The Reds play their most important match of the season so far on March 6
The red side of Merseyside face Wolves on March 6 in the FA Cup round of 16. A victory would keep them alive in their most realistic chance to win a title this season, with the Premier League already lost and the Champions League looking even more complicated for Slot’s team because of their side of the draw.
Although Liverpool started the season well, winning their first five Premier League games and taking their first Champions League game against Atleti, things are not going as expected. Million-dollar signings such as Isak and Wirtz have not lived up to expectations and both are injured. The team is sixth in the league table, three points off the Champions League places and 19 points behind the league leaders.
In the Champions League, their first match against Galatasaray seems easier than it actually is. The truth is that the Reds lost 1-0 away to the Turks in a match in which they were unable to create any real chances, and a penalty made them give away the theree points.
Liverpool let the League Cup slip away in the fourth round against Crystal Palace, in which Slot fielded a starting 11 with no regulars and many youngsters players and debutants. Right now, the FA Cup seems to be the only way for Liverpool to win a title and not end a season in which they invested more than £400 million empty-handed.
Liverpool reach the round of 16 after losing midweek to their cup rivals, Wolves. Although this is the worst possible scenario, it is possible that Wolverhampton will rotate their squad heavily and not field a very strong starting eleven, while the Reds have already shown that they are going all out for the cup, fielding their first-choice goalkeeper, Alisson, in the last round. The only rotation may be to start the youngster Rio Ngumoha, which some would consider an improvement, given the poor form of Liverpool’s starting wingers.
A win would see them advance to the quarterfinals, where a favorable draw could still see them face a second division team or a team from the lower reaches of the Premier League. Although in the semifinals it is very possible that they face a tough opponent, as the matches are played at Wembley, there would be no home advantage, which could benefit Slot’s side if they were to be drawn away.
Winning the trophy would make up for what has been a very difficult season for the Merseyside club and give the new signings a bit of breathing room to start again next year with a fresh opportunity. It would also give credit to Liverpool manager Arne Slot, who, as things stand, is very likely to leave the team at the end of the season. In the event of a league debacle, it would also ensure that Liverpool would compete in Europe next season, even if it were the Europa League, a competition they could miss out on if they finish seventh.