Topic: MATCH PREVIEW – Arsenal FC vs Liverpool FC, Sunday Jan. 7, 2024 – 4:30PM

[North Red]

My guess for the defence:

                             
                           Alisson

Bradley - Quansah - Van Dijk - Gomez

[Jm55]

Pearce is saying that suspensions carry across different leagues?

Yep.

Article in the Athletic about it.

[rawcusk8]

Given the injuries, the players away and the minutes some of the lads have played I really hope we rotate.

[The G in Gerrard]

Could or can we use Fabio Carvalho for this?

[kop306]

Could or can we use Fabio Carvalho for this?

looks like he is going to join another club on loan

didnt see him in any training video

[tubby]

looks like he is going to join another club on loan

didnt see him in any training video

Expect we want him to get consistent starts for a loan team so it's easier to sell him.

[The G in Gerrard]

looks like he is going to join another club on loan

didnt see him in any training video

Ah okay.

Expect we want him to get consistent starts for a loan team so it's easier to sell him.

We want to sell him?

[tubby]

We want to sell him?

Yeah I reckon so, the loan will just be shop window stuff.

[The G in Gerrard]

Yeah I reckon so, the loan will just be shop window stuff.

Ah okay. Would be disappointing if that happens.

[nayia2002]

I think they'll be 6-7 changes from line up vs Newcastle

[Kloppage Time]

Just don't draw

[PaulF]

If klopp thinks we have a good shot at the league, does he rest TAA, VVD and gomez.

[farawayred]

If klopp thinks we have a good shot at the league, does he rest TAA, VVD and gomez.

Klopp will not think that, first of all. Secondly, what does the league have to do with it? The next game is the League Cup. Klopp will not rest either of those players for two games in a row.

[Fromola]

Just don't draw

It's not a must win, its a must not draw.

[Garlicbread]

Alisson for tomorrow, Kelleher on Wednesday? Or Kelleher for both?

[classycarra]

Alisson for tomorrow, Kelleher on Wednesday? Or Kelleher for both?

If not Kelleher for both, play Allison against Fulham

[Too early for flapjacks?]

Alisson for tomorrow, Kelleher on Wednesday? Or Kelleher for both?

Kelleher for both and Alisson for the Europa League knockout stages. For me Europe is second in importance after the league.

[andy07]

Thankfully I am sure that Klopp will take this seriously unlike some of the wet lettuces posting in this thread.  An opportunity for a trophy, and the opportunity to knock a serious rival out and inflict pressure on a challenger for the title.  Realistically a win is a double hit on Arsenal. And I think we will win. 

[jillcwhomever]

Why play Kelleher against Fulham everyone gets a rest providing there is a result tomorrow.

[Jm55]

Why play Kelleher against Fulham everyone gets a rest providing there is a result tomorrow.

Plays every leg of the tournament and he did when we won it in 2022, assume he will continue with that so he’ll get both legs vs Fulham.

[OOS]

We will play full strength tomorrow and midweek. Looking forward to this, Jota to knock them out of the cup again.

[zabadoh]

Great OP, jm55!  Thanks!

It's still a ways to go before the finals for this competition.

Trot out Kelleher and mostly second stringers and youngsters.

If we survive the round, great!

If not, not a big loss, and we can save our strength for more important competitions and the league.

[andy07]

Great OP, jm55!  Thanks!

It's still a ways to go before the finals for this competition.

Trot out Kelleher and mostly second stringers and youngsters.

If we survive the round, great!

If not, not a big loss, and we can save our strength for more important competitions and the league.

Give me strength.

Better still don’t turn up at all, conceded the match and refund the tickets and travelling costs of 7600 fans who actually believe it is a cause worth fighting for. 

[classycarra]

let's be honest for a minute here. if Klopp thought winning the FA cup was always a priority, he would have won it more than once.

outside of late rounds it's rarely (but not quite never) been treated with the same prioritisation - eg starting the strongest team - as a standard league game [when we're still chasing something] is treated

[andy07]

let's be honest for a minute here. if Klopp thought winning the FA cup was always a priority, he would have won it more than once.

outside of late rounds it's rarely (but not quite never) been treated with the same prioritisation - eg starting the strongest team - as a standard league game [when we're still chasing something] is treated

Does that mean that if Klopp thought winning the league was always a priority, he would have won it more than once?

