Midweek football, we love it.
Even when it is the FA Cup. We still love it.
After the Tuesday Night of the Long Knives, we have more giants facing embarrassing ejection from the grand old tournament.
Well, one anyway.
Plymouth v Liverpool
This is the pick of the midweek FA Cup replays, and will broadcast live on BT Sport 2.
Plymouth frustrated Liverpool in the goalless draw at Anfield last Sunday. The home side had 77 per cent possession, but couldn’t break down a resolute, determined and well-organised Plymouth defence.
The replay at a packed Home Park could prove equally tricky for Jurgen Klopp’s team. The Liverpool manager named the youngest starting line-up in the history of the club for the first game, and has said he has no plans to ditch the young players for the replay.
This has the potential to be an upset. Plymouth are second in League Two and have lost just once in their last nine games. Liverpool, who have won the FA Cup on seven occasions, are yet to win a game in 2017.
The winner plays Wolves in the next round.
Newcastle United v Birmingham City
Newcastle and Birmingham played out a 1-1 draw in the FA Cup third round game last Saturday. Lukas Jutkiewicz equalised for the home side, after Irish striker Daryl Murphy gave Newcastle the lead.
Rafa Benitez’s team are top of the Championship, but Newcastle have failed to get past this stage of the competition since 2012. But Birmingham are yet to win since Gianfranco Zola replaced Gary Rowett as manager in December.
The former Chelsea striker has lost three and drawn three of his first six matches.
The winner of the tie will play Oxford United in the fourth round.
Southampton v Norwich City
There is some Irish interest in this game.
Southampton host Norwich and Shane Long should see some playing time for the home side. While Robbie Brady and Wes Hoolahan will most likely feature for Norwich.
The original game between the pair finished 2-2 at Carrow Road.
Virgil van Dijk opened the scoring for Southampton, before Steven Whittaker equalised with a penalty. Maya Yoshida then scored for Southampton, but an injury-time goal from Steven Naismith forced a replay.
Norwich have won just three of their last 16-games. The winner plays Arsenal at home in the next round.
