Liverpool vs Accrington Stanley LIVE: FA Cup score and updates as minnows take on Premier League leaders | OneFootball

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Arne Slot on Martin and O'Neil sackings

Premier League leaders Liverpool host Accrington Stanley at Anfield in the third round of the FA Cup on Sunday afternoon.

Arne Slot’s side are looking to bounce back from their 1-0 to Spurs in the first leg of their Carabao Cup semi-final in midweek, and the Dutchman will have a chance to rest some key players ahead of the league season resuming on 14 January.

The Reds face an Accrington Stanley side who are in danger of dropping out of the Football League this season, with the club currently sitting 19th in the league and just five points above the relegation spots.

And while the minnows will hardly harbour any hopes of making it to the fourth round, their fans will certainly make the journey to Anfield dreaming of a famous day out on Merseyside.

Liverpool’s third round success

Liverpool are unbeaten in their last eight FA Cup ties at home since West Bromwich Albion won at Anfield in 2018.

In the last 13 seasons, the Reds have lost only once in the third round, going down to Wolverhampton Wanderers at Molineux in 2019.

Not since 2007 have they lost at home in round three, when Arsenal won 3-1 at Anfield.

Mike Jones11 January 2025 12:05

Liverpool versus lower league opponents

This will be only the second time since 2017 that the Reds have faced opposition from outside the Premier League at the third-round stage. On the other occasion, they beat Shrewsbury Town 4-1 in 2022.

The last club from outside the top two divisions to defeat Liverpool in this competition were Oldham Athletic (3-2 at Boundary Park in 2013).

Mike Jones11 January 2025 11:55

John Doolan eyes Trent Alexander-Arnold reunion – and huge FA Cup upset

Accrington manager John Doolan is hopeful of a reunion with Trent Alexander-Arnold this weekend before attempting to mastermind a seismic FA Cup shock at former employers Liverpool.

Doolan was an academy coach at Anfield when he first spotted the talent of a six-year-old Alexander-Arnold, whose future at Liverpool has been the subject of intense speculation in the last fortnight.

While he accepts Alexander-Arnold may have no recollection of him after nearly 20 years, Doolan is optimistic of catching up with the England full-back and his mother Diane when Accrington travel to Merseyside to take on the Premier League leaders on Saturday.

John Doolan eyes Trent Alexander-Arnold reunion – and huge FA Cup upset

The Accrington boss was a coach at Liverpool’s academy when Alexander-Arnold was coming through.

Mike Jones11 January 2025 11:50

Slot on facing League Two opponents

Accrington Stanley sit 19th in League Two but have a special draw away at Anfield for today’s FA Cup clash.

Arne Slot was asked what it is like to face a team from a lower league and he replied: “I think every team that plays against us, it’s a special occasion for every team we face – but especially for a lower-league team.

“They will be all up for it, they’ve lived towards this game for many weeks probably, nine out of 10 times all players are fit and there’s no-one suspended.

“The challenge is always to bring the best out of ourselves. Everybody could understand that if you go to a Champions League final, everybody is completely hyped up and ready – and that is for them tomorrow, it is going to feel like a Champions League final.

“We have to be aware of that. Nine out of 10 times, the first 25 minutes or half hour is the most difficult part of the game because they will still be very intense.

“It is up to us to be ready for them wanting to play the best game of their lives – and that is what we have to do as well.”

Mike Jones11 January 2025 11:45

A good omen for Accrington?

Accrington Stanley have progressed from each of their last four FA Cup third round ties, with these coming in 2009-10, 2016-17, 2018-19 and 2022-23.

Mike Jones11 January 2025 11:35

Liverpool don’t need extra motivation says Van Dijk

“The frustration was purely on the pitch. After the game you can’t do anything about it any more and unfortunately for us, it ended up with him scoring the winner,” Virgil van Dijk said after Tottenham defeated the Reds 1-0 in the Carabao Cup druing the week.

“It doesn’t work like that. We don’t need that motivation. We know we will be 1-0 down when the game is played at Anfield so we have to fight.

“We have to do it all together, with our fans and the players. Obviously, hopefully everyone is fit and let’s see if we can do it. It will be tough because they are a very good team in my opinion, with a very good manager but we’re going to go for it.

“We’re in a semi-final [Carabao Cup], we know how much they would like to win it but I know for a fact we would love to win it again and maybe even more.”

Mike Jones11 January 2025 11:30

Surprise selections from Slot

“A surprise inclusion, in Trent Alexander-Arnold, and a surprise exclusion, in Federico Chiesa.

“If the vice-captain was not expected to start against Accrington, the summer signing definitely was. The fact Chiesa is only on the bench suggests that he is not fully fit; the problem for Liverpool is that he rarely has been since his summer arrival from Juventus.

“But there could be one winger worth watching, in 16-year-old Rio Ngumoha, a summer signing from Chelsea and who becomes Liverpool's youngest player in the FA Cup.”