15 February 2008

LFC vs Barnsley 16 Feb 2008 11pm

Liverpool centre-back Martin Skrtel (calf) is out and Sami Hyypia may play, while Fabio Aurelio and Alvaro Arbeloa are available after injury.
Fernando Torres (hamstring) is fit but is set to be rested ahead of the Champions League tie at Inter Milan.
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Barnsley's emergency loan signing Luke Steele will go straight into the side to replace the injurer Heinz Muller and ineligible Tony Warner.
Lewin Nyatanga and Jon Macken are out as they are cup-tied.
Liverpool (from): Reina, Finnan, Carragher, Hyypia, Riise, Aurelio, Arbeloa, Pennant, Mascherano, Gerrard, Babel, Benayoun, Kewell, Lucas, Torres, Crouch, Kuyt, San Jose, Itandje.

Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez, whose team play Inter Milan on Tuesday:" I need to consider both games.
"But I know it's important to progress in the FA Cup, so I will try to use a strong team.
"For Inter Fernando Torres will be OK, we will have to check before Barnsley."

Barnsley manager Simon Davey:"This will be the pinnacle of some of the players' careers so far and they have to make sure they take the chance.
"I will be proud to lead the team out at Anfield but we are going there to try to win the game.
"We don't want the players to freeze and this opportunity to pass us by."

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BIG-MATCH FACTS
The FA Cup provides Liverpool with their only realistic chance of a domestic honour this season.
Barnsley are aiming to pull off their biggest shock in the FA Cup since dismissing Manchester United at this fifth round stage in 1998, but the Tykes were a Premier League outfit at the time.
Liverpool are one of a mere six surviving Premier League clubs in the last 16, and could be one of four to fall to lower ranked opposition at this stage.
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The League ladder
Liverpool are 29 places higher than Barnsley in the league standings.
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LIVERPOOL
Current form
Lost one of the last 12 in league and cup.
Not lost in six at Anfield since Manchester United's 0-1 victory in the Premier League on 16 December.
Recent FA Cup performance
Scored five goals in each of their last two outings, but were taken to a replay by League One Luton in the third round, and sensationally trailed twice at Anfield to non-league minnows Havant and Waterlooville (123 places beneath them), in the last round.
Won the cup seven times, but only once in six years.
The Manager
Liverpool's victory on penalties over West Ham two years ago won for Rafa Benitez the only domestic Cup of his managerial career.
FA Cup fact
Last humiliated by Championship opposition in the third round on 18 January 2005, when a Djimi Traore own goal put Burnley through at Turf Moor, and manager Benitez was roundly criticised for fielding an under strength side in his first FA Cup tie in charge.

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BARNSLEY
Current form
Won four and lost four of the last eight in all competitions.
Recent FA Cup performance
On their best run since reaching the quarter-finals as a Premier League club in 1999.
FA Cup fact
Not knocked out a top-flight side when a lower ranked club themselves since Southampton in the fifth round in 1985, winning 1-2 at the Dell with goals from Steve Agnew and Gordon Owen (penalty). They then met Liverpool in the last eight.
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HEAD to HEAD
All competitions
Not met since both were Premier League clubs in 1997-98. There was a share of the spoils with both league fixtures being won by the club playing away from home.
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FA Cup
Liverpool have won all four previous ties against the south Yorkshire club, the most recent being 0-4 away in the quarter-finals in 1985.

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