Liverpool’s FA Cup third round clash with Newport County or Plymouth Argyle has been scheduled to take place on January 8.
The Reds will take on one of the League Two sides at Anfield as they begin their FA Cup campaign, in what proves to be a busy start to 2017.
Due to broadcasting demands, their home tie has been scheduled for January 8, and will kick off at 1.30pm (GMT), live on BT Sport 2.
This is just three days before Jurgen Klopp‘s side take on Southampton in the first leg of their League Cup semi-final, taking place at St Mary’s Stadium on January 11, with a 7.45pm kickoff (GMT).
Liverpool also play Sunderland, Manchester United, Swansea City and Chelsea in the Premier League next month, as well as welcoming the Saints to Anfield for their second leg on January 25.
Klopp squad is already hampered with injuries to Philippe Coutinho, Daniel Sturridge and Danny Ings, and at least one of Sadio Mane and Joel Matip are set to depart for the Africa Cup of Nations.
This presents a quandary for the German, who will be forced to contend a hugely demanding, congested schedule.
It is likely, therefore, that either Newport or Argyle, who play their second-round replay at Rodney Parade on December 21, will take on a heavily rotated Reds side.
Klopp utilised the likes of Kevin Stewart, Sheyi Ojo, Brad Smith, Jon Flanagan, Cameron Brannagan, Connor Randall, Joao Carlos Teixeira, Pedro Chirivella, Tiago Ilori, Jerome Sinclair, Joe Maguire and Ryan Kent in the FA Cup last season, and could do similar in 2017.
Teixeira, Sinclair and Smith all left the club in the summer, while Flanagan and Kent both went on loan and Ojo, Brannagan, Randall, Ilori, Maguire and Chirivella are yet to feature in 2016/17.
But some of the latter group should come back into contention in the FA Cup, along with squad players Simon Mignolet, Ragnar Klavan, Lucas Leiva, Alberto Moreno and Marko Grujic.
Ojo and Joe Gomez are both returning from long-term injury, and January 8 could present a sensible point for the young duo to make their first-team comeback.
However, Klopp will be desperate to ensure victory, with Liverpool not competing in Europe this season, and seeking success on three fronts.
LIVERPOOL FIXTURES, JANUARY 2017
- Sunderland (A) – Premier League – January 2
- Newport/Plymouth (H) – FA Cup 3rd Round – January 8
- Southampton (A) – League Cup Semi, 1st Leg – January 11
- Man United (A) – Premier League – January 15
- Swansea City (H) – Premier League – January 21
- Southampton (H) – League Cup Semi, 2nd Leg – January 25
- Chelsea (H) – Premier League – January 31
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