Manchester United take on Liverpool in the FA Cup this weekend for the 15th time.
The two rivals have previously met 14 times in the competition, with the Reds progressing 10 times compared to Liverpool’s four times. Only Everton and Liverpool (19) have met in more different ties in the competition’s history.
With that, we decided to catch up with Liverpool fan and Empire of the Kop writer Peter Jones to get his perspective ahead of this year’s FA Cup quarter-final encounter at Old Trafford.
What does the FA Cup mean to you?
Peter: “The FA Cup is a competition we always want to win, there’s a banner on the Kop that reads: ‘We Win Cups’. Updating the Champions Wall, a day out at Wembley and another chance to prove why we’re the best and most successful team in the country.”
Liverpool have already won the Carabao Cup and are still in the hunt for three more trophies. We know the media thinks so, but tell us as a fan whether the hunt for silverware this season have extra motivation due to it being Jurgen Klopp’s final season at Anfield?
Peter: “Yes, of course. In many ways, Klopp leaving means that no matter what – the season will end on a high. If we’re out of the race for the other three trophies on the final day of the season, it’ll all be about Jurgen. If we don’t win another trophy, we’re having a parade to celebrate this team and our amazing manager. Having said this though, we just want to see the Premier League above everything else. Jurgen leaving makes it that bit more important that we all get a chance to properly celebrate inside Anfield together. The Europa League completing the set of him having won every possible trophy would be the icing on the cake and winning his final ever game in the FA Cup final would be an unprecedented cherry on top of it all.”
Are you confident ahead of Sunday’s trip to Liverpool?
Peter: “With the international break following, yes. We should be relatively full strength and the end of the international break should see some huge players start to come back into the team. Klopp’s Kids have proven already that they’ve got the talent needed and some will hopefully be rewarded with game time at Old Trafford. Add onto this that we have nearly 10,000 fans there too, it would be a massive win and what a place to do it, with a Wembley semi-final looming afterwards.”
Liverpool have had their share of injuries lately. What sort of team should we expect Klopp to field at Old Trafford?
Peter: “With the Europa League tie looking already won, I’d expect some changes at Anfield against Sparta Prague but there’s no reason why we’re not virtually full strength at Old Trafford. Against Sparta we went full strength in the midst of a hectic schedule and before playing Man City. This game coming before the international break just adds more reason to go all out, not forgetting it’s against United and we always want to win this game a lot more than others!”
What do you think of Manchester United a) the club; b) the team; c) the manager; d) the fans?
Peter: “A) A scary sign of what may come to Anfield, fortunately our legendary manager is stepping down with some foresight and not leaving an aged squad with his mate in charge!
“B) A team led by Bruno Fernandes as captain gets exactly what they deserve. I try not to watch too much of United but that game against City was enough to almost sympathise with you all. Scott McTominay and Jonny Evans look like the only players who care about the club enough to give 100%. Fernandes’ bad attitude is rubbing off on Garnacho and Rashford, far too many players who think they’re better than they are, pointing the fingers at others and not willing to fight for the shirt and the fans.
“C) If it wasn’t for the fact that us, Bayern Munich and Barcelona are looking for a new manager – he’d be out the door. With the best case scenario being that United get the fourth best available manager this summer, who could that be and what’s the point of getting rid? He doesn’t seem to have the personality to lead this group of egos and his footballing brain and talents are being somewhat wasted in Manchester but you seem damned if you keep him and damned if you don’t.
“D) Probably best I’m not fully honest here! You have every reason to expect the best and you’ve certainly not got that. Feels like you’re two wins away from saying the top four is on and two losses away from getting the yellow and green scarves back out. Just like us for many years, praying the good times remain but knowing they’re a long way off.
Favourite FA Cup memory?
Peter: “Steven Gerrard vs. West Ham in 2006. Lucky enough to be there and watch him drag us into extra time and complete another memorable comeback final as a Red.”
All-time Liverpool hero and why?
Peter: “Steven Gerrard again. Luis Suarez is the best, the likes of Alisson, Salah and Van Dijk are impervious but what Stevie did over such a long period in a team that was far from the best in the league – will mean he’ll probably always be the best. Jurgen Klopp is the hero though and even he has surpassed what Gerrard et al have done, in my time as a fan.”
Prediction for Sunday?
Peter: “Always hate doing these but think we’ll be out to prove a point and an early goal could mean the travelling Kop are bouncing inside a nervous Old Trafford. 3-1 would do me very nicely, please!”
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