Liverpool will host the championship side Cardiff City in the fourth round of the FA Cup this Sunday on Anfield. Liverpool are obviously the clear favorites to win this tie but can they go on to win the whole competition?
Jurgen Klopp and his men have won the Premier League and the Champions League. But they haven’t had a grasp of the oldest club competition in the world – the FA Cup. In fact, the FA Cup is long overdue for Liverpool.
Although they have won the competition 7 times in their history, they last won the competition 16 years back in 2006.
Klopp would love to change that and the first hurdle arrives in the form of Cardiff City this Sunday.
History:
Liverpool and Cardiff have met each other on 34 occasions. Liverpool has won 14 times; Cardiff has won 18 times and they drew on two occasions.
A draw is out of the question in this one, but history suggests that Cardiff has the upper hand. Despite the fact that Cardiff has a historical advantage over Liverpool, both clubs are worlds apart in today’s time and era.
The clubs last met in the Premier League three years ago, when Liverpool cruised to a 4-1 win at Anfield. Since the game is at Anfield it is important to mention, Cardiff City’s last victory at Anfield was in 1959 when they won 4-0.
Form:
Cardiff has won 3 out of their last 5 games but they are struggling in the championship. The bluebirds under the leadership of Steve Morison are 20th on the table.
Cardiff City has 29 points after 28 games and are nine points above the relegation zone. Winning at Anfield may seem like an impossible task in and of itself, but they have bigger concerns to worry about.
Liverpool on the other hand has won 4 of their last 5 games. The reds are in top form and are chasing Manchester City for the country’s ultimate price. They are also in the champions league RO-16 and will play the finals of the league cup on the 27th of this month.
Trivia:
Liverpool has scored 15 goals in their last four Premier League meetings with Cardiff City, winning all four games in 2013-14 and 2018-19.
Liverpool has been eliminated from the fourth round of the FA Cup four times in their previous six seasons under Jürgen Klopp, more than any other team in the competition at this time.
Starting with their 2008 final defeat to Portsmouth. Cardiff has lost six of their last seven FA Cup ties with top-flight opposition, only moving past Newcastle in round three back in 2013-14.
Prediction:
Liverpool is the clear favorite to win this tie. Even though their star players like Mohammad Salah and Sadio Mane are unavailable. The superstars of Egypt and Senegal prepare to clash in the Africa Cup of Nations final. But the arrival of £50 million man Luis Diaz will provide the temporary fix.
It seems highly unlikely that Cardiff will get a result out of this game, but stranger things have happened in the past!
This competition always seems to provide great upsets once in a while.
Will this Sunday afternoon provide the magic of the FA Cup? – we have to wait and find out!
