Liverpool head into their FA Cup third spherical match in opposition to Accrington Stanley wanting objectives, however to keep away from overconfidence, it could 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 kind earlier than a tough away recreation 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.
Nonetheless, they solely have to 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 have been Plymouth Argyle in 2017.
They pressured 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 objectives of their opening 29 video games of this season (70) as they’d on the identical stage of final season, whereas conceding three objectives 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 recreation.
Whereas Liverpool have averaged a 56 p.c win fee since January 1, in comparison with 90 p.c beneath Slot beforehand, their goalscoring has really elevated over the festive season.
Earlier than December 1, they netted 2.3 objectives per recreation on common, however since that date the Reds have scored 2.7 objectives per recreation.
The variety of objectives conceded per match, although, has risen from 0.6 to 1.4.
Liverpool in opposition to the decrease leagues
This will probably 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 have 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 have been Plymouth in 2017. Liverpool are unbeaten of their final eight FA Cup ties at Anfield, since West Brom gained there in 2018.
Within the final 13 seasons the Reds have misplaced simply as soon as at this primary hurdle, taking place to Wolves at Molineux in 2019.
Not since 2007 have they misplaced at house within the third spherical, once they have been overwhelmed 3-1 by Arsenal.
A bit about Accrington Stanley
The city’s authentic membership have been founder members of the Soccer League in 1888.
They have 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 into 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 grew to become fourth division champions and spent 5 seasons in League One earlier than being relegated in 2023.
Ought to Accrington win at Anfield, they may attain the fourth spherical for the eighth time of their historical past.
The final time was in 2023 once they misplaced 3-1 at house to Leeds, one in every 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 objectives 1
* Stats courtesy of LFC statistician Ged Rea (@ged0407).