[classycarra]

Does that mean that if Klopp thought winning the league was always a priority, he would have won it more than once?

nope, what on earth would make you think that!?

i just don't get the (in?)voluntary amnesia some people have about Klopp and the domestic cups.

-traveling fans know it. i don't have the credits to do aways anymore, but we always went in with open eyes that you aren't guaranteed a first eleven - at this stage in Klopp's time here if anyone is upset in the crowd tomorrow, it's entirely on them
-anyone who remembers his interviews know it. some remember him saying he wouldn't attend a Shrewsbury replay.
-people who've looked at previous FA cup team sheets know it

why do some people choose to beat around the bush. it's not a big prioritiy of Klopp's (until it potentially becomes one based on how a season is progressing). but even then, it's not as big a priority as league or european football

[DangerScouse]

Does that mean that if Klopp thought winning the league was always a priority, he would have won it more than once?

His team selections are a clear indicator as to where his properties lay!

[Dougle]

Top OP that. Thanks JM. No idea what team Klopp will put out. Never a dull game with Arsenal though. I think we'll score a couple.

[Bobinhood]

It's not a must win, its a must not draw.

If its 1-1 final 90 seconds of extra time and we get possession in the attacking half, i say we pull the goalie.

[RayPhilAlan]

I think it's not too hard to guess our matchday squads for the next two games; the trickier part is working out who starts which.

The 20 man squad for the two games will probably be Alisson and Kelleher; TAA, Gomez, Bradley, Virg, Konate, Quansah and one left back (Chambers v Arsenal and Beck v Fulham); Macca, Jones, Elliott, Gravenberch, Clark and McConnell; Jota, Diaz, Nunez, Gakpo and Gordon.

I'd suggest we'll go closer to the first team against Arsenal than Fulham, because we'll be wanting to win both and Arsenal away is obviously a more difficult match.
So the FA Cup line-up might be Ali; Trent, Konate, Van Dijk, Gomez; Elliott, Mac Allister, Jones; Jota, Nunez and Diaz and then against Fulham we might bring in Kelleher, Bradley or Beck, Quansah, Gravenberch and Gakpo, with the other 6 being players starting both matches.

Looking forward to it!

[eAyeAddio]

If its 1-1 final 90 seconds of extra time and we get possession in the attacking half, i say we pull the goalie.

I agree - except at the end of 90 mins and not having to go to extra time.....

[RedG13]

Great OP Jm55.
I expect a pretty strong lineup. Excited for this.

[spider-neil]

I’m starting to think Klopp will go strong for this.

1. Arsenal will definitely go strong.
They’ve had a long rest before the game and will have a long break after. Plus they are on a losing run and will want to end that.
2. Liverpool have had a long break
We’ve had a long so getting minutes in the legs for rhythm may not be the worse thing ahead of a semifinal. There is a short turnaround for the semifinal but there is a break afterwards. If think if we’re drawing in the final 10 minutes we’ll fling everyone forwards and we’ll either win or draw to avoid a replay.

[b_joseph]

There isnt enough senior outfield players to play a team that is anything but strong. No real chance of one of those half and half situations, I dont think

Maybe which of these two games Quansah could start and maybe same ? for Mac. Id be surprised if Mac started both.

[12C]

Just occurred to me, all this bollocks about Arteta playing football.
We lost Diaz for most of the season due to a foul going unpunished last time down there, we lost Tsimi to a judo throw by Saint Bukayo Saka which was unpunished.
I just want us to come away without injuries against this shower of cheats.
A result would be nice but they are a real snide outfit.

[Jm55]

nope, what on earth would make you think that!?

i just don't get the (in?)voluntary amnesia some people have about Klopp and the domestic cups.

