Your team v Norwich (FA Cup, 4th Round)
After successfully overcoming Fulham via an aggregate win in a two-legged League Cup semi-final, we find ourselves once again facing a Sunday-Wednesday-Sunday schedule.
The Chelsea match (Anfield) and the Arsenal match (Emirates) will be tiring affairs, so use of the squad and of our substitutes to ensure that as many lads as possible have fresh legs for those games will be key - but we certainly don't want to "throw" the FA Cup, especially as it is a good chance to keep fringe and youth players involved and maintain winning momentum.
The Norwich fixture as at Home, so fielding a "weaker" side with the understanding that Anfield should give us an edge seems a sound strategy, but Reds will have diverse views as to getting that balance right.
For me, I would roughly go for -
........................Kelleher
Bradley.....Quansah....Van Dijk....Beck
.....................Mac Allister
................Clark..........Gravenberch
........Diaz.........Gakpo.......Doak
Núñez will need a break at some point and whilst he could feature from the subs bench here if needed, I personally wouldn't start him - especially given how we will need some of those hamstring-risking sprints for counters as the season goes on.
Mac Allister I would play with the intention of him coming off after an hour or so. Gomez misses out for me as we may need him at right-back against Chelsea or Arsenal, by which time Robertson is hopefully fit for a match at left-back.
Jota to come on for Gakpo or Diaz after an hour.
I want Gravenberch to get game time as he will have less of it once Szoboszlai comes back into the fold, especially if Jones is ready.
Would love to rest Van Dijk but we need a senior in that back line.
Tough decisions everywhere, keen to see what folks come up with.
We are going to get to Wembley this season - can some of our youth lads contribute to the beginning of another journey there?
Your hobbies are rollerblading and you're also a bit of a rat-hound? Steel Wool
Sid knows he's crazy and he likes it. Balinkay
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