Liverpool are seeking to repeat their FA Cup triumph of 2006, but they’ll have to get past Barnsley to make it into the quarter finals.
It doesn’t matter who you ask about Sunday’s game at Chelsea, everyone says the same thing: it was dire. That it was, but displeasing aesthetics aside a point from Stamford Bridge represents an excellent result. Indeed, with more clinical shooting Liverpool could have perhaps even ended the Blues’ long unbeaten home streak.
The game told us very little that we didn’t already know (namely that ‘top four’ sides often cancel each other out) but Liverpool nonetheless proved that despite an indifferent league campaign they can still hang with the best on a head-to-head basis.
The problem – as ever – is goals. Hardly ever under Rafa Benítez have Liverpool managed to find the net away to their big rivals, and with Fernando Torres absent the cause always looks a damn sight worse. That’s certainly something to consider – and aim to rectify – in the forthcoming Champions League matches.
But against Barnsley in the FA Cup the Reds should be hopeful of putting away a few goals and easing into the quarter finals without too much bother. Hopeful, but not certain. For as anyone who watched the drama against non-league Havant & Waterlooville will know, Liverpool are more than capable of shooting themselves in the foot against weaker sides.
Barnsley undoubtedly lack Liverpool’s qualities, but gifting the lead to a Championship side is far different to gifting it to a collection of bin men, taxi drivers and school teachers.
Championship side Barnsley reached Round 5 by way of a 1-0 win at Southend United. The South Yorkshire outfit will be hoping for that kind of away form at Anfield on Saturday rather than the stuff they’ve been serving up in the league.
The 10-man Terriers were shocking in midweek as they suffered a 3-0 rout at Plymouth Argyle. And although they are quite the force at Oakwell (beating the likes of Watford and West Brom) their last away league win was in September (3-2 at Southampton). Since then they’ve suffered nine defeats in twelve games, the worst of which was a 4-0 reverse at Coventry City.
However, this game offers a break from the league and a chance for players to prove to manager Simon Davey what they can do on a bigger stage. "This will be the pinnacle of some of the players' careers so far and they have to make sure they take the chance,” said the boss. “I will be proud to lead the team out at Anfield but we are going there to try to win the game.”
And if the Terriers are looking for an omen, here’s one: in the 1997/1998 season, their only one as a Premier League side, they earned a famous 1-0 league win over Liverpool at Anfield before going on to dump Manchester United out of the Cup.
FORM GUIDE
Liverpool
Chelsea - Liverpool 0 - 0 10/02/2008 PREMIER LEAGUE
Liverpool - Sunderland 3 - 0 02/02/2008 PREMIER LEAGUE
West Ham - Liverpool 1 - 0 30/01/2008 PREMIER LEAGUE
Liverpool - Havant & Waterlooville 5 - 2 26/01/2008 FA CUP
Liverpool - Aston Villa 2 - 2 21/01/2008 PREMIER LEAGUE
Liverpool - Luton 5 - 0 15/01/2008 FA CUP
Barnsley
Plymouth - Barnsley
3 - 0 12/02/2008 CHAMPIONSHIP
Barnsley - West Brom
2 - 1 09/02/2008 CHAMPIONSHIP
Coventry - Barnsley
4 - 0 02/02/2008 CHAMPIONSHIP
Barnsley - Colchester
1 - 0
29/01/2008 CHAMPIONSHIP
Southend - Barnsley
0 - 1 25/01/2008 FA CUP
QPR - Barnsley
2 - 0 19/01/2008 CHAMPIONSHIP
It doesn’t matter who you ask about Sunday’s game at Chelsea, everyone says the same thing: it was dire. That it was, but displeasing aesthetics aside a point from Stamford Bridge represents an excellent result. Indeed, with more clinical shooting Liverpool could have perhaps even ended the Blues’ long unbeaten home streak.
The game told us very little that we didn’t already know (namely that ‘top four’ sides often cancel each other out) but Liverpool nonetheless proved that despite an indifferent league campaign they can still hang with the best on a head-to-head basis.
The problem – as ever – is goals. Hardly ever under Rafa Benítez have Liverpool managed to find the net away to their big rivals, and with Fernando Torres absent the cause always looks a damn sight worse. That’s certainly something to consider – and aim to rectify – in the forthcoming Champions League matches.
But against Barnsley in the FA Cup the Reds should be hopeful of putting away a few goals and easing into the quarter finals without too much bother. Hopeful, but not certain. For as anyone who watched the drama against non-league Havant & Waterlooville will know, Liverpool are more than capable of shooting themselves in the foot against weaker sides.
Barnsley undoubtedly lack Liverpool’s qualities, but gifting the lead to a Championship side is far different to gifting it to a collection of bin men, taxi drivers and school teachers.
Championship side Barnsley reached Round 5 by way of a 1-0 win at Southend United. The South Yorkshire outfit will be hoping for that kind of away form at Anfield on Saturday rather than the stuff they’ve been serving up in the league.
The 10-man Terriers were shocking in midweek as they suffered a 3-0 rout at Plymouth Argyle. And although they are quite the force at Oakwell (beating the likes of Watford and West Brom) their last away league win was in September (3-2 at Southampton). Since then they’ve suffered nine defeats in twelve games, the worst of which was a 4-0 reverse at Coventry City.
