Key events
Leeds United make two changes to their starting XI following the win over Chelsea. Noah Okafor and Ilia Gruev replace Ao Tanaka, who drops to the bench, and Lukas Nmecha, who misses out altogether.
Liverpool make four changes after the draw with Sunderland. Both full-backs are replaced: Conor Bradley and Milos Kerkez come in for Joe Gomez and Andrew Robertson. Curtis Jones replaces Alexis MacAllister in the midfield, while Hugo Ekitike steps in for Alexander Isak. All four of the replaced players are on the bench, alongside Mohamed Salah, named as sub for the third game running.
The teams
Leeds United: Perri, Rodon, Bijol, Struijk, Bogle, Stach, Ampadu, Gruev, Gudmundsson, Calvert-Lewin, Okafor.
Subs: Darlow, Piroe, Aaronson, Harrison, Tanaka, Bornauw, Justin, Byram, Gnonto.
Liverpool: Alisson, Bradley, van Dijk, Konate, Kerkez, Gravenberch, Jones, Szoboszlai, Wirtz, Gakpo, Ekitike.
Subs: Mamardashvili, Gomez, Endo, Isak, Mac Allister, Salah, Chiesa, Robertson, Ngumoha.
Referee: Anthony Taylor
VAR: John Brooks
Preamble
Welcome to our coverage of the rerun of the 1965 FA Cup final. Which is how the kids round our way are framing it. Here’s a snapshot of that day, as seen through the eyes of the cheeky chap from the ‘Pool, everybody’s pal, the jolly gap-toothed scouser with a twinkle in his eye and a smile for every honest Englishman.
Liverpool went into that final as favourites, prevailing 2-1 after extra time. They’re the bookies’ favourites to win this evening, too, though you have to wonder whether reputation is trumping present form here. Leeds are coming off the back of a spirit-enhancing 3-1 win over bitter rivals Chelsea, while Liverpool were stultifyingly awful in scraping a draw against Sunderland. And while it’s true that Leeds had lost their previous four matches, and six of the previous seven, Liverpool have tasted defeat in nine of their last 14 games, so good luck confidently picking a winner from that pile of rubble. Oh Daniel. Oh Arne.
Nobody would be surprised if the reigning champions clamber back on the horse this evening, relocate their groove, and give the newly promoted hosts a good shoeing. But then neither would anybody be particularly shocked if Leeds build on their morale-boosing midweek win by staging another rafter-bothering Elland Road energy piece, and become the latest in a long line of teams to thoroughly embarrass Liverpool. So it’s poised deliciously for the neutral … and also promises to be quite the ride, one way or another, for the partial as well. Kick-off is at 5.30pm GMT. It’s on! O-ho!
Leave a Reply