Your Liverpool evening headlines for Monday, April 11
Liverpool could be set for big advantage ahead of Man City showdown at Wembley
Comparing a football fixture between two great teams to that of a heavyweight boxing clash may very well be the oldest analogy in sport. It is an easy one to conjure, after all. So it was no surprise to hear Jurgen Klopp reach for the same comparison in the wake of Liverpool’s 2-2 draw with Manchester City on Sunday afternoon.
After seeing the best teams in England play out a pulsating, breathless contest for the second time this season, Klopp likened the pair to a couple of high-profile prizefighters. And after City took the lead inside five minutes at the Etihad on Sunday, it was fitting to extend the metaphor further with a famous quote from the iconic Mike Tyson.
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"Everyone has a plan until they get punched in the face," Tyson is quoted as saying during a reign of terror that redefined the heavyweight division of professional boxing in the late-1980s.
Liverpool, after one of the most hyped and intense build-ups to a game in years, came to the Etihad with a plan. That was until Kevin De Bruyne's early strike punched them in the face.
Read the full story from Paul Gorst here.
Liverpool and Man City referee and VAR confirmed for FA Cup semi-final
Referee Michael Oliver will take charge of the FA Cup semi-final between Liverpool and Manchester City at Wembley on Saturday. Darren England will be VAR official for the showcase occasion.
The two sides meet again less than a week after the dramatic 2-2 draw at the Etihad in a bid to book themselves a space in the final against either Chelsea or Crystal Palace.
Saturday will see Liverpool feature in a FA Cup semi-final for the first time since the 2014/15 season, where they suffered a 2-1 defeat at the hands of Aston Villa. The Reds last won the competition in 05/06, beating West Ham 6-4 on penalties.
Jurgen Klopp's side have already secured one domestic trophy this season in the Carabao Cup with a dramatic penalty shootout victory over Chelsea in February. Now, just Manchester City stand in their way of reaching another final at Wembley.
