It’s FA Cup quarter finals weekend and we’ve got a home draw, we’ve won the Derby earlier in the week and all is good. By the time we kick off against Stoke on Sunday we will know who is waiting for the winner in the semi final at Wembley, chances are it will be Chelsea, Spurs or Everton so it’ll be a mouthwatering tie and a huge incentive for both Liverpool and Stoke to progress. There is a real danger that as we’re at home and favourites some people will take it for granted we will make it through but Stoke have proved themselves over the last few seasons and we seem to find it tough against them, and we’re not the only ones. We’ve played them twice this season and so far failed to score. Stoke have also made a fantastic gesture to their supporters and paid half the price of every ticket they have been allocated for the game, allowing their fans in for £20. In this day and age that has to be applauded and the fans will have extra reason to get behind their side and help create what should be a really good atmosphere at Anfield on Sunday afternoon.
In the league encounter earlier this year Stoke based their performance on a solid defence and I see no reason for them to change that this weekend, I think we need to begin the game attacking quickly in the manner we tended to start Champions League matches under Benitez. If the opposition are reluctant to commit men forward in the opening fifteen minutes or so we can afford to push on with less risk, and an early goal disrupts the visitors game plan and quietens their supporters. A fast start is a very effective tactic if the players make it work. Our attack has improved since Stoke visited in the league, Gerrard, Suarez and Carroll should start together again, Gerrard on a high from Tuesday and both strikers feeling chances will fall their way with our best passer in the side just behind them. Adam and Kuyt were both left out for the Derby and will be fresh but I see no real reason to change the starting eleven from those who earned us such a good result against Everton.
It will be good to see Peter Crouch back at Anfield again and I’m sure he’ll get a great reception from the Liverpool supporters. In general we’re good to our former players and, with only a few exceptions, there is never the bile directed at our ex players that you find at most other clubs.
Our cup games have gone pretty smoothly this season (apart from Cardiff) and history teaches us things are never easy so I have a feeling for a draw on Sunday and a replay. Hopefully I’ll be proved wrong and we’ll turn in a good performance and make it to Wembley again for the semi final easily. If we win it brings real excitement to the rest of the season for us. However if we lose there is really very little else to play for and our last ten games won’t carry much significance so the motivation is there to win on several fronts.
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