However, this game offers a break from the league and a chance for players to prove to manager Simon Davey what they can do on a bigger stage. "This will be the pinnacle of some of the players' careers so far and they have to make sure they take the chance,” said the boss. “I will be proud to lead the team out at Anfield but we are going there to try to win the game.”
And if the Terriers are looking for an omen, here’s one: in the 1997/1998 season, their only one as a Premier League side, they earned a famous 1-0 league win over Liverpool at Anfield before going on to dump Manchester United out of the Cup.
FORM GUIDE
Liverpool
Chelsea - Liverpool 0 - 0 10/02/2008 PREMIER LEAGUE
Liverpool - Sunderland 3 - 0 02/02/2008 PREMIER LEAGUE
West Ham - Liverpool 1 - 0 30/01/2008 PREMIER LEAGUE
Liverpool - Havant & Waterlooville 5 - 2 26/01/2008 FA CUP
Liverpool - Aston Villa 2 - 2 21/01/2008 PREMIER LEAGUE
Liverpool - Luton 5 - 0 15/01/2008 FA CUP
Barnsley
Plymouth - Barnsley
3 - 0 12/02/2008 CHAMPIONSHIP
Barnsley - West Brom
2 - 1 09/02/2008 CHAMPIONSHIP
Coventry - Barnsley
4 - 0 02/02/2008 CHAMPIONSHIP
Barnsley - Colchester
1 - 0
29/01/2008 CHAMPIONSHIP
Southend - Barnsley
0 - 1 25/01/2008 FA CUP
QPR - Barnsley
2 - 0 19/01/2008 CHAMPIONSHIP
TEAM NEWS
Liverpool
With all respect to Barnsley, it’s fair to say that Reds boss Rafa Benítez just might have an eye on midweek opponents Internazionale when compiling Saturday’s team sheet. That said, he has no decision to make at centre-back as Martin Skrtel (calf) joins Daniel Agger on the sidelines. Sami Hyypia should return as could newly fit Fabio Aurélio and Alvaro Arbeloa. Fernando Torres has also shaken off his injury, but is highly unlikely to be risked for this game. Andriy Voronin is still out.
Likely XI (4-4-2): Itandje – Arbeloa, Carragher, Hyypia, Aurélio – Pennant, Lucas, Alonso, Kewell – Crouch, Kuyt
Barnsley
Emergency loan signing Luke Steele is not cup tied and will start in goal at Anfield in place of the injured Heinz Müller. Tony Warner is ineligible for this tie against his former club, as are Lewin Nyatanga and Jon Macken.
Last Line-up (v. Plymouth): Warner – Foster, Souza, Nyatanga, Kozluk – Leon (Campbell-Ryce), De Silva, Howard, Devaney (Ferenczi) – Macken, Nardiello (Hassell)
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Liverpool – Dirk Kuyt
It’s over two months since Dirk Kuyt scored a goal for Liverpool (a late strike to make it 4-0 against Marseille). Since then the Reds have played 14 games and the Dutchman hasn’t spent any length of time out injured. Fans are starting to get on the striker’s back now so tomorrow would be a useful time to finally score. Barnsley aren’t Inter, but every little helps.
Barnsley – Luke Steele
Steele is a product of the Manchester United youth academy and thus will have extra incentive to thwart Liverpool on Saturday. The goalkeeper only joined the Terriers on an emergency loan this week and has barely played at parent club West Bromwich Albion since signing in 2006 and then going on loan to Coventry. Steele is out of match practice, but will he rise to the Anfield occasion?
Liverpool
With all respect to Barnsley, it’s fair to say that Reds boss Rafa Benítez just might have an eye on midweek opponents Internazionale when compiling Saturday’s team sheet. That said, he has no decision to make at centre-back as Martin Skrtel (calf) joins Daniel Agger on the sidelines. Sami Hyypia should return as could newly fit Fabio Aurélio and Alvaro Arbeloa. Fernando Torres has also shaken off his injury, but is highly unlikely to be risked for this game. Andriy Voronin is still out.
Likely XI (4-4-2): Itandje – Arbeloa, Carragher, Hyypia, Aurélio – Pennant, Lucas, Alonso, Kewell – Crouch, Kuyt
Barnsley
Emergency loan signing Luke Steele is not cup tied and will start in goal at Anfield in place of the injured Heinz Müller. Tony Warner is ineligible for this tie against his former club, as are Lewin Nyatanga and Jon Macken.
Last Line-up (v. Plymouth): Warner – Foster, Souza, Nyatanga, Kozluk – Leon (Campbell-Ryce), De Silva, Howard, Devaney (Ferenczi) – Macken, Nardiello (Hassell)
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Liverpool – Dirk Kuyt
It’s over two months since Dirk Kuyt scored a goal for Liverpool (a late strike to make it 4-0 against Marseille). Since then the Reds have played 14 games and the Dutchman hasn’t spent any length of time out injured. Fans are starting to get on the striker’s back now so tomorrow would be a useful time to finally score. Barnsley aren’t Inter, but every little helps.
Barnsley – Luke Steele
Steele is a product of the Manchester United youth academy and thus will have extra incentive to thwart Liverpool on Saturday. The goalkeeper only joined the Terriers on an emergency loan this week and has barely played at parent club West Bromwich Albion since signing in 2006 and then going on loan to Coventry. Steele is out of match practice, but will he rise to the Anfield occasion?
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