Roy Hodgson is a fighter on the ropes.
The beleaguered Liverpool boss, just days removed from an embarrassing 3-1 league defeat at Ewood Park against Blackburn, has used up eight of his nine lives and has one more chance most likely to save his job.
Could the contrast be any greater?
While Liverpool continues to stutter in league play with a group of players now known around the Kop as ‘Rafa’s Rejects,’ the Red Devils are chasing history and seeking to emulate the unbeaten season that Arsenal’s Invincibles recorded back in 2003-04.
More than halfway through the Premier League season, United continues to defy its critics by having gone twenty matches without a single defeat, while the Anfield outfit lags 19 points behind in 12th place. This is not to say that United has achieved anything yet, nor has it been convincing – especially on the road where late collapses have led to a very disappointing seven draws.
But ask Roy Hodgson if he would rather be where he is now or sitting in first place while pundits and fans complain about draws.
The vultures are circling at Anfield and no votes of confidence from NESV (New England Sports Ventures which owns the Boston Red Sox and recently purchased Liverpool) will make them scatter.
The only thing that will, temporarily at least, is a huge win over their historic rivals at the Theatre of Dreams. It’s a tall order, but people have written off Hodgson numerous times throughout his managerial history only to eat crow later.
Historically speaking though, it doesn’t look great for the Reds, especially playing at United’s home ground. In their last 10 FA Cup meetings, Liverpool has only been on the winning side once, however that match was their last one back in the 2006 semifinals.
Overall, Manchester United has won six of the last seven in all competitions against Liverpool at home, so betting on a Liverpool victory might be as smart as picking the Seahawks to win this year’s Super Bowl. Sure, it could happen, but …
The saving grace for Hodgson? No matter how much it seems that his squad has quit on him, no player wearing the Liverpool badge on his chest Sunday doesn’t understand the significance of playing against Manchester United – the same club which shares a record 18 league titles in the history of English football. It’s a rivalry steeped in tradition and one that no player wants to lose.
However, that knife cuts both ways. United boss Sir Alex Ferguson isn’t about to let his club’s lofty position in the Premier League table dull the team’s interest in the FA Cup – not this year, at least.
Last season, the Red Devils were unceremoniously dumped out by Leeds United, missing an opportunity to claim yet another trophy to add to the Scotsman’s impressive tally. No, this year United will be taking the competition more seriously, and many of the club’s big stars who rested up against Stoke midweek will be seeing action on Sunday, including Rio Ferdinand and Edwin van der Sar.
With Wayne Rooney apparently still on the mend, Mexican sensation Javier ‘Chicharito’ Hernandez will likely return to the lineup, and that won’t help Liverpool’s cause, either. In his first season in the Premier League, the ‘Little Pea’ has already racked up an impressive nine goals, so Reds defenders Martin Skrtel and Sotirios Kyrgiakos (Jamie Carragher is out injured) will have their hands full.
But it’s not complete doom and gloom for the Reds with Fernando Torres and Steven Gerrard in the squad. Sure, the two superstars have been in a funk this season (mostly due to nagging injuries), but it might just take a game of this magnitude for them to shake it off.
Spanish world champion Torres has scored three goals in his last four matches against United, while Steven Gerrard tallied two himself during their last meeting in the league back in September – a 3-2 loss thanks to Dimitar Berbatov’s hat trick.
But something has to give, unless of course a draw sends both clubs back to Anfield for a replay.
The smart money must be on Manchester United to ride its strong form to another victory, but that’s exactly what makes the FA Cup so much fun to watch. It’s a competition with a rich tradition of upsets and shockers, so anything is possible.
For Hodgson’s sake, he’ll be hoping this is the game that wakes up his players and helps them to achieve the sense of urgency they’ll need to rescue what’s been a disastrous start to his Anfield career. If they don’t , that final knockout punch may just be the one that puts him down on the canvas for the ten count.
Robert Burns is the senior editor for FoxSoccer.com.
