Brendan Rodgers makes three changes to his Liverpool starting line-up from the team that beat Fulham in mid-week for Sunday afternoon’s FA Cup fifth round tie at Arsenal.
The winner of today’s game is rewarded with a place in the sixth round of the competition — the final eight. A draw would send the game to a replay at Anfield.
Brad Jones comes in for a rare appearance in Liverpool’s goal, whilst Daniel Agger replaces Kolo Toure alongside Martin Skrtel in central defence after recovering from injury.
Joe Allen replaces Jordan Henderson in midfield. Henderson is given a much deserved rest, and is named among the substitutes. Henderson underwent minor surgery on his wrist this week.
Youngster João Carlos Teixeira, who was a second-half substitute at Craven Cottage in mid-week is again named on the bench.
Liverpool: Jones, Flanagan, Skrtel, Agger, Cissokho, Gerrard, Allen, Coutinho, Suarez, Sterling, Sturridge.
Substitutes: Mignolet, Toure, Moses, Henderson, Kelly, Aspas, Teixeira.
Arsenal: Fabianski, Jenkinson, Koscielny, Mertesacker, Monreal, Flamini, Arteta, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Ozil, Podolski, Sanogo.
Substitutes: Viviano, Sagna, Gibbs, Wilshere, Cazorla, Gnabry, Giroud.
The weather in North London is clear and around 8°C.
Arsenal will be hoping there’s not a repeat of last week’s meeting between the two sides when Liverpool ran out 5-1 winners at Anfield in the Premier League.
The Gunners go into the game off the back of that result, and a mid-week goalless draw at home to Manchester Utd. They also have one eye on their Champions League tie with Bayern Munich on Wednesday night.
The last time Liverpool won the FA Cup was in 2006 when they beat West Ham in the final on penalties. A more recent FA Cup Final appearance ended in defeat to Chelsea in 2012.
Arsenal v Liverpool gets underway at 4pm and is live on BT Sport 1 in the UK. Match highlights are on ITV 1 from 10.40pm.
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