Liverpool resumes their quadruple quest as they face Norwich City in the FA Cup fourth-round tie on Sunday after advancing to the 2023-24 EFL Cup final.
Match preview
Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool has been on a successful run, including a 2-0 victory over Arsenal in the previous FA Cup fixture.
They will now face Championship side Norwich City at Anfield. Klopp aims to secure his third knockout success in January alone.
Liverpool’s recent win against Arsenal showcased their defensive prowess and ability to capitalize on their opponents’ mistakes.
They kept a clean sheet and scored two goals in the second half, securing the victory. This win extended their five-match winning streak, which was interrupted by a draw against Fulham in the midweek Premier League game.
However, the draw was enough to send Liverpool through to the EFL Cup final with a 3-2 aggregate score.
In the upcoming fixtures, Liverpool will face Chelsea in the EFL Cup final and potentially Aston Villa in the FA Cup, depending on the outcome of their fourth-round match.
However, Liverpool is focused on one game at a time and not concerned with future hypothetical scenarios.
Liverpool has an exceptional unbeaten record of 24 matches at Anfield since their loss to Real Madrid.
Additionally, they have a strong track record in the FA Cup against lower-division teams, winning 11 of their last 12 matches. However, they have suffered defeats against Championship teams in past FA Cup encounters.
Norwich City, although facing tough competition in the Championship, is hoping to cause an upset against Liverpool. They recently completed a comeback victory against Bristol Rovers in the replayed third-round match.
Despite being 1-0 down, Norwich City managed to turn the game around and secure a win. However, they are aware of the challenge they will face against Liverpool, as they have lost their last 12 FA Cup games against Premier League teams.
The last time Norwich City defeated Liverpool was almost 30 years ago in April 1994. Since then, Liverpool has maintained a winning streak against them, including a 2-1 victory in the fifth round of the 2021-22 FA Cup.
Liverpool FA Cup form: W
Liverpool form (all competitions): W W W W W D
Norwich City FA Cup form: D W
Norwich City form (all competitions) : D D W W W L
Team News
Liverpool’s Trent Alexander-Arnold suffered a knee injury during the previous FA Cup match but might be available for the upcoming game.
Andrew Robertson, who recently returned from a shoulder injury, is expected to feature as well. Dominik Szoboszlai is likely to participate, barring any last-minute complications with his hamstring.
However, Joel Matip, Ben Doak, Stefan Bajcetic, Thiago Alcantara, and Kostas Tsimikas are unavailable due to injuries.
Additionally, Wataru Endo and Mohamed Salah are not part of the squad, with Salah currently undergoing treatment for a muscular injury.
Norwich City does not have any absentees due to international tournaments. However, Danny Batth will be sidelined for approximately 10 to 14 days with a hamstring problem.
Grant Hanley, who missed their previous game due to a back problem, is expected to return for the fourth-round tie. Josh Sargent and Jon Rowe will not be available for the match.
Possible starting lineups
Liverpool: (4-3-3)
Kelleher;
Gomez, Konate, Van Dijk, Robertson;
Jones, Mac Allister, Gravenberch;
Jota, Gakpo, Nunez
Norwich City: (4-2-3-1)
Long;
Stacey, Duffy, Hanley, Giannoulis;
McLean, Nunez;
Sainz, Sara, Hernandez;
Idah
Prediction: Liverpool 3-0 Norwich City
Liverpool has a strong history against Norwich City and has not lost to them in over three decades. With their impressive form and home advantage, Liverpool is expected to secure a comfortable victory.
Norwich City has struggled to keep clean sheets away from home, suggesting that Liverpool will have the upper hand in this fourth-round encounter.
