FA Cup Round V: NUFC vs SFC
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Date: 18/02/2006
Venue: Saint James' Park
KO Time: 15:00 GMT -
FA CUP: SATURDAY'S TEAM NEWS
Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez is pondering whether to recall Jose Reina in goal for the FA Cup fifth-round home tie with Manchester United or keep faith with Jerzy Dudek.
Dudek has managed two clean sheets in the three matches the Spaniard has missed through suspension since his dismissal at Chelsea and will be hopeful of retaining his place for the visit of United.
Benitez will also want to assess Peter Crouch’s fitness after the £7million striker missed the last two games with a heel injury.
Robbie Fowler is cup-tied having played and scored in the tournament for Manchester City this term, which leaves Benitez with further decisions to make up front. Luis Garcia and Djibril Cisse are challenging for places in the starting line-up.
There are fitness doubts over defender Daniel Agger, who limped out of ThursdayÂ’s reserve derby win over Everton, Stephen Warnock (groin) and Jan Kromkamp (ankle).
United manager Sir Alex Ferguson has reported a clean bill of health ahead of the trip to Anfield.
Edwin van der Sar and Ryan Giggs, who came off at half-time during SaturdayÂ’s win at Portsmouth with groin and hamstring injuries respectively, have returned to training, while skipper Gary Neville is also available after missing the trip to Fratton Park.
FergusonÂ’s main selection dilemma concerns central midfield where Giggs could feature, while the United boss could also leave out Louis Saha even thought the Frenchman has been in free-scoring form in the FA Cup.
Gary Speed is set to make his first start for Bolton Wanderers in six weeks when West Ham United visit the Reebok Stadium.
The veteran midfielder returned to action in midweek after a knee injury by stepping off the bench in the draw against Marseille in the UEFA Cup.
Hidetoshi Nakata is available again after suspension while Matt Jansen could come into contention following a knee problem.
West Ham have doubts over midfielder Hayden Mullins and defender Danny Gabbidon ahead of the trip to Bolton.
Mullins missed training sessions this week because of a back problem, as did Gabbidon, who has an unspecified complaint.
Goalkeeper Roy Carroll is still absent and may face surgery on a back problem which could keep him sidelined for up to six weeks.
Charlton Athletic will be without cup-tied striker Marcus Bent for the visit of Brentford and winger Dennis Rommedahl remains sidelined with a rib injury.
Jay Bothroyd or Shaun Bartlett are likely to come into the attack alongside England squad man Darren Bent.
Matt Holland (thigh) and Chris Perry (virus) are both back in the squad, but Jonathan Fortune (ribs) is still not match fit.
Midfielder Amady Faye returns to the Newcastle United fold for the clash with Southampton at St James' Park.
The Senegal international has returned from African Nations Cup duty and will go straight into the squad for the fifth-round tie.
Strikers Michael Chopra and Albert Luque are also added to the squad but full-back Celestine Babayaro begins his two-match ban. -
Kenwyne jones to score for soton!!
good to see marian pahars again -
Kick-off is at 5.40pm GMT.
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Woohoo Dyer scores on his return! And our opponents lose a goalkeeper after using up their subs...just like Chelsea in this round last season.
