Times are hard for Liverpool and fingers are being pointed in all directions in an attempt to decipher the source of the problems.
It was a game nobody wanted as the referee blew for full-time at Anfield in the first tie, but the replay offers Liverpool a chance to carve out some sort of momentum heading into a tricky period of fixtures domestically and in Europe.
Liverpool’s failure to see out the third-round tie at Anfield has set up their first FA Cup replay since Shrewsbury Town came to Merseyside in 2020 and succumbed to a 1-0 defeat.
On that occasion, Jurgen Klopp opted to field the club’s youngest-ever XI and left Neil Critchley to take charge as he and the first team observed what was supposed to be a pre-arranged winter break for top-flight English clubs.
It was a decision which prompted an open letter from the Shrewsbury hierarchy, who felt aggrieved and felt that Klopp’s decision had ‘ruined’ the tie and caused the replay to miss out on TV coverage which would have elicited a big financial reward for the club.
The home game in September was postponed following the death of the Queen – and could yet still be rearranged for this month – and the away game is set to take place at the beginning of February.
The FA Cup double-header means that the two sides will line up against one another four times in 2022/23, and Liverpool will hope to come away from those duels with at least something to show for it.
You’d have to search high and wide to find a Liverpool supporter that doesn’t still implicitly trust Klopp, but for possibly the first time during his reign the team look to be on a downward spiral and a victory here is the first step to stop the bleeding.
The replay is the last thing the manager will have wanted in an already crammed schedule, but momentum plays a huge role in football and one win can quickly set you on a different path.
The German often speaks about rhythm with his players, but given the recent form and the fact this fixture will be shortly followed by Chelsea‘s visit, it will be extremely interesting to see how the side lineup.Read more