It’s the quarter final stage of the F.A Cup and it’s the stage where every team’s dream and ambition of winning the trophy, begins to feel less of a dream and something that can definitely happen.
Liverpool go into the game as massive favourites – inevitably a Premier League side at home to a Championship side. Liverpool have also been on a fantastic run of form which has seen Brendan Rodgers’ side turn their season around for the better; after a disastrous start.
Liverpool came through a huge test in their last match in this competition. They narrowly beat Crystal Palace by two goals to one at Selhurst Park. This game involved the Reds overturning a one goal deficit and coming through trumps. Perhaps this result gave Liverpool the belief that they could win the competition.
Blackburn also had a hugely impressive win in the last round which would have undoubtedly seen an enormous rise to their confidence levels. They saw off Stoke City at Ewood Park – in pretty comfortable fashion, too: 4-1.
Blackburn will be looking to cause perhaps the biggest upset of the quarter final matches by beating Liverpool at Anfield and booking their tickets to play at Wembley.
(Liverpoolfc.com)
After this game – the Reds will have an 8 day rest before their next match against Swansea City on a Monday night. That is very good to hear because Liverpool have played so much football recently – which is obviously nice to see because we’re playing so well but ultimately, it takes a lot out of our players. So there’s no doubt whatsoever that Rodgers will come out all guns blazing and try to outplay Blackburn. Rodgers really wants his first trophy with Liverpool.
Daniel Sturridge? Yeah, got to be for me. Wasn’t the best of Sturridge we saw on Wednesday night, but he got his goal and it would be great to see him kick on from there and go on one of those mad runs of form he loves to do every once in a while.
I’d actually pick the same side that beat Burnley (bar Lovren being replaced by Sakho). That is probably our most attacking line-up and if we were to get an early goal against Blackburn – who knows what score it could end up being? Raheem Sterling could have a potential field day tormenting the Blackburn defence in the right wing-back role which does limit his freedom and how much he is allowed to express himself. But if teams do come and ‘park the bus’ – your wide areas are the areas you need to utilise and hopefully find a way through. Rovers are most likely going to do just that and either fluke a goal on the counter attack or take the tie to a replay – which is something Liverpool really don’t want with their top four ambitions.
I’m going for another 2-0 Liverpool and for it to be amazingly comfortable that I don’t feel at all nervous. Definitely not happening, is it? Here is an image of the side I’d pick, anyway:
(fanscorners.com/Liverpool/squad-selector/)
Bobby Vincent
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