Post #4 - FA Cup with Budweiser 5th Round Preview - Arsenal v Liverpool
Many Reds will be feeling the love going into their Valentines weekend FA Cup with Budweiser Fifth round clash against Arsenal for many reasons. Liverpool go to the Emirates unbeaten in 2014 and by adding the Gunners to their hit list at Anfield almost a week ago, many people this week have said that they can win the title. Now I personally believe that it is pointless participating in a league, or cup for that matter, if you're not there to win it, especially if it is perfectly within reach. Every Premier League team would have to look to win the league right from Matchday 1, such as Stoke probably did when they came to Anfield on August 17th. But with only 12 games to go in this magnificent season, this is the stage where you are either fighting to stay in your position or improve it against potentially tough teams. However, we are not here to talk about the league, but instead the cup. Brendan Rodgers' men have now won the last two in all competitions and it is clear to see that the team has improved since their defeat in North London back in November.
Sunday evenings game will prove the toughest test of their FA Cup campaign so far, having, eventually, swept aside League One and Championship sides Oldham and Bournemouth respectively in previous rounds. In addition, it seems that the Reds boss has as much confidence as the players on the field do, having said in his Friday press conference at Melwood that they "want to win the FA Cup" and "make it to Wembley". Liverpool fell short of any cup success last season having being dumped out of the Capital One Cup by Swansea and failed to beat Oldham in the FA Cup, hence the reason for an absence from playing under the arch. It is clear to see that the Merseysiders haven't played their best football in this competition, with two of the 4 goals so far coming from the unlikely heroes in Iago Aspas and Victor Moses. The pair have both had to settle for places on the bench in the league, but supporters shouldn't lack confidence should they have an appearance in this match.
Arsenal have netted two more than the away side in this year's FA Cup, with their victories coming in the shape of a 2-0 win over rivals Tottenham, and a 4-0 win over League One strugglers Coventry City. While it may be easy to predict the Liverpool personnel lining up on Sunday having named an unchanged side in the last 4 matches who don't appear to be tired, Arsene Wenger could be reluctant to name a strong side with their UEFA Champions League game against European Champions Bayern Munich on Wednesday in mind. Failure to beat Manchester United here on Wednesday night after being dispatched by Liverpool on Saturday means no win in two, and with a very difficult European tie against Pep Guardiola's warriors having being thrown up, the FA Cup could be one of the last chances to win silverware this season for the Gunners.
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