Sheffield United v Liverpool
(first leg)
It's a pretty safe bet that the bulk of those associated with Liverpool Football Club would have preferred either Manchester United or Blackburn Rovers in this semi-final rather than Sheffield United. A case of 'better the devil you know' and a far more preferable opponent for a team that has only just experienced victory after ten previously unsuccessful attempts.
Okay, so Liverpool broke their duck to dispose of Manchester City in the FA Cup at the weekend, thanks to a Danny Murphy penalty, but it's a close call which of the two sides at Maine Road were the limper.
The noises coming out of Anfield, in the wake of progress to the next round of the FA Cup, would have us all believing that victory over old boy Kevin Keegan is just the kind of catalyst Liverpool need to kick-start their season. Not a bit of it, what the Liverpool team needs is a bit of what they can expect from Sheffield United at Bramall Lane, 'in-yer-face' attitude and a bit of the passion that was sadly lacking in red shirts at Maine Road.
Make no mistake about it, the Blades are up for this one as they stand on the verge of the club's first major final for more than 60 years. Neil Warnock has already gone on record, a few weeks ago, stating that he could see a First Division club winning the Worthington Cup and the way Liverpool have been playing in the last couple of months, as they squandered a substantial lead at the top of the Premiership, you wouldn't bet against United reaching Cardiff.
I saw Warnock's men win at Walsall recently and though it is no real yardstick by which to measure their chances against Liverpool, they have got some good young players, like the highly rated Michael Brown and Michael Tonge (who Gerard Houllier is rumoured to be interested in), and some great experience in the huge frame of Wayne Allison and the not so huge frame of Carl Asaba. Indeed the prospect of Asaba and 'The Chief' hurling themselves against Henchoz and Hyypia may be worth the admission money alone.
Liverpool are set to be without hamstring victim Michael Owen, for the third consecutive match, although Emile Heskey (a transfer target for Liverpool, if you believe all you read in the papers) should be fit again after his recent ankle problem. Dietmar Hamann is still having treatment on his shin injury but should be available.
Meanwhile Sheffield United have been boosted by the news that left back Wayne Quinn has arrived from Newcastle, on a month's loan, with Sir Bobby Robson's blessing to play against Liverpool. Quinn said: "It's not happened for me at Newcastle, I accept that. As for my first game for United I could not have asked for anything bigger."
A lot rests on this game which, when all said and done, is but the first leg. But if Liverpool are not up for the game, collectively and individually, they could find themselves facing a deficit which may be difficult to turn around at Anfield and there is no doubt that the Blades have the fire power to score at least a couple of times. In addition to that United have conceded just nine goals in their 12 home league games, to date.
So Baros, Smicer, Heskey and co, or whoever Gerard Houllier asks to take the attack to United, are you up for the cup?
On the eve of the Worthington Cup showdown, Liverpool have been rocked by the news that Steven Gerrard has been charged by the FA, after all, with violent conduct for the over-the-top challenge on Gary Naysmith in the Merseyside derby, even though the England midfielder made a public apology to the Everton man.
Gerrard wasn't even booked by referee Graham Poll, but admitted himself that the tackle in the 0-0 draw at Anfield 'looked bad'. He will be able to appeal against the charge, but is likely to face a three-match ban and a fine if found guilty.
Also this week, there have been suggestions that Gerard Houllier could be set for a move 'upstairs' - with the likes of Martin O'Neill and David O'Leary rumoured to be in line for the Anfield hot seat - but the Frenchman has immediately poured cold water on the idea and said this morning that he would 'die before they move me upstairs'.
Houllier said: "I have never felt better than I do at the moment, even better than when I was taken ill. I enjoy my job and there's no way I'm going to go upstairs. They'll have to send me downstairs before they send me upstairs. When you lose six points, all of a sudden, the rumours say that you have been taken ill and that other people are coming in. Sometimes it helps the other people who are signing a new contract. All I can tell you is that I feel fine."
With Owen fighting to be fit for the semi-final clash at Bramall Lane with his recurring hamstring problem, Houllier is expected to keep faith with youngster Neil Mellor after an encouraging display in the 1-0 FA Cup win at Manchester City. The Frenchman has high hopes for the 20-year-old and says: "He will come good - believe me. Several clubs wanted to take him on loan but we wanted him to stay here. He is not the finished article, but his work-rate shows he is determined to get to the very top."
Midfielder Danny Murphy, meanwhile, reckons that despite the club's recent slump Liverpool are still in with a chance of the treble this season and he says: "We are only five points behind Manchester United in the league so that is within our grasp. Although winning two or three cups might be a bit much we have done it before so why not again? It is still realistic.
"We are one round away from Cardiff in the Worthington Cup which was the first trophy we won as a club in a long time and which put us on a great roll. We are still in the FA Cup and we saw two years ago how special that is. Plus we are in the last 16 of the UEFA Cup which might not be the Champions League but it is still a magnificent trophy to win."
First, they have to get past Sheffield United and given the Yorkshire club's form this season that's going to be no easy feat. Blades boss Neil Warnock is calling on the United fans to be their '12th man' and says: "We seem to be breeding a new generation of supporters at United and they have played a massive part in the victories in the Worthington Cup so far.
"The night that we beat Leeds was brilliant, especially for the fans who had watched us beat our Yorkshire rivals. Then, unbelievably, we eclipsed that when we beat Sunderland - the supporters that night made me so proud to be the manager of this club.
"The volume the Kop has generated all season has spread all around the ground and given a lift to the whole club."
Blades midfielder Michael Brown will return to the starting line-up after serving a one-match ban, but Carl Asaba is struggling with a calf injury whilst while fellow striker Steve Kabba is cup-tied.
