Preview: Mansfield Town v Liverpool FC - FA Cup 3rd Rd - 06/01/13 - k/o:16.00

Posted by ashleyrose-66 on January 2, 2013, 03:03:57 pm

Mansfield Town FC V Liverpool FC – FA CUP 3rd Round – Sunday 06 January 2013 - k/o: 16.00

 



2011/12 finalists Liverpool head to Nottinghamshire on Sunday to face non-league Mansfield Town in the 3rd Round of the 2012/13 FA Cup.

Having overcome Lincoln City in the previous round, Mansfield will host the reds at their Field Mill (also known as the “One Call”) Stadium in front of the ESPN cameras and a capacity crowd of just over 7,500.

Relegated from league football just over 4 years ago, “The Stags” have faced numerous off-field battles, including being locked out of their own ground in 2010 following a dispute over unpaid rent, and a bid from a potential new owner of the club to re-name the club after the fictional Sky One programme Dream Team football club, Harchester United in 2008.
John Batchelor’s bid to buy the club failed and thus far, Mansfield Town remains the name of the club.
 
Mansfield currently lie 9th in the Blue Square Premier division, and have a respectable home record this season having lost just twice in front of their own fans.

Mansfield Town’s last trophy came in 1987 when they clinched the Football League Trophy (aka The Freight Rover Trophy) on penalties against Bristol City in front of 58,000 at Wembley Stadium, however The Stags did reach the final of the FA Trophy in 2011, losing 1-0 against Darlington in agonsising fashion when Darlington’s Chris Senior headed home the winner in the last minute of extra-time.

Notable former Mansfield Town players include several players who would go on to become established Premiership footballers, including Colin Calderwood and Liam Lawrence.  Mansfield also signed FA Cup winning captain Brian Kilcline in his twilight playing years just before he hung his boots up in 1998, and former Everton ‘keeper and FA Cup runner-up (against Liverpool) Bobby Mimms also featured for the club before he retired.

Team news: Liverpool will be without long-term absentees Martin Kelly and Fabio Borini, whilst Jose Enrique will also miss several weeks after limping out of the QPR game with a hamstring injury.

New signing Daniel Sturridge is in line to make his Liverpool debut against The Stags and could replace Luis Suarez despite his brace against Sunderland on Wednesday.
Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers may also opt to freshen up other areas of his starting 11 following a busy festive period, and afford some first team regulars a day off ahead of a huge game at Old Trafford against Manchester United the following week.

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