Two-time title chasers Liverpool will not underestimate Accrington Stanley in the FA Cup on Saturday, according to Arne Slot.
Liverpool head coach Arne Slot is ready for a boosted Accrington Stanley when the teams meet in the FA Cup third round at Anfield on Saturday.
Slott suffered only his second defeat as Reds manager in his last game for the club when they were beaten 1-0 at Tottenham Hotspur in the first leg of the League Cup semi-final.
FA Cup opponents Stanley are ranked 19th in the fourth tier of English football, while Slott’s Liverpool are top of the Premier League and Champions League.
“Every team against us is a special opportunity for every team, especially for a lower league team, so everyone will be ready. They’ve probably been living this game for weeks … so we have to get the best out of ourselves,” Slott told reporters on Friday.
“If we go to the final of the Champions League, everyone is fired up and that’s tomorrow for them, it will feel like the final of the Champions League and we have to be aware of that.
“The first half hour is the most difficult, they will be very intense and we must be ready for them to play the best matches of their lives. That’s what we have to do as well.”
Liverpool have been boosted by the return to training of midfielder Dominik Szoboszlai after recovering from illness. The 24-year-old Hungarian captain missed their 2-2 home draw against rivals Manchester United and the defeat at Tottenham.
Center back Jarell Quansah, 21, is also available for selection.
“Every game is an opportunity for them to have a chance to play, and so is this one,” Slott said.
“Dom trained with the under-21s yesterday. Jarell, as I said, was a bit sick last week, that’s why I had to take him out (against Tottenham), but I expect him to be available tomorrow.”
Slot continued his defense of vice-captain Trent Alexander-Arnold, who was criticized by pundits for his performance against United.
The 26-year-old England right-back, linked with a move to Spanish giants Real Madrid, played much better against Tottenham on Wednesday after coming on as a second-half substitute.
“Trent had one tough game for us and maybe a few good to good ones. “He mostly had great games when he played for us this season,” said the Dutchman.
“I know there’s a lot of focus on him at the moment, but I’d also like to highlight the focus on how well he did when he came on in the last half hour (Tottenham) and how our fans reacted to him, that’s what got me even more joy during that game.”
Who will lift this at the end of the season? 🏆#EmiratesFACup pic.twitter.com/5XRitRVyBX
— Emirates FA Cup (@EmiratesFACup) January 9, 2025
Stanley, who lives in Lancashire, is perhaps best known among English football fans for a Milk Marketing Board television advert in the 1980s that gently poked fun at the team’s obscurity.
“I know about the milk ad,” Slot said when asked what he knew about the link between Liverpool and Stanley.
“Immediately after the game (was drawn) there was a video of a player who was so happy to be playing at Anfield. So I know such things.
“I know that people from this area also play for that club. There’s actually a lot that I already know and, of course, I know a lot about the team.”
