenty for them, so it would be good to see us come out of the blocks quickly. An early Arsenal goal would do wonders, so let’s hope that our response, in terms of performance and result, is a positive one today.
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Right, have a good Sunday, catch you later for the match. Come on you reds.
