Arse away in the FA cup - Sun 7th Jan

[S-RED]

So even in the FA cup we get served up Whoppers ....

Arsenal v Liverpool

Referee: John Brooks
Assistant referees: Lee Betts & Nick Greenhalgh
Fourth official: Josh Smith
VAR: Simon Hooper
SVAR: David Coote
AVAR: Adrian Holmes

[Exiled_red]

What are we expecting here? Full strength or a bit of rotation?

I don't want go lose to these but I wouldn't be too upset if we went out early allowing us to focus on other competitions.

[Venton]

So even in the FA cup we get served up Whoppers ....

Arsenal v Liverpool

Referee: John Brooks
Assistant referees: Lee Betts & Nick Greenhalgh
Fourth official: Josh Smith
VAR: Simon Hooper
SVAR: David Coote
AVAR: Adrian Holmes

Whoppers all the way down.

[RedReet]

What are we expecting here? Full strength or a bit of rotation?

I don't want go lose to these but I wouldn't be too upset if we went out early allowing us to focus on other competitions.

I think we go as strong as possible, while also rotating, if that makes sense.

Ali or Kelleher depending on who Klopp wanted as FA Cup keeper.
Trent Quansah VVD Gomez (could be rested)
Mac
Elliot Grav
(Not sure RW, could also be Elliot) Gakpo Jota

[frank the tank]

Main concern out of this should be no injuries. Fimgers crossed.

When we were drawn against them, i didn't give a **** about the cup to be honest. I think if we are lucky with injuries, then we could possibly go for the league while also having a good crack at both the carabao and Europa cups.

However, since we played them in the league, they've had a wobble. After they play us, they then have 2 weeks off before they play Palace. We also go there in the league at the start of Feb.

So it feels like if we were able to hand them a defeat here, they then stew on that for 2 weeks - puttong more pressure on them in their upcoming games.

I think it all depends on how key players are fitness wise and it will be interesting to see if Jurgen prioritises this or the carabao semi final but i expect a team along the lines of:

Becker

Trent Konate Virgil Gomez

Gravenberch MacAllister Jones

Elliot Gakpo Nunez


And then against fulham next Wednesday,

Kelleher

Trent Gomez Quansah Beck
Gravenberch Jones Szoboaslai
Elliott Jota Diaz

[S-RED]

i hope we only see see 45mins for TAA, gomez, VVD, Mac on Sunday; tough call but i would go

Sunday

Kelleher

Trent/Bradley Konate Virgil/Quansah Gomez/Beck

Elliot MacAllister/Jones Gravenberch

Gakpo Jota Nunez

And then against fulham next Wednesday,

Becker

Trent Quansah VVD Gomez
Gravenberch Mac Jones
Elliott Jota Diaz

[Slinky Skills]

Is this on the BBC?

[Exiled_red]

Is this on the BBC?

Yes

[Doc_Piptorious]

Think we need to go pretty strong in both games if we want to stay in teh hunt for as much silverware as possible.

After the Fulham game we then have 11 days until our next game so that is a lot of time without a competitive game for resting/healing.

[John Barnes]

Think we need to go pretty strong in both games if we want to stay in teh hunt for as much silverware as possible.

After the Fulham game we then have 11 days until our next game so that is a lot of time without a competitive game for resting/healing.

11 Days ? there's no winter break is there ?

[Mr Pink]

When’s Robbo due back? If he’s gonna be out another while, I’d wrap Gomez in cotton wool and only play him in the league games. He has a history of being injury prone and if we lost him too, that could derail our title challenge.


I always want to win every game, but I think going out might be a blessing in disguise- we defo have bigger fish to fry. We’re favorites in the other two cups were in, the carabou cup is nice cos it’d be wrapped up early, the Europa is fun, cos we’re playing teams we don’t normally play and the final is in Dublin. Juggling Europa semi finals and FA cup semi finals at the business end of the season is the kind of stuff that could cause a slip up that could cost us a league title. Also if arsenal do claw their way back into the title race, it would be nice for them to have those other distractions.

But on the other hand, I hope we stuff them, haha.

[Doc_Piptorious]

11 Days ? there's no winter break is there ?

We play Fulham on the 10th and then our next game is not until we face Bournemouth on the 21st, then three days later we have the second leg vs Fulham.



Will start to get congested from Feb/March onwards though when Europa league games along with any games that come from if we go deep in one or both of the domestic cups all start to add up.

[frank the tank]

When’s Robbo due back? If he’s gonna be out another while, I’d wrap Gomez in cotton wool and only play him in the league games. He has a history of being injury prone and if we lost him too, that could derail our title challenge.


I always want to win every game, but I think going out might be a blessing in disguise- we defo have bigger fish to fry. We’re favorites in the other two cups were in, the carabou cup is nice cos it’d be wrapped up early, the Europa is fun, cos we’re playing teams we don’t normally play and the final is in Dublin. Juggling Europa semi finals and FA cup semi finals at the business end of the season is the kind of stuff that could cause a slip up that could cost us a league title. Also if arsenal do claw their way back into the title race, it would be nice for them to have those other distractions.

But on the other hand, I hope we stuff them, haha.

It's really funny how different players become the really important depending on who is injured / unavailable.

[Slinky Skills]

Yes

Sweet!

[frank the tank]

We play Fulham on the 10th and then our next game is not until we face Bournemouth on the 21st, then three days later we have the second leg vs Fulham.



Will start to get congested from Feb/March onwards though when Europa league games along with any games that come from if we go deep in one or both of the domestic cups all start to add up.

Think the league are giving every team a week off in Jan - so for 2 weeks, there will only be 5 league games each weekend.

Worst case scenario in the fa cup game for both managers might be a replay. Expect to see loads of goals as both of them won't want to lose but won't want a draw either