Scousers are back at Burnley

Billy Morris and Les Shannon scored the goals in a 2-0 5th round win and this was three out of three for Burnley having previously won 1-0 in the 1914 final (Bert Freeman) and 1-0 in the 1947 semi-final replay (Ray Harrison) after a previous 0-0 draw.

Since then we have gone out of this competition to them in 1963, 1969, 1973, 1979, 1995 and 1997. All six defeats have come at Anfield, three of them after draws on the Turf.

There was a time when we were a better side than Liverpool, then again there was a time not that long ago when Liverpool dominated English football under the management of the likes of Bill Shankly and Bob Paisley.

Life has been somewhat more difficult for them in recent years and they haven’t lifted the league title since 1990. They have finished second once since the Premiership was formed (in 2001/02 season) although have never finished below eighth.

They are currently fifth in the table although they are already eighteen points behind leaders Chelsea and certainly have no hope of topping the league come May.

There have been changes at Anfield this season, not in the board room when half the far east were looking to take over, but in the manager’s office where Rafael Benitez has replaced the tedious Gerard Houllier.

Benitez has made numerous changes to the playing staff with Josemi, Xabi Alonso, Javier Luis Garcia, Antonio Nunez and Mauricio Pellegrino all joining him from Spain. Out have gone Markus Babbel, Danny Murphy and more significantly Michael Owen.

They currently have a number of their players out on loan. Five of them are out of the country whilst El-Hadji Diouf is within spitting distance at Bolton.

Results have been mixed but their home form has been good with only two defeats against Birmingham and more recently against Chelsea when they were well and truly Mike Rileyed.

They won their most recent match at Norwich 2-1 as we were heading down to Stoke. Garcia and John Arne Riise got the goals.

Click HERE to see all Liverpool’s results this season.

It is of no use trying to predict the Liverpool side or even who will be in Benitez’ squad. Although their reserve game against Blackburn this week was postponed it is thought significant that Darren Potter, John Welsh, Mike Smyth, Zak Whitbread and David Raven were all left out. They could well all be in the side tonight.

Certainly Benitez has kept his first team away from the Carling Cup but they have reached the semi-final and it is expected that he will keep his top players for that semi-final next week against Watford.

Things aren’t much simpler with the Clarets either. Michael Duff and Graham Branch remain doubtful after picking up knocks against Stoke. It will be a sad day for Branchy if he doesn’t make it, this is his first chance to play against the team he supports.

Micah Hyde, currently in such good form is out suspended but Richard Chaplow is fit (and not currently in talks with West Brom) whilst James O’Connor has been given the all clear to play by BRWBA.

I suspect Duff might not make it and if so the Burnley team could look like,

Brian Jensen, Frank Sinclair, Gary Cahill, John McGreal, Mo Camara, Lee Roche, Richard Chaplow, Tony Grant, James O’Connor, Graham Branch, Ian Moore. Subs from: Danny Coyne, Paul Scott, Amadou Sanokho, Joel Pilkington, Matt O’Neill, Neal Trotman.

The last time Liverpool were at Burnley for a cup tie was ten years ago when we were drawn against them in round four of the FA Cup. It was a race against time to get the game on after a snowfall during the week but we did get it fit and played well in a game that ended 0-0.

We lost the replay at Anfield 1-0 to a John Barnes game on a night when Jimmy Mullen came close to being homeless. Neil Ruddock came to his rescue, bringing down Liam Robinson and getting sent off.

Ted McMinn was also sent off in the replay, well after it, for remarks made to the referee.

The teams for the first match at Turf Moor were,

Burnley: Wayne Russell, Gary Parkinson, David Eyres, Steve Davis, Mark Winstanley, Adrian Randall, Alan Harper, Jamie Hoyland, John Mullin, Liam Robinson (Ted McMinn), Andy Saville.

Liverpool: David James, Rob Jones, Dominic Matteo, John Scales, Phil Babb, Neil Ruddock, Steve McManaman, Jamie Redknapp, Ian Rush, John Barnes, Robbie Fowler.

For the replay,

Liverpool: Stig Inge Bjornebye replaced Dominic Matteo and Michael Thomas played instead of Jamie Redknapp. Mark Walters was the only substitute used coming on for Bjornebye.

Burnley: Marlon Beresford replaced Wayne Russell and Gerry Harrison came in for Andy Saville. Nathan Peel came on as a substitute for Jamie Hoyland and Ted McMinn for Gerry Harrison.

Attendances:

Turf Moor 20,551
Anfield: 32,109

Previous 20 Seasons
Season	Div	Ven	Result	Att	Scorers
1994/95	LC	a	0-2	23,359	.
.	.	h	1-4	19,032	Robinson
.	FAC	h	0-0	20,551	.
.	.	a	0-1	32,109	.
1996/97	FAC	a	0-1	33,252	.

Click HERE to all our results against Liverpool going back to a 3-3 draw at Turf Moor in 1894.