Saturday, January 05, 2013

FA Cup Preview: Mansfield vs Liverpool

Brendan Rodgers is expected to ring the changes for his Liverpool side's trip to Field Mill to face Mansfield Town in one of the standout glamour ties of the FA Cup third round.

New signing Daniel Sturridge will be pushing for his first start for the club since his move from Chelsea, and the forward has seven goals in his last seven starts in the FA Cup.

First-team regulars Daniel Agger, Steven Gerrard and Martin Skrtel are expected to be rested, whilst the decision about whether to rest Luis Suarez is, as yet, unclear.

Fringe players that Brendan Rodgers will possibly choose to utilize include Sebastian Coates, Oussama Assaidi and Jamie Carragher. Suso, Jonjo Shelvey and Nuri Sahin are also pushing for recalls.

Brad Jones could be called up to replace Pepe Reina after recovering from illness.

Whilst Liverpool will clearly be heavy favourites, Mansfield have lost just one of their last 12 games, and the Reds have only won three away games in the Premier League since April.

Stags manager Paul Cox is expected to name a strong side as he bids to cause a huge upset, and he will be able to call on the services of top scorer Jake Speight. He will be partnered by Matt Green. Both players have scored eight goals this season. No other Mansfield player has scored on more than four occasions.

Goalkeeper Alan Marriott will presumably be kept busy, and last week made his 500th appearance in non-League football, but at the end of last season he was effective in an attacking sense, scoring from his own area against Wrexham in April.

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