credit - Reuters
Previously in the competition both sides have shone in youthful fluorescence. The visitors in particular, with the high profile win against Everton and tough win against Shrewsbury testament to Neil Critchley’s work with the younger players.
Of course this has now been recognised, with ‘Critch’ living his Tangerine dream in Blackpool orange – signing a three year contract just this morning to land his first senior management role.
Chelsea themselves have done well, but are yet to face a top tier side in the competition yet. They saw off Nottingham Forest at Stamford Bridge in the Third Round, with Hull City falling in the fourth after a dogged battle at the KCOM.
Both sides come into this after dropping points last weekend, with Liverpool finally losing to Watford and Chelsea drawing against Bournemouth at the Vitality Stadium.
The two sides previous FA Cup meeting was the 2012 final. Chelsea won 2-1 on the day. Goals from Ramires and Didier Drogba was enough for the Blues to pick up the trophy for a seventh time.
Chelsea remain without top scorer and talisman Tammy Abraham with an ankle injury. Christian Pulisic, N’Golo Kante and Andreas Christensen join him on the side-lines..
The visitors expect to have this weekends’ absentees Joe Gomez and James Milner available for selection, and with the defeat at Watford a restart for Jurgen Klopp, he is expected to pick a strong side.
Frank Lampard:
“It’s Liverpool, our fans are coming to see us in the FA Cup trying to overturn the best team in the land.
“It doesn’t mean I might not change a couple of people, I think there might be something for freshness of legs or a couple of little different options, but I won’t pick a team casually where I’m giving minutes. I’m treating it with the care I would any Premier League game.”
Jurgen Klopp:
“Chelsea are a football-playing side, and from a passing point of view one of the top, top, top sides. We need to find a solution to that. It will be a different challenge.
“We are Liverpool, we are always under pressure and we are always expected to deliver. If Chelsea make changes, I don’t know if they will, it will still be a very experienced team.
“It’s the last 16 of the FA Cup and we want to go through. That’s the plan.”
In their third meeting this season, Liverpool will hope to come out on top for a third time after a win in the UEFA Super Cup and at Stamford Bridge in the Premier League – but the Blues have won five out of the last seven FA Cup ties.
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