Liverpool head into their FA Cup third spherical match in opposition to Accrington Stanley wanting targets, however to keep away from overconfidence, it might be clever to look again on the final time they confronted fourth-tier opposition on this competitors.
Having drawn with Man United and misplaced in opposition to Tottenham, Liverpool will see the FA Cup tie as alternative to regain some type earlier than a difficult away sport at Nottingham Forest.
Whereas all of Liverpool’s key gamers are unlikely to be concerned, Arne Slot‘s facet ought to possess sufficient high quality to win comfortably.
Nevertheless, they solely must look again on the final time Liverpool performed a League Two crew within the FA Cup to make sure they aren’t overweening going into the match.
The final crew from the fourth tier to face the Reds on this competitors had been Plymouth Argyle, in 2017. They compelled a 0-0 draw at Anfield, with Liverpool successful 1-0 within the House Park replay because of a uncommon Lucas Leiva aim.
Goalscoring isn’t an issue
Liverpool have scored the identical variety of targets of their opening 29 video games of this season (70) as that they had on the similar stage of final season, whereas conceding three targets fewer this time period.
They’ve saved one clear sheet within the final seven matches, whereas Wednesday’s loss at Tottenham was solely the second time this season they’ve failed to attain in a sport.
Whereas Liverpool have averaged a 56 % win charge since January 1, in comparison with 90 % below Slot beforehand, their goalscoring has truly elevated over the festive season.
Earlier than December 1, they netted 2.3 targets per sport on common, however since that date the Reds have scored 2.7 targets per sport. The variety of targets conceded per match, although, has risen from 0.6 to 1.4.
Liverpool in opposition to the decrease leagues
This might be solely the second time since 2017 that Liverpool have confronted opposition at this stage from outdoors of the Premier League. The opposite time was once they beat Shrewsbury 4-1 in 2022.
The final crew from outdoors the highest two divisions to defeat the Reds within the FA Cup had been Oldham, 3-2 at Boundary Park in 2013.
As talked about, the final facet from the fourth tier to face the Reds within the competitors had been Plymouth in 2017. Liverpool are unbeaten of their final eight FA Cup ties at Anfield, since West Brom received there in 2018.
Within the final 13 seasons the Reds have misplaced simply as soon as at this primary hurdle, happening to Wolves at Molineux in 2019.
Not since 2007 have they misplaced at residence within the third spherical, once they had been crushed 3-1 by Arsenal.
A bit about Accrington Stanley
The city’s authentic membership had been founder members of the Soccer League in 1888. They had been additionally an authentic member of the Third Division North from 1921-1958, earlier than resigning from the Soccer League in 1962.
The present membership got here into existence in 1968 after the collapse of the previous Accrington Stanley, and after a journey that noticed them at one stage turn out to be Champions of the Cheshire County League Division 2, the Lancashire Mixture, Northern Premier League Division 1, Northern Premier League and Convention, they returned to the Soccer League in 2006.
They turned fourth division champions and spent 5 seasons in League One earlier than being relegated in 2023.
Ought to Accrington win at Anfield, they are going to attain the fourth spherical for the eighth time of their historical past. The final time was in 2023 once they misplaced 3-1 at residence to Leeds, certainly one of 9 top-flight groups they’ve confronted within the competitors with out but successful.
This season’s scorers
Liverpool: Salah 21, Diaz 12, Gakpo 12, Jota 6, Nunez 4, Jones 3, Mac Allister 3, Szoboszlai 3, Konate 2,Van Dijk 2, Alexander-Arnold 1, Elliott 1
Accrington Stanley: Walton 6, Whalley 6, Costelloe 5, J. Woods 5, B. Woods 4, Aljofree 2, Knowles 2, Mooney 2, Awe 1, Henderson 1, Hunter 1, Khumbeni 1, Love 1, Popoola 1, Rawson 1, personal targets 1
* Stats courtesy of LFC statistician Ged Rea (@ged0407).
