"Cup of Chaos" at Aston Villa: Klopp's Liverpoolers take revenge for 2: 7

Friday, January 8th, 2021

Update
"Cup of Chaos" at Aston Villa
Klopp's Liverpoolers take revenge for the 2: 7

Team manager Jürgen Klopp and Liverpool FC prevent a disgrace in the FA Cup after initial problems: At Aston Villa, which can only compete with a C-Eleven due to a massive corona outbreak, an increase in performance in half time is enough. It is also the revenge for a league bankruptcy please.

Jürgen Klopp was right in the middle of the eye of the storm that the corona virus conjured up. English football simply cannot free itself from the relentless grip of the pandemic, which threatens to shut down the game more and more. Klopp and Liverpool FC had to tremble about their FA Cup game until a few hours before kick-off because their opponents Aston Villa is infected. Klopp's team mastered the task at the C-Elf of the team from Birmingham with 4: 1 (1: 1). It is the most prominent in a series of incidents that could result in a cluttered schedule.

After initial problems, the Reds prevented a disgrace and reached the fourth round. Sadio Mane (4th, 63rd), Georginio Wijnaldum (60th) and Mo Salah (65th) scored for the big favorite, who, as expected, had a lot of possession but was initially only rarely able to use it. Aston Villa could count on their excellent goalkeeper Akos Onodi and played bravely. The 17-year-old Louie Barry (41.) managed to equalize in the meantime. In the second round, however, Liverpool ultimately prevailed clearly – the second hit broke the blockade. On the fourth day of the Premier League, Villa had completely surprisingly triumphed 7-2 over the Reds.

In the pandemic, the youngsters take over

"The Cup in Chaos," headlined the daily Mirror, while the Times sees the FA Cup as "under the control of Covid". The appropriate response to what happened on Thursday, when Villa closed its training grounds because of a "significant number" of positive corona tests. The BBC reported 14 cases, including ten gamblers. The entire first team and the coaching team are in isolation. The third-round game against Liverpool takes place anyway, also because there are hardly any alternative dates available. The calendar provides for the fourth FA Cup round in two weeks.

An emergency plan ensured the implementation of Liverpool's cup encounter: players from Aston Villas U23 and U18 teams had to compete against the star-studded champions. The example of Derby County served as an example: Interim coach Wayne Rooney's second division team was able to save his cup match against sixth division FC Chorley on Saturday in the same way. After numerous corona cases in the team, Rooney and the professionals stay at home, the youngsters take over.

"Football is becoming a little secondary"

Basically: If a club can provide 14 healthy players, the game is played. The cup match between FC Southampton and third division Shrewsbury Town was canceled after several positive tests with the underdog. The FA wants to decide on the next steps at the beginning of next week. It is also possible for Southampton to advance without a fight.

As unfortunate as the situation is at the moment, the clubs will understand that the move will be made. "Football is getting a bit secondary, this is where we are now," said Brighton & Hove Albion team manager Graham Potter. The games are important and he would like to play them, but it is "not a matter of life and death – it is the FA Cup," said Potter, whose team is due to play at fourth division Newport County on Sunday.