-traveling fans know it. i don't have the credits to do aways anymore, but we always went in with open eyes that you aren't guaranteed a first eleven - at this stage in Klopp's time here if anyone is upset in the crowd tomorrow, it's entirely on them
-anyone who remembers his interviews know it. some remember him saying he wouldn't attend a Shrewsbury replay.
-people who've looked at previous FA cup team sheets know it

why do some people choose to beat around the bush. it's not a big prioritiy of Klopp's (until it potentially becomes one based on how a season is progressing). but even then, it's not as big a priority as league or european football

For what it’s worth I feel that the manager has taken the domestic trophies more seriously since winning them, quite a small sample size there given this is only the second season we’ve played since winning them, but compare the team he plays in the quarter final vs West Ham to the one against Leicester in 2022 (or the one he plays vs Leicester in 2024 vs Leicester in 2022).

People may argue that was always the plan and we’ve got a stronger squad now than we did then, which is probably true, the romantic in me wonders whether he fancies a repeat of those Wembley days.

I’m going today and take your point regarding team selections, if I’m honest it’s something that used to irk me about Klopp but you’re never going to get too annoyed by it given the success we were experiencing in other trophies (which we’d all have prioritised).

[Oh Jimmy Jimmy]

It’s interesting that in the Premier League era, we have gone out to our rivals in the early stages of the FA Cup when going for the League, and it has affected our momentum, form and belief:

97 - Chelsea
02 - Arsenal
09 - Everton (less so)
14 - Arsenal (less so)
20 - Chelsea
21 - United

19 away to Wolves was an exception, but the blueprint should be 22 when winning became a habit, regardless of competition.

This is how things were during the 80s when we reached 3 Finals and 4 semis between 79-90.  Of course we lost 5 of these as the team became fatigued in April when going for the League (we’re forever blowing doubles).

So let’s go strong today and kick them while they’re down.

[classycarra]

It’s interesting that in the Premier League era, we have gone out to our rivals in the early stages of the FA Cup when going for the League, and it has affected our momentum, form and belief:

97 - Chelsea
02 - Arsenal
09 - Everton (less so)
14 - Arsenal (less so)
20 - Chelsea
21 - United

19 away to Wolves was an exception, but the blueprint should be 22 when winning became a habit, regardless of competition.

This is how things were during the 80s when we reached 3 Finals and 4 semis between 79-90.  Of course we lost 5 of these as the team became fatigued in April when going for the League (we’re forever blowing doubles).

So let’s go strong today and kick them while they’re down.

on the other hand, going out to brighton last year was a turning point in our form which was excellent from almost then onwards (madrid thrashing aside)

[Jm55]

It’s interesting that in the Premier League era, we have gone out to our rivals in the early stages of the FA Cup when going for the League, and it has affected our momentum, form and belief:

97 - Chelsea
02 - Arsenal
09 - Everton (less so)
14 - Arsenal (less so)
20 - Chelsea
21 - United

19 away to Wolves was an exception, but the blueprint should be 22 when winning became a habit, regardless of competition.

This is how things were during the 80s when we reached 3 Finals and 4 semis between 79-90.  Of course we lost 5 of these as the team became fatigued in April when going for the League (we’re forever blowing doubles).

So let’s go strong today and kick them while they’re down.

That fucking 97 match away at Chelsea, from jubilation to crushing disappointment in about half an hour. Mad to think that Mark Hughes was their best player that day!

Would argue that the latter two examples you’ve given there had no bearing on our form, in 2020 we were going through a bit of a poor spell anyway (in the context of that season) having just lost 3-0 away to Watford and 1-0 to Atletico, I’d argue it was our poor form (and the fact we had to play Adrian in goal who, from memory, was shite) which caused the defeat rather than the defeat resulting in any poor form afterward.

Similar in 2021, the poor form was already well under way with some poor results against West Brom and Newcastle over Christmas, from memory that performance was actually one of our better ones around that time, albeit not enough to go through.

[Red_Rich]

If we put out anything less than our strongest team, I think we're out.  We lost 2 Europa away games with a weakened side.  Same will happen here.