Some pre-match chat from the gaffers:
Eddie Howe tells ITV the tie is “an opportunity for those players coming in. We’ve got a good squad and I try to use it and pick a team that’s really strong. I like the look of the team pre-game, and it’s a big opportunity for those coming in.” Of Isak, he adds: “He’s in. He’s fully fit, he’s recovered, and we’re delighted he’s back. He’s been a pivotal figure for us, he’s led the line really well and scored a number of goals. We’re delighted he’s ready for the game.” Though the Newcastle manager cautions that his side must defend better than they have in recent games.
Fabian Hurzeler says: “When less top clubs are in the tournament, the chance is bigger. On the other side, we all know that the cups, they always have their own laws, their own rules, so you don’t know what will come next. This Cup tournament already proved it this season so far. There’s been a lot of crazy results.”
“Hi Tom.” Hi Paul O’Neill. “Given that the Magpies are playing the Seagulls, I wondered whether the reference to ‘the clubs’ pecking order’ in the preamble was a deliberate pun.” Heh, I truly don’t know my own strength. “And – this might be beyond your remit, to be fair – whether the whole notion of the pecking order applies to all types of bird, or just chickens.”
Good question. How do actual pecking orders work? One of those oft-unanswered questions, like what actually happens “after the Lord Mayor’s Show”, or “Is Dr Hook a medical doctor?”
On other channels … Emillia Hawkins is on top of today’s Women’s Super League action, with Manchester United zipping into a two-goal lead against Leicester. Dip in here:
“I completely agree with you that this season’s FA Cup is wide open,” writes Rick Harris, jinxing us towards another Manchester derby final. “Manchester City made hard work of getting past Plymouth yesterday and may have their typical luck of the draw again and get Preston at home, but I wouldn’t see them as favourites as Bournemouth, Crystal Palace, Aston Villa and even Manchester United would fancy their chances against the PL champions. Eddie Howe is clearly taking this game very seriously with his team selection and Brighton too have to see this competition as there for the taking.”
Yup, am excited by both those lineups.
Team news
They line up thusly, and Isak plays in a strong-looking home starting XI:
Newcastle: Dubravka; Livramento, Schär, Burn, Trippier, Miley, Tonali, Joelinton, Barnes, Isak, Gordon. Subs: Pope, Wilson, Targett, Krafth, Osula, Murphy, Willock, Longstaff, Guimaraes.
Brighton: Verbruggen, Lamptey, van Hecke, Webster, Estupiñán, Baleba, Hinshelwood, Minteh, Rutter, Mitoma, João Pedro. Subs: Thomas McGill, March, Gruda, Adingra, Cashin, Gomez, Ayari, Wieffer, Welbeck.
Referee: Anthony Taylor (Cheshire)
Preamble
Afternoon everyone. And welcome to MBM coverage from the sixth of the eight FA Cup ties sprawled over a long weekend. As I argued when talking about Bournemouth the other day, there has rarely been such an opportunity for one of the Premier League’s mid-ranking and not-quite-elite clubs to claim the Cup this season. Though whether Newcastle are ready to seize it is moot. Eddie Howe’s side have a League Cup final looming in a fortnight against a Liverpool side that schooled them in midweek, and the Toon’s FA Cup record in the 70 years since they last won it has not been a thing of glory. They need to be careful with injuries too and Alexander Isak, a Premier League player of the season contender, may not be risked today having sat out the trip to Anfield with groin knack. We’ll find out shortly.
Brighton, by contrast, have a presentable recent record in the Cup, beaten semi-finallists twice in the past six years and enjoying an upturn in form that has them eyeing both the League and the Cup route to a Europa League place next term. They should be contemplating, in the words of the song, going up to win the Cup for Sussex by the sea.
Wherever this tie figures in the clubs’ pecking order, both in their different ways have shown themselves capable of engrossing football in recent weeks so have it in them to lay on a proper Cup tie this afternoon. Let’s have it.
Kick-off: 1.45pm GMT.
