Liverpool wary of Accrington’s ‘Champions League final’ in FA Cup

Double-chasing Liverpool volition not underestimate Accrington Stanley successful the FA Cup connected Saturday, according to Arne Slot.

Liverpool caput manager Arne Slot is prepared for a revved-up Accrington Stanley erstwhile the teams conscionable successful the 3rd circular of the FA Cup astatine Anfield connected Saturday.

Slot suffered lone his 2nd decision arsenic manager of the Reds successful the club’s past lucifer erstwhile they were beaten 1-0 astatine Tottenham Hotspur successful the archetypal limb of their League Cup semifinal.

FA Cup opponents Stanley beryllium 19th successful English football’s 4th tier, portion Slot’s Liverpool are apical of the Premier League and Champions League standings.

“Every squad against america is simply a peculiar juncture for each squad but particularly a little league team, truthful they volition beryllium each up for it. They person lived this crippled for weeks probably… truthful we request to bring the champion retired of ourselves,” Slot told reporters connected Friday.

“If we spell to the Champions League final, everyone is hyped up and that is for them tomorrow, it volition consciousness similar the Champions League last and we person to beryllium alert of that.

“First half-hour is astir difficult, they volition beryllium precise aggravated and we person to beryllium acceptable for them playing the champion games of their lives. That is what we person to bash too.”

Arne Slot suffered lone his 2nd decision arsenic Liverpool manager successful the club’s past lucifer against Tottenham Hotspur successful the League Cup [Carl Recine/Getty Images]

Liverpool person been boosted by the instrumentality to grooming of midfielder Dominik Szoboszlai aft helium recovered from illness. The 24-year-old Hungary skipper had missed their 2-2 location gully against rivals Manchester United and the decision by Tottenham.

Centreback Jarell Quansah, 21, is besides disposable for selection.

“Every crippled is an accidental for them to person a accidental to play and this 1 arsenic well,” Slot said.

“Dom trained with the under-21s yesterday. Jarell, similar I said, helium was a spot sick past week, arsenic a effect of that I had to instrumentality him disconnected the crippled (against Tottenham) but I americium expecting him to beryllium disposable for tomorrow.”

Trent Alexander-Arnold, left, endured a chastening crippled for Liverpool successful the gully with Manchester United [Alex Livesey – Danehouse/Getty Images]

Slot continued his defence of vice-captain Trent Alexander-Arnold, who was criticised by pundits for his show against United.

The 26-year-old England close back, linked with a determination to Spanish giants Real Madrid, enactment connected a much-improved show against Tottenham connected Wednesday aft coming connected arsenic a substitute successful the 2nd half.

“Trent has had 1 hard crippled for america and possibly a fewer that were OK to good. Mainly helium has had large games erstwhile helium played for america this season,” the Dutchman said.

“I cognize determination is simply a batch of absorption connected him astatine the moment, but I would besides similar to item the absorption connected however good helium did erstwhile helium came connected successful the past half-hour (Tottenham) and however our fans reacted to him, that is what pleased maine adjacent much during that game.”

Who's lifting this astatine the extremity of the season? 🏆#EmiratesFACup pic.twitter.com/5XRitRVyBX

— Emirates FA Cup (@EmiratesFACup) January 9, 2025

Stanley, who are based successful Lancashire, are possibly champion known among English shot fans for a Milk Marketing Board tv commercialized successful the 1980s which mildly mocked the team’s obscurity.

“I bash cognize astir the beverage advert,” Slot said erstwhile asked astir what helium knows astir the narration betwixt Liverpool and Stanley.

“Immediately aft the crippled (was drawn) determination was a clip of a subordinate that was truthful blessed that helium was going to play astatine Anfield. So these kinds of things I know.

“I cognize radical from this country besides play for that club. There’s rather a batch really that I already cognize and, of course, I cognize a batch astir the team.”

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Al Jazeera and quality agencies