L
iverpool v Everton in the third
round of the FA Cup is
a magical tie.
When the draw took place amonth or so ago, Everton fans
were probably hoping to avoid
Liverpool at this stage of the
competition, but I think they will
go into this game with a little bit
more hope than they did when
the teams played here in the
league last month, and they will
be buoyed by the 1-1 draw they
got in that fixture.
It's all set up to be a cracking
game. Liverpool haven't lost
here at Anfield since April and
Everton have enjoyed an upturn
in form since Sam Allardyce was
appointed boss. The Toffees
certainly have a bit more about
them in an attacking sense than
they did earlier in the season,
and in turn while Liverpool are
open to letting in the odd goal
they can be breathtaking to
watch going forward.
Both teams have had busy
schedules over the Christmas
period but in terms of changes,
I think it will depend on what
emphasis the two managers
place on the FA Cup. It has been
well-documented that Jürgen
Klopp rotates his squad more
than any other manager in the
league so I wouldn't expect
anything other than changes
from Liverpool but to what
degree I'm not sure.
Both clubs have got a great
chance of doing very well in the
competition if they get through
this tie so I think they will both
field very strong line-ups. It
would be great for the fans of
both clubs to have a good cup
run. Liverpool are in the running
for the top four of the Premier
League but not for the title and I
think a trophy is long overdue for
both of these clubs, certainly in
Everton's case.
For the blue half, something
like a great cup run would right
all the wrongs of this season
for the fans. Sam Allardyce was
brought in to do exactly what
he has done. He's steadied
things up because some of the
performances had been dismal.
Sam shores up defences and
in my opinion, as part of the
goalkeepers' union, they have
England's number one behind
them in Jordan Pickford. For all
the disappointing displays earlier
in the season, there has never
been any doubt about his ability
or his performances.
But it takes a unit to defend
and requires the four lads in
front of him to stop goals too
and Allardyce has brought that
organisation plus the kind of
belief and togetherness which
Everton have been built on for
so many years.
Liverpool fans will be excited
about the arrival of Virgil van
Dijk and, if it was up to me, he
would make his debut tonight.
He's been brought in as the best
defender in the squad and I think
he will go on to be a solid signing.
Certainly, Liverpool fans will beRACHEL BROWN-FINNIS
ANFIELD REVIEW WITH
The MOTD pundit played in derbies for both Reds and Blues
hoping he's one of the missing
parts of the jigsaw.
The atmosphere this evening
should be unreal. I made my
debut in goal at Anfield as a
15-year-old playing for Liverpool
Ladies against Arsenal [in 1995]
and that was some game and
one I will always remember.
Playing under the lights at
Anfield with the Kop in full roar
and 8,000 Evertonians also
singing their hearts out...it's
brilliant for the city and it's all set
up to be a great FA Cup tie.Rachel in goal
for England