In the FA Cup third round, Liverpool will face League Two's Accrington Stanley at Anfield, marking their first encounter since the reformation of Accrington in 1968. This game represents a significant occasion for Accrington, who will be hoping to cause an upset, though Liverpool are clear favorites.
The Reds, who won the FA Cup in 2022, have been dominant in this competition historically but have faced recent heartbreak, losing to Manchester United in last season's quarter-finals.
Liverpool’s manager, Arne Slot, has led the team to a strong start this season, and while they suffered a setback in the EFL Cup semi-final against Tottenham, they remain a top contender in the Premier League. The Reds' solid record in the FA Cup, having reached the fourth round consistently, suggests they are expected to progress past Accrington, a team that has never lost a third-round tie but has struggled in previous encounters with Premier League sides.
Accrington, currently performing better than last season, enters the match with a sense of optimism, having won both of their 2025 games so far. Their boss, John Doolan, a former Liverpool academy coach, will be hoping his team can defy expectations, though their previous encounters with top-flight teams have ended in defeat.
Given the disparity in league standings, Liverpool are the overwhelming favorites, but Accrington will be eager to make the most of their historic opportunity.
INJURIES & SUSPENSIONS
Arne Slot is expected to leave most of the first-team squad out of action for this match. While a few fringe players might be included, the spotlight will likely shift to Liverpool's younger talents. Promising prospects such as James McConnell, Tyler Morton, Trey Nyoni, and Jayden Danns are anticipated to feature, especially given their contributions during Liverpool's EFL Cup campaign so far.
Defensively, Joe Gomez remains sidelined with a hamstring injury, and Jarell Quansah is also unavailable after limping off during the midweek clash against Spurs. However, first-team players like Darwin Núñez, Harvey Elliott, Federico Chiesa, and goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher—none of whom started the match in North London—could make an appearance here.
Accrington, on the other hand, will travel to Merseyside without Jay Rich-Baghuelou and Seb Quirk. There’s also uncertainty over Jake Batty and Dara Costelloe's availability due to fitness concerns. Goalkeeper Billy Crellin is expected to be heavily tested in this David-vs-Goliath encounter. Everton fans will have a vested interest in the performance of Crellin, who is on loan from their club, hoping he delivers a standout display to help orchestrate a monumental FA Cup upset.
For Accrington, Tyler Walton will be the player to watch. With goals in both of their FA Cup ties so far, he’s on the brink of making history as the first Accrington player to score in the opening three rounds of the competition in a single season.
POSSIBLE LINE-UPS
Liverpool possible starting lineup:
Kelleher; Bradley, Endo, Konate, Morton; McConnell, Nyoni, Elliott; Chiesa, Danns, Nunez
Accrington Stanley possible starting lineup:
Crellin; Love, Rawson, Awe, B Woods; Whalley, Martin, Khumbeni, Hunter, J Woods; Walton
EXPERT PREDICTION
Liverpool 4-0 Accrington Stanley
While Slot is set to rotate his Liverpool side heavily, some international talent should still be on display, and they will have far too much class for the League Two outfit.
Accrington will try to keep the score down, but Liverpool have been free scoring in the Premier League and Champions League, so the outcome may look ugly at full time.
