League One strugglers Luton Town travel to Anfield for their lucrative FA Cup third round replay against LiverpoolLiverpool – Same Old Story
You could virtually copy and paste the previews of Liverpool’s last two matches, for nothing has changed.
Off the field politics continues to play a prominent yet unwanted role.
On the field the Reds look lethargic, drawing games against lesser sides and relying as always on the exceptional Fernando Torres to dig them out of holes.
Two more points were dropped against Middlesbrough on Saturday – the first half was particularly shambolic, something Liverpool fans have almost resigned themselves to as their side’s stuttering start to 2008 (three 1-1 draws) continues.
The gap to leaders Manchester United is now 12pts, but the bitter truth is that Liverpool’s rivals are no longer United, Arsenal and Chelsea, but actually Everton, Manchester City and Aston Villa. As far as the Premier League goes, the aim must now realistically be fourth spot, a step backwards from previous seasons.
Nobody knows what will transpire at Anfield in the summer (you have to question the sense in Hicks making public his approach to Jürgen Klinsmann, a move that has strongly undermined Benítez) but Liverpool need trophies to appease their owners and, most crucially, the fans.
Thus this FA Cup replay against Luton Town just got a whole lot more important. Supporters expect the Reds to win Tuesday night’s game at Anfield, but it is the manner of the win that is significant. Hitting the League One strugglers for four or five will yield greater satisfaction and boost squad morale far more than a drab 1-0.
This may be a game against inferior opposition, but it remains an opportunity for those not named Torres or Gerrard to step up to the plate.
Luton Fight For Their Lives
Convention says a win is better than a draw, but for Luton Town, a club on the brink of insolvency, nothing could have been finer than the 1-1 FA Cup draw with giants Liverpool nine days ago. John Arne Riise’s own goal gave the Hatters that all important equaliser, earning them a lucrative rematch at Anfield and a windfall of up to £500,000.
It all helps, but until a buyer is found this continues to be a club in dire straits. The latest setback occurred as boss Kevin Blackwell tendered his resignation. Unlike a well known brand of quick drying wood stain, Blackwell stated that Luton Town “did not do what it said on the tin.”
Disillusioned with the club's predicament, Blackwell released a statement last Friday: "We have ended up managing a squad of players who do not know if they are being paid or have a future with the football club,” he said. “It is now our belief that no possible future scenario for this club can match in any way shape or form what we came here to do.
"Ironically we no longer have contracts that would require us to give notice but we are acutely aware that just to walk away would simply add to the short-term problems. We will therefore continue work under our basic terms and conditions for approximately one month, leaving the club after home game against Bournemouth on February 9th."
The final straw proved to be a broken promise that nobody would be sold before the Liverpool rematch. As it is, star players David Edwards (Wolves) and Chris Coyne (Colchester) have been shown the exit door, with three others out on loan and further bids for Brill, Calvin and Talbott – all of whom started against Liverpool last weekend – being considered.
FORM GUIDE
Liverpool
Match Result Date Championship
Middlesbrough - Liverpool 1 - 1 12/01/2008 PREMIER LEAGUE
Luton - Liverpool 1 - 1 06/01/2008 FA CUP
Liverpool - Wigan Athletic 1 - 1 02/01/2008 PREMIER LEAGUE
Manchester City - Liverpool 0 - 0 30/12/2007 PREMIER LEAGUE
Derby - Liverpool 1 - 2 26/12/2007 PREMIER LEAGUE
Liverpool - Portsmouth 4 - 1 22/12/2007 PREMIER LEAGUE
Luton
Match Result Date Championship
Luton - Swansea 1 - 3 12/01/2008 LEAGUE ONE
Luton - Liverpool 1 - 1 06/01/2008 FA CUP
Luton - Yeovil 1 - 0 01/01/2008 LEAGUE ONE
Port Vale - Luton 1 - 2 29/12/2007 LEAGUE ONE
Bristol Rovers - Luton 1 - 1 26/12/2007 LEAGUE ONE
Luton - Tranmere 1 - 0 22/12/2007 LEAGUE ONE
TEAM NEWS
Liverpool
It’s fantasy Rafa time once again as we try to guess Benítez’ team selection. Inevitably enough, rotation should be the order of the day in a game that should not need Gerrard or Torres to be won. Jamie Carragher may receive a well-earned rest at the back as new boy Martin Skrtel gains his first taste of English football. Daniel Agger might also make his first start following his foot injury. Ryan Babel could return to the side after impressing as a substitute against Middlesbrough, while Peter Crouch and Dirk Kuyt look likely to start up front.
Likely XI (4-4-2): Itandje – Arbeloa, Agger, Skrtel, Aurélio – Pennant, Lucas, Alonso, Babel – Crouch, Kuyt
Luton
Team news to follow…
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Liverpool – Peter Crouch (pictured)
Crouch appears to have become fourth choice striker at Anfield now as he jostles with Voronin and Kuyt for the right to partner Torres in the big games. Looking at the stats gives you an inclination as to why: midway through January, Crouch has yet to score a goal in the Premier League.
The big man was left out again at Middlesbrough, but the last of this season’s five goals was against Luton in the original third round tie. This may predominantly be a game for the Reds’ second-string but with Kuyt and Voronin also misfiring the England international must take his chances to convince Benítez of his worth.
Luton – awaiting team news
PREDICTION
Luton will aim not to disgrace themselves on a night that for many of their players will be the highpoint of their careers. But personnel-wise these are dark times for the Hatters and they could be in for a thrashing as Liverpool seek to rediscover goalscoring form.
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