Liverpool will need to overcome a recently rejuvenated Cardiff City side if they want to reach the FA Cup fifth round, as the two sides meet at Anfield on Sunday. This is the first of three games in the competition today, with Nottingham Forest facing an intriguing test against Leicester City and, later, Bournemouth hosting Boreham Wood.
The Reds are of course heavy favourites, but will be mindful of surprises suffered by top-flight sides already this weekend, after Manchester United were knocked out on penalties by Middlesbrough and both West Ham and Chelsea faced upsets before turning matters around. Liverpool and Cardiff met in the final of the League Cup final back in 2012; in this competition the Reds reached the FA Cup final in the same year - losing to Chelsea - while the Bluebirds were beaten 2008 finalists.
Jurgen Klopp’s team are already through to one domestic cup final later this month and they’ll hope to continue their chances of reaching another here - potentially with new signing Luis Diaz making his debut at some stage. Follow all the FA Cup fourth-round updates below, PLUS the fifth-round draw:
In January 1930, Cardiff were 2-1 winners at Anfield in the third round, with this weekend’s clash just the third between the teams in the competition.
Only against Millwall have Liverpool had a longer wait to play an opponent again in the FA Cup – 93 years, from 1896 to 1989.
FA Cup fourth round McGuinness on playing at Anfield
Cardiff City defender Mark McGuinness spoke about today’s FA Cup tie and how excited his teammates are to come to Anfield to face Liverpool.
We’re all buzzing to go up and play at Anfield. Both as an experience of playing there and going up against a top side. It’s a big bonus that we’re going up there, and of course we’re all looking forward it.
“They have a lot of strength and depth in their squad, and we know that. We’re looking forward to seeing what the level is like.
“It’s going to be a big occasion, but at the end of the day it’s a football match, and we can’t lose sight of that. It’s nice to go out there and play against a top side, as I said, but it’s still another game. The FA Cup is a competition that we’d like to do well in.
“The fans have been amazing this season. We haven’t had the best of starts to the campaign, and we’re halfway through now, but the support both home and away had been fantastic throughout, and they’ll be even better in Liverpool if we give them something to cheer about.
"We’re not going out there on Sunday to see how we get on. We want to give them a game.”
Cardiff have won the FA Cup once before, at the end of the 1926-27 season. They beat Arsenal 1-0 in the final at Wembley to become the first team to take the trophy out of England.
The Welsh side have also been runners-up on two occasions, firstly in 1925 when they lost the final 1-0 to Sheffield United, and the next coming 83 years later in 2008, when they were beaten by Portsmouth by the same scoreline.
FA Cup fourth round: Previous meetings between Liverpool and Cardiff
Liverpool and Cardiff have clashed competitively on 34 previous occasions, though not in the FA Cup since a third-round showdown back in 1930, when the visitors won 2-1 at Anfield.
Their last meeting was in 2018-19 when Jürgen Klopp’s men did the double over Cardiff in the Premier League.
Ten years ago this month, Liverpool and Cardiff faced off at Wembley in a League Cup final that had to be settled on penalties. The match ended in a dramatic 2-2 with Liverpool eventually winning the shootout 3-2.
FA Cup fourth round: Jurgen Klopp believes Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane’s Africa Cup of Nations exploits will help Liverpool
The pair go head-to-head in the tournament final in Cameroon just hours after their colleagues host Cardiff in the FA Cup fourth round at Anfield.
Both have made pivotal contributions in helping their nations get to the showpiece with Mane scoring three goals and providing two assists, with Salah netting twice with one assist.
FA Cup fourth round: Morison on travelling to Anfield
Cardiff City boss Steve Morison faces the biggest match of his managerial career so far when his team comes up against Liverpool today but he’s looking forward to the challenge. He said:
It’s fantastic, I made one of my dreams come true going there as a player. It will be a completely different environment for me.
“They know what’s coming. You need to enjoy it. You can’t leave with regrets. We’ll see what happens, but we’ve got some really, really talented players.
“It will be amazing. It’s going to be a great day for everyone involved. To be manager of this football club right now, it’ll be a very proud moment. I’m sure the Cardiff City fans will enjoy it.”
The big teams news coming out of Liverpool is that Harvey Elliott is named on the bench for the first time since September after recovering from a bad leg injury.
New signing Luis Diaz is also included in the squad and could play a part today.
FA Cup fourth round: Liverpool vs Cardiff team changes
Jurgen Klopp makes fives changes to the starting XI that face Crystal Palace last time out in the Premier League. Caoimhin Kelleher replaces Alisson Becker in goal with Ibrahima Konate and Kostas Tsimikas replacing Joel Matip and Andy Robertson in defence. Naby Keita starts alongside Jordan Henderson and Curtis Jones in midfield with Takumi Minamino replacing Alex Oxlade-Chamberlin up top.
Steve Morison sweeps in the changes from Cardiff’s last Championship match against Barsnley. Only Perry Ng, Mark McGuinness and Will Vaulks keep their places in the starting XI.
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