The Arsenal vs Liverpool FA Cup match will be played this Sunday, February 16, 2014 at the Emirates stadium. These two teams played against each other one week ago, and the Reds devastated their opponents and managed to win that game by a 4 goal margin – 5:1. That was in the EPL, now they are playing in the FA Cup, so it is expected that both teams will give more minutes to players who don’t feature regularly in EPL matches.
It is expected that Liverpool will play in its standard 4-5-1 formation.
Goalkeeper: Brad Jones
The experienced Australian features in cup matches for Liverpool, so we expect that Brendan Rodgers will give him chance in this match too.
Right back: Martin Kelly
Same as Jones, Kelly is a regular starter in this position in cup games, so he will probably be in Liverpool’s starting line-up for this match.
Left back: Aly Cissokho
The 26-year-old Frenchman is the only quality solution for this position, so he is among the players with the most minutes played in Liverpool this season. We expect that he will play this game from the start.
Center backs: Martin Skrtel and Daniel Agger
There is a slight uncertainty about who will feature in this match in the center backs’ role, because Rodgers likes to rotate players in this position. However, considering Toure’s miserable display against Fulham, it is expected that he sits on the bench for this match, which leaves Skrtel and Agger as starters.
Right wing: Daniel Sturridge
The most productive player in the last two months in the whole Premier league, scoring at least a goal in each of the seven last matches, will surely take his place near the touchlines.
Left wing: Victor Moses
This player, who is currently playing for Liverpool on loan from Chelsea, is a regular starter in cup matches, so it should be the case again.
Central midfielders: Steven Gerrard, Coutinho, Jordan Henderson
Captain Gerrard scored a goal from the penalty spot, which secured Liverpool’s victory against Fulham in the last Premier league match that Liverpool played. He is indispensible to Rodgers and he will start this match. Jordan Henderson proved to be a valuable asset to the club in recent matches, and he will probably play beside Gerrard. These two should be more defensively orientated, while Coutinho will be in his attacking midfielder role.
Striker: Luis Suarez
Of course, the best scorer of the EPL will take his place in the Liverpool attack. The Uruguayan striker didn’t score in last week’s game against Arsenal, and he will be motivated to send the ball behind the back of Arsenal’s goalkeeper.
