Arsenal (a) Cup 5th round build up

[RedReet]

I'll not be too fussed if we lose, but I'll be delighted if we win. Beat Arsenal and we potentially only have 1 extra game in March and one extra game in April to contend with. Surely we can cope with that?

Come May, we might already have 4th place sewn up with no chance of the title, so I'd like acup final to look forward to.

[Chris]

Nooo. ... I want us to win the FA Cup.

I'm all for resting a few players and giving youth a chance, but I want a strong spine with a only a scattering of inexperienced players; I am desperate for us to beat Arsenal and progress. Winning matches will only help build confidence within the group (© Brendan Rodgers).

Yep, get rid of these and it's just us and City or Chelsea left (Everton havent got the bollocks to beat us in any game let alone a big cup game). It's an enormous chance to get a trophy.

[BigChief]

We don't play till next Sunday so the players can rest next week

I was thinking there's no way we should risk any seniors in this game. But we have no more midweek games for the rest of the season now.

Part of me wants Arsenal to progress, thus more fixture congestion for them. But with a week's rest available there's no reason to not give this a good go as Arsenal will be resting up for Bayern:

Mig
Flanno Skrtel Agger Cissokho
Gerrard TexMex
Allen
Ibe Suarez Moses

Subs on 60 mins: Sturridge for Suarez, Sterling for Ibe and one other (Kelly for Flanno?)

[chadrtc]

Full strength team, beat them again, go on to win the double. Simple.

[Yozza]

Full strength team, beat them again, go on to win the double. Simple.

[Mike]

I want us to win this, but if we lost I'm not going to lose much sleep over it. The Fulham game was the one I wanted us to win this week, more than anything.

Too early to start Texeira - he's only had 20 mins and we're talking about throwing him into the Starting XI against Arsenal, no way. If we are to bring in any midfielder it should be Allen.

Should play an unchanged team with Agger in for Kolo, as many have said already. Maybe rest Henderson and bring in Allen but Rodgers will probably keep the team unchanged.

[Norbs]

Miguel Delaney @MiguelDelaney
Wenger asked are Liverpool last team he wants to play. "No, I would say they are first team we want to play... chance to put things right."

Hope that mean he's going to take the game to us so that we can obliterate them again

[RedReet]

I wonder if he'll play Vermalen. A bit more mobile and a perfect excuse with it being a cup game.

[Yozza]

Boss: We won't hold back in FA Cup quest

14th Feb 2014 - Latest News

Brendan Rodgers insists there will be no half measures from his side when they arrive at the Emirates Stadium on Sunday, determined to go all the way in the FA Cup.

Arsenal, the team who were thrashed 5-1 at Anfield at the weekend, stand between Rodgers' side and a place in the quarter-finals of the competition.

The Gunners were held to a 0-0 draw by Manchester United on home turf on Wednesday, the same night the Reds prospered in the capital with a dramatic 3-2 win over Fulham.

It was the first of four consecutive games at the Emirates for Arsene Wenger's outfit, who will face the daunting prospect of Bayern Munich's visit just three days after Liverpool's.

Rodgers' charges, meanwhile, have no game until Swansea a week later - and the manager insists he will field a team capable of prolonging the Reds' Cup run.

"We want to win the FA Cup," he told reporters gathered at Melwood. "That's our objective. We've got no midweek game [after the Arsenal match] so we can go as strong as we wish to go.

"It's probably different for Arsenal, who have a massive game after ourselves [against Bayern Munich] in the Champions League, so they may have to look at it differently. We won't need to rest anybody.

"We want to do it for the club. Since I've been here, we have changed the squad around in order to try and help us in the league.

"When I have made too many changes, we haven't been good enough and that's seen us go out of tournaments earlier than I would want. This year, we wanted to do well in the cup competitions - hence the reason why we've been strong.

"We want to get to Wembley, not for the semi-final, but for the final. If we're there for the final, then it gives us a chance to win it."

Arsenal arrived on Merseyside with one of the best away records in the Barclays Premier League, sitting proudly top of the table at the weekend.

However, within 20 minutes of play at Anfield, Wenger's men were well and truly disorientated; four goals down, they had been hit with a whirlwind performance from the home side.

Liverpool went on to win 5-1 and demonstrate the sort of control over the match which afterwards had the manager beaming with delight; however, Rodgers insists this tie will not necessarily go the same way.

"It's a different game and a different competition," he said. "We're away from home and I trust the players. We know it's going to be a difficult game. There's no question about that.

"We came out of the game at the weekend with great confidence and I think when you put in a performance like we did against Arsenal, who were top of the league, it can stick in their mind that wee bit more.

"We were outstanding on the day and it was arguably as good a performance as you'll see. I think many people have commented on that. It's a different game, there's a new motivation for both teams and both teams will want to get through into the quarter-finals.

"I'm sure it will be another terrific game and we'll look to bring our game into it and focus on that."

[Yozza]

Brendan gives update on Johnson fitness

Brendan Rodgers has revealed Glen Johnson could be available for selection next week having returned to training at Melwood on Monday.

The full-back last featured for Liverpool during their pulsating clash against Aston Villa at Anfield on January 18.

Johnson played the full 90 minutes as the home team were held to a 2-2 draw; however, the 29-year-old has sat out the Reds' five subsequent fixtures.

Speaking to reporters at Melwood ahead of his side's trip to the Emirates Stadium to face Arsenal on Sunday, Rodgers revealed that the defender is making good progress.

However, the manager also explained how Johnson will be a doubt for the weekend's FA Cup fifth-round clash in the capital.

Speaking on any potential team news ahead of the fixture, Rodgers said: "We'll be similar to what we were the other night [against Fulham].

"Glen Johnson is working very well. I'm not sure he'll be ready for the game this weekend, but if we can have a good week next week he'll be very close.

"He looks fresher and he looks fitter. That period that he's had out has really helped him. He's in good condition. But there is still a bit to go yet. Daniel Agger is back in the squad and it's as it was really."

[Bernardicus]

If we played our first team more or less against Bournemouth, you can bet we'll go full strength against Arsenal.

Definately wouldn't start Teixeira but maybe give him a longer cameo than against Fulham.

[I, Ravel Morrison]

"When I have made too many changes, we haven't been good enough and that's seen us go out of tournaments earlier than I would want."

I really like how he takes personal responsibility for any perceived failings.

[Liverpool]

cazorla is a big loss for them, hes great at nabbing the ball back deep into the oppos half, plus his attacking.

Id like to Sterling and Coutinho rested, taken out the firing line maybe bring them on with 20 left

[Mostar]

Really not too arsed about this, anything other than the league is a distraction and potential for injury.

Play a 2nd team, and rest the big guns. If we lose, its hardly a big deal.

Give some youngsters a run out- especial Tex after his cameo, Aspas Alberto

Would us to go after the win and feature our best lineup but with the paper-thin squad we have lot to lose if any of our key players gets injured.

[Fernandinho]

Full week for this game? surely we go full strength.. If we need to rest anyone just sub them earlier...