FA Cup 15/1/2008 - Liverpool vs Luton Town

Get ready for a fiery live commentary and play by play of the FA Cup tie tonight between Liverpool and Luton Town as both teams look to ride past their problems with a victory. The live radio broadcast will see crisis-hit Liverpool attempt to revive their fortunes with a resounding win over Luton Town, while the latter hopes to survive threats of administration and bankruptcy with a win using half a team. As Liverpool's American owners once again undermine the once proud English club by admitting they had sounded out German Juergen Klinnsman for the manager's post, current manager Benitez looks to at least leave with dignity by steering the club to some honours this season. Why do I say leave? Because the current owners have torn the man's dignity to shreds by revealing this news, and it is just not right to treat a man who has brought the club some trophies despite no longer having the brand to attract the best of the best to join, thereby leaving Benitez to settle for second best players. With second best players, you get second best results. Apart from the few gems like Torres, Alonso, Mascherano and Agger, there's really nothing much left to crow about. Although I feel that Benitez is ultimately not the right man for the job due to his lack of motivational skills in terms of the long EPL season, he has done his very best for the club and should have been treated much better. The sight of the man slumped in his dugout seat during the weekend's game against Middlesbrough spoke volumes but do not doubt that he will do his best to win tonight's tie against Luton Town. If the rednecks Tom Hicks and Gillett sell their ownership to the Dubai group, I do not foresee them sticking to Benitez as well due to the recent media mess.

As for Luton Town, the manager has tendered his resignation and near half a dozen players have left after not receiving their pay. Blackwell will have to field some reserve team players tonight but they will all play with their heads held high as the club struggles to stave off administration. I remember the days when Luton was feared for its plastic pitch and spent quite a number of seasons upsetting the bigger teams in the first tier before the English Premier League was born. It is sad to see clubs like Luton spiralling into debt and trouble. My hope is that they stay around but we will never know.

That said, I don't see anything less than a Liverpool win by two to three goals tonight against Luton Town and we should enjoy a nice bit of goalmouth action during the live commentary. Hopefully Benitez now goes all out in every game and fields his best eleven but you know the guy sticks to his guns so expect Crouch and perhaps Kuyt to be upfront while our great servant Carragher will be wearing the captain's armband for his 500th game for the club so cheer the team and manager on and wear the Liverpool badge high and proud.