Arne Slot believes that Liverpool's FA Cup third round tie against Accrington Stanley will "feel like a Champions League final" amid the excitement around the fixture. (More Football News)
The Reds welcome Leagu𓃲e Two side Accrington to Anfield on Saturday for the first meeting between the two sideꦬs in all competitions.
John Doolan'♏s currently sit 19th in the fourth tier, with only Harrogate Town, Mಌorecambe, Tamworth and Dagenham and Redbridge below them in the English football pyramid left in the competition.
Liverpool were last 🗹knocked out of the FA Cup at the third round stage back in 2018-19 against Wolves, and Slot has warned his players not to ♈get caught up in the occasion to avoid an early exit.
"I think every team that plays against us is a special occasion for every team we face, but especially for a lower-𝔉league team, so they will be allಌ up for it," Slot said.
"They've lived towards this game for weওeks,๊ probably.
"If you go to a Champions League final, everybody is hyped up and ready and that is for th🎃em...it is going to feel as if it is a Champions League final, so we have to be aware of that.
"Nine out of 10 times in the first 25 minutes, half hour is the most ♊difficult part of the game, because they will still be very intense.
"It is up to us to be ready for them wanting to play the best game of their lives and that is what we have to do as🍎 well."
Slot was also ⛦able to provide some early team news ahead of the game, with the Liverpool boss expected to heavily rotate his squad following their EFL Cup defeat꧑ to Tottenham.
Despite being forced🧜 off in the first half at the Tottenham Ho♏tspur Stadium, Jarell Quansah is expected to return while Dominik Szoboszlai has recovered from his illness.
Trey Nyoni and Rio Ngumoha, who have impressed for the Reds' academy, could also feature, and there 🍸could be some rare minutes for summer arrival Federico Chiesa.
Since joining from Juventus in August, Chiesa has made just four appearances in all competitions after pဣicking up a muscle injury at the start of his career on Merseyside.
The Italy international has since retu🌱rned from that setback but has yet to feature for the Reds, with Slot saying he must continue to compete with the club's star forward players.
"Every game is a chance for everyone to get some playing time, it's not only for him been difficult because all the things you said, in terms of match fitness, also that he has to compete with Cody Gakpo, Luis Diaz, Diogo Joℱta, Darwin Nunez, Mo Salahꦆ," Slot said.
"Everyone knows thꦛe numbers Salah brings, there are not many reasons to bring him out, and he is also so fit. He was the fittest player that came in pre-season. An꧂d he does everything to keep his match fitness.
"So it is not only about Federico with his limited playing time. He definitely has to dea🧔l with the way he came in. The rest were already training a lot, and we had to bring him in to get match fitness.
"It's a combination of reasons. Let's see how much he can help us, because the second half is♒ mo𒊎re important than the first."
