Liverpool will try and keep their Premier League title hopes alive on Tuesday evening when they go to Aston Villa. Jurgen Klopp will need to decide whether he needs to freshen up his side after the disappointing draw with Tottenham but you have to trust the manager on this one.
Maybe Kostas Tsimikas will give Andy Robertson a rest? He came on (against Spurs) and did pretty well, to be fair. Robbo might need resting for the weekend. Joe Gomez might also come in - he did really well at Newcastle - and no doubt Joel Matip will come in alongside Virgil van Dijk.
But Luis Diaz has got to play. Maybe Mohamed Salah will be given a rest and he’ll play Sadio Mane and Diogo Jota? There’s so many good options to choose from.
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Gerrard has role to play in title destiny
Liverpool will face their former captain Steven Gerrard at Villa Park and if I was Gerrard I’d lie down for the Reds. He won’t of course, he’s very professional and will want the win for his own side. But Gerrard can still help Liverpool in another way. When Villa face Manchester City on the final day of the season he needs to give the best team talk of his life and ensure that his players give everything that they’ve got to try and beat them!
I can’t see it happening because City are so good in the league, but that’s all they can win this year. They’re so strong and have so many options, like ourselves.
FA Cup great opportunity to grow deserved medal haul
Liverpool will face Chelsea in the FA Cup final on Saturday and besides anything else it’s just nice to get there again after so many years of falling short. When I was growing up it was THE competition. Sometimes it was a bigger occasion than winning the league. But we’re there now and we’re there on merit. Let’s go and enjoy the day and hope we can win it.
Its importance can’t be underestimated. We’re looking to get to a landmark of 50 major trophies. The first English club to do it. For me that’s a massive incentive. The League Cup final was a very tight affair against Chelsea and I don’t expect this one to be any different.
Thomas Tuchel’s side have lost a bit of form of late but they have lots of quality players and the FA Cup final is different. It’s a one-off. It’s the only trophy they can win this season so they’re going to give it everything. They’re a great team but if we play well, no question, we will win. We need four or five of our players to put in eight out of ten performances and maybe one nine.
No more important match than the next one
Dropping points against Spurs has made winning the Premier League this season look a lot harder for Liverpool, but that does not mean that Jurgen Klopp should start to prioritise other competitions. His single priority must be Aston Villa on Tuesday night. And after that, the next morning, it’s the FA Cup final and getting a cup-winning medal.
I want these players to get what they deserve this year and at least win a treble. And I really want them to receive an FA Cup winners medal because it’s a big medal. I’m lucky enough to have got one in my career. It’s still a great competition. Let’s get that and then look forward to hopefully getting a Champions League one as well. This team deserves so much for what they’ve given us this season.
