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Burnley manager Steve Cotterill goes head-to-head with Rafael Benitez tonight.
Clarets meet the RedsBy Oliver Derbyshire. Friday, 07 January 2005.
Burnley v Liverpool The FA Cup, Third Round Turf Moor 07 January, 7.45pm
Burnley will be looking to recreate one of the greatest moments in their history tonight - by beating Liverpool in The FA Cup.
The match at Turf Moor is a repeat of the 1914 FA Cup Final, which The Clarets won 1-0.
It's the tenth time that the two sides have been paired together in the Cup, although none of the ties have been as important as that first meeting at Crystal Palace 90 years ago, decided by Bill Freeman's opportunistic strike.
Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez will be hoping to avoid a repeat of that scoreline in what is his first taste of The FA Cup.
With an injury-hit squad playing against a side keen to take a second Premiership scalp of the season, Benitez and his men will have to make sure they don't underestimate the Championship side, who have won their last four matches at home.
Deprived of the talents of Djibril Cisse, Xabi Alonso and Chris Kirkland to long-term problems, and with top scorer Milan Baros doubtful with a hamstring strain, Liverpool will look to captain and Three Lions star Steven Gerrard to guide them into the Fourth Round.
But driven on by their midfield dynamo, in front of a sell-out crowd and live on Sky, anything but a win against Steve Cotterill's side will be a disappointment for the six-time winners.
Burnley, meanwhile, will be captained by new skipper Frank Sinclair (below) after Robbie Blake, the former skipper and leading scorer, completed a transfer-window move to Birmingham City.
But the former Chelsea defender and FA Cup winner will also be leading a depleted side.
With Micah Hyde out suspended, Michael Duff and Danny Coyne injured, and Paul Scott, Gary Cahill and Graham Branch doubtful, it will be tough for The Clarets to repeat their Carling Cup heroics - or match the drama of 1914.
However, Cup draws have been kind to the Lancashire outfit this season, as Liverpool become the third Premiership side to travel to Turf Moor since October.
Aston Villa were on the wrong end of a 3-1 scoreline in the Third Round of the Carling Cup, but Tottenham were too strong for their hosts in the Fourth Round, winning 3-0. Now it's Liverpool's turn to run the gauntlet. Will history repeat itself?
CLARETS MEET THE REDS
07 January 2005
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