Liverpool Match Preview – “It’s been great Everton, but this is a step up with all due respect.”

You wait for a generation (or two) for a match up against a Merseyside giant and then like the last buses home from town they’re queueing up. Everton in The FA Cup, Everton in The EFL Cup, Everton in The League Cup, Ever…. no, wait just a moment, Liverpool the other ones this time. Did anyone mention they just happen to be the reigning English champions and didn’t they also win some World Trophy, Cup thingy in Qatar last year? Well on Thursday night they will be riding into town still smarting from that famous 3-1 home reverse against the Imps in 1960.

It’s been great Everton, but this is a step up with all due respect. Depending upon which generation you were born it would be difficult as a neutral to see past either Manchester United or Liverpool as the most successful and famous English club of all time; rumour has it they have fans all over the world – not just Hackney and Cornwall. There isn’t enough ink in the pen to list all of the trophies collected over the years but many would argue with numerous European Cup triumphs (is it 6, I lose count?) it is the reds of Liverpool that snatch the spoils from the reds of Manchester.

The only sadness is that for arguably The Imps biggest home cup tie in many a year there will be precisely zero fans in the ground. There is, of course, no truth in the rumour that the South Park fire brigade will be conducting a two-hour training exercise from their fire tower on Thursday evening. Everton were treated to an impassioned Imps chorus of “Just like Lincoln your City is red” during their last visit. Liverpool at least will be grateful to be spared an equally boisterous rendition of “Just like The Witham, your city is blue”. Ok, they’ve no idea what The Witham is or that it is in fact a muddy brown but I’m sure they would have got the point.

Regardless of the absence of fans, this match will be much welcomed by a COVID financially stretched Lincoln City, with supporters briefly speculating whether the club would make more money from the game being showcased on iFollow or Sky. The latter quickly put the matter to bed by announcing it would be their Thursday night League Cup pick and for once Imps fans weren’t cursing TV company’s fascination with all ties involving massive clubs and er Salford City. When this writer boldly declared before the season started that ‘the sooner we are out of this competition the better’ I was naturally joking of course. All told with TV revenue and additional advertising opportunities Lincoln are set fair for a boost in excess of £125,000 (or a day at the office for Mo Salah) and that is a figure not to be sniffed at in these times.

So what Liverpool team will turn up, will Jurgen Klopp even be there after he skipped a tie last season? Well, city fans might just be treated to a stronger side than some may suspect. Liverpool have a considerable squad but with their U23’s having an EFL Trophy game on Tuesday night and a Premier League game v Arsenal the following Monday that could ensure a name or two down ‘at The (LNER) Bank’. Who knows, an Oxlade Chamberlain per chance, Diogo Jota making a debut, a youngster that goes onto become another legend like Rush or Dalglish in years to come? Please God, let Karius be in goal.

Money aside this is fantastic exposure for The Imps and there is plenty ‘on it’ personally for the players and the club. Rumour has it there are one or two ‘reds’ in The City changing room and of course, Michael Appleton just happens to be a passionate Red Devil himself. The bigger picture is how this fixture fits with Lincoln’s new model of developing young players and moving them on to in turn develop the club. In short, this could not be a better opportunity. Liverpool will put out a side of incredible talent no matter who they select and what more motivation could our very own Lincoln prospects need to highlight their talents and add a few quid to their price tag in the process.

For those that want a bit of history, the clubs have met on 23 previous occasions with all but three (FA Cup ties) being League Division Two Fixtures. Liverpool surprisingly have won 13 games to Lincoln’s 5, with 5 draws.

The first match was 09 Sep 1893 Liverpool 4 Lincoln City 0 – League Division Two
The last match was 25 Feb 1961 Liverpool 2 v Lincoln City0 -League Division Two

Liverpool prevailed in both FA Cup ties in 1909 and after a replay in 1955.

City’s joint biggest wins were 4-2 in 1955 and 1959 with a 6-1 reverse in 1896 being the biggest defeat.

The Imps may not have 1960 hat trick hero Bert Linnecor to call upon for this game but who knows if, come Thursday night, City fans have a new hero emerge for this generation of supporters to reminisce about for years to come.

Writer: hulloutpost

If you haven’t already had a go at our quizzes, this is a great way to learn some random information about the Football Club, as well as helping us generate much-needed page views: Quiz No.1, Quiz No.2, Quiz No.3, Quiz No.4, Quiz No.5, Quiz No.6, Quiz No.7, Quiz No.8, Quiz No.9, Quiz No.10, Quiz No.11, Quiz No.12, Quiz No.13, Quiz No.14, Quiz No.15, Quiz No.16, Quiz No.17, Quiz No.18, Quiz No.19, Quiz No.20, Quiz No.21, Quiz No.22, Quiz No.23, Quiz No.24, Quiz No.25, Quiz No.26, Quiz No.27, Quiz No.28, Quiz No.29 and Quiz No.30.

Liverpool Match Preview – "It's been great Everton, but this is a step up with all due respect."https://t.co/FWErD5rTxI#ImpsAsOne #LFC #LiverpoolFC pic.twitter.com/39bgZWg2z2

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