Tom Cleverley is hoping to echo many of his FA Cup-winning Manchester United teammates by hoisting the trophy this season as the Reds prepare for their third-round clash with Swansea City on Sunday.
The 11-time winners, who alongside the other 19 Premier League clubs and 24 Championship sides enter for the competition in the third round, are looking to regain momentum after suffering a 2-1 defeat at home to Spurs on New Year’s day.
That loss halted United’s six-match winning streak and left their hopes of retaining the Premier League hanging by a thread, however the England midfielder believes an FA Cup run – so he can taste success in the world’s oldest competition – is just what the Reds need to recover.
“A lot of players in the squad haven’t won the FA Cup. But, myself, I’ve not won a lot of things so I just want to win as much silverware as I can. That’s the aim,” Cleverley told the club’s website.
“Growing up as a lad, the FA Cup final was an iconic thing but the run starts on Sunday and hopefully we can progress.
“One hundred per cent what we’re looking for [is to bounce back in the cups].”
Meanwhile 2011 winners Manchester City travel to Championship side Blackburn Rovers with question marks still looming over their defensive form away from home.
While last year’s finalists have remained undefeated since November, their away form differs greatly from their imperious performances at the Etihad.
City have won every home league game this season, scoring 38 goals and conceding just six in the process, however they have lost four on the road conceding 17.
Elsewhere Liverpool goalkeeper Simon Mignolet has warned his side not to take their tie with Oldham Athletic lightly.
The Latics stunned Liverpool 3-2 at Boundary Park last season to dump the seven-times winners out.
This time Oldham travel to Anfield to face a Liverpool side that currently sit in fourth place in the Premier League.
“For them it is already a cup final,” Mignolet told the Liverpool Echo.
“It is already a big game for them to look forward to and they will come here and try to show everyone what they can do at a ground like Anfield.
“We have to make sure we are professional and do a job.”
While Oldham’s hopes of an upset might be slim Rochdale chairman Chris Dunphy has his eyes firmly set on victory when his team take on Leeds United at Spotland.
“If you talk about the romance of the FA Cup, this is the perfect cup tie,” Dunphy told the Telegraph.
“A bottom tier team at home to Leeds United, it has all the makings of an upset.”
Debt-ridden Bolton will be hoping to give their fans something to smile about when they entertain Blackpool.
The Championship side were revealed to be in excess of £160million debt this week and face a tough task to progress against 12th place Blackpool.
And Wigan Athletic, who currently sit in 11th place in the Championship, will be favourites going into their match with League One side MK Dons.
Image courtesy of Flawka, with thanks
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