By Graham Ruthven
Is the Quadruple on?
Prime of the Premier League. Via to the Champions League final 16 after ending high of the 32-team league part. Via to the Carabao Cup last. A win over Plymouth Argyle within the FA Cup this weekend would add to the rising sense Liverpool may win the Quadruple this season.
By each measure, Liverpool are the strongest group in England proper now, making them agency favourites to brush apart their struggling Championship opponents on Sunday afternoon.
On the face of it, this could possibly be a mismatch. Plymouth are at present marooned on the foot of the Championship desk and are on their second supervisor of the season after Miron Muslić changed Wayne Rooney. Argyle haven’t had their issues to hunt.
Nonetheless, the Devon outfit are contemporary from a 2-1 win over West Brom and a really respectable 2-2 draw away to Sunderland which recommend Plymouth are turning a nook below their new supervisor.
A win over the Premier League table-toppers is likely to be past The Pilgrims, however Sunday’s David v Goliath conflict may epitomise the ‘Magic of the Cup.’
Key gamers
Ryan Hardie bagged a brace in opposition to West Brom on Saturday and could possibly be in line to start out in opposition to Liverpool. Mustapha Bundu may drop out of the group to make means for the Scottish striker.
After the departure of star participant Morgan Whittaker to Middlesbrough within the switch window, Plymouth are missing an attacking dimension. Whittaker’s gorgeous strike in opposition to Brentford put Argyle into the FA Cup fourth spherical within the first place.
January signing and former Rangers defender Nikola Katić made his Argyle debut in opposition to the Baggies and can possible begin within the centre of a again three
Arne Slot is predicted to rotate his squad for the journey to Devon this weekend. This is able to have been possible anyway, however the exerts of Thursday’s Carabao Cup semi-final win over Tottenham Hotspur make it much more possible.
Jarell Quansah, Harvey Elliott, Wataru Endo and Federico Chiesa may all be in line for a begin at House Park. Even nonetheless, Liverpool ought to have the power in depth to make the fifth spherical.
Group information
Brendan Galloway, Kornél Szűcs and Joe Edwards are all anticipated to be sidelined via damage for Plymouth as they welcome the eight-times FA Cup winners to House Park.
Nigerian ahead Muhamed Tijani was again on the bench for the draw away to Sunderland after lacking plenty of months of motion with a hamstring damage. He may function in opposition to Liverpool on Sunday.
Trent Alexander-Arnold missed Thursday’s Carabao Cup win over Spurs and could possibly be unavailable for this weekend’s FA Cup fourth spherical tie. This may hand one other first group alternative to Conor Bradley.
Darwin Núñez began forward of Diogo Jota within the win over Tottenham on Thursday and so the Portuguese ahead could possibly be rotated into the beginning lineup.
Prediction
Except the Magic of the Cup springs a shock, this ought to be a routine win for a rotated Liverpool squad: 3-0 to the away facet.
(Cowl picture from IMAGO)
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