[1]Lady luck is a terrible mistress at the best of times. She has happily deserted teams at crucial junctures, added potential millions to Nikita Jelavic, Papiss Cisse, Demba Ba’s and Grant Holt’s Maximum Transfer Price while mockingly reduced Andy Carroll and Torres to pathetic caricatures of their multi-millions selves, and strived hard to make sure Tottenham and Chelsea get a sniff at the Champions League spots before promptly being overtaken by Newcastle.
The FA Cup, however has traditionally been a competition where fortune does indeed favour the brave. Although there has been talk of a general disinterest and lack of focus from teams and viewers alike, try telling that to Chelsea and Liverpool, who face off against Tottenham and Everton respectively. All four teams, for differing reasons, will treat their matches as a do or die clash. Chelsea need a trophy desperately as they wallow outside the Top 4 in the Premier League. Tottenham find themselves in a similar situation, with their season having taken an astonishing U-turn since the 2-5 defeat to Arsenal in February.
Liverpool might now be the side who are content with a Carling Cup, but their supporters roars of rage will be audible all across Merseyside if they slip up at Wembley. Curiously, it would be symbolic of their utter fall from grace if their Merseyside neighbours, who are above them in the League do dump them out. Liverpool defeated Blackburn with a last gasp goal from 35 million man Andy Carroll in the League, but are without Pepe Reina and Doni. Brad Jones steps in to replace the absent keepers. The in-form Everton would fancy their chances.
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[1] http://archive.asianage.com/14parajpgcropdisplayjpg-690