Liverpool Football Club. Nineteen top tier titles, seven FA Cups, eight League Cups, six European Cups, three UEFA Cups, four UEFA Super Cups and even a Sheriff of London Charity Shield from 1906.
They’ve been the club of the everyman, boasting incredible managers from Bill Shankly to the current incumbent Jurgen Klopp and players from Kenny Dalglish and Luis Suarez to Steven Gerrard and everyone in between.
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The Reds boast a rich history and could very well be the best footballing side in world football at this very moment, with the facilities, mentality and form to match these lofty appraisals.
Lincoln has a lovely cathedral just there on Minster Yard. I also had to look up whereabouts it was. My initial punt was somewhere in no-man’s-land between London and Birmingham, but yet here we are – firmly placed just south east of Yorkshire in *checks notes* Lincolnshire.
I hope the coach driver’s estimate is better than mine.
So what business have the global superpower that are LFC in going here on a Thursday night? A relentless thirst for trophies.
And if it’s a half-arsed attempt, a small-scale midweek cup tie with little associated importance could well be a close look into the dressing room desire levels as early as September. Here’s your three best bets.
Liverpool (-2)
Look, it’s a huge day for Lincoln and they’re going to get stuck in, and this would have been a problem 12 months ago.
But both the emergence of young talent and the additions in smart areas mean Liverpool should be fine to progress through this tie at a canter.
Liverpool can slot in the odd-man-out in midfield, which is probably two of Jordan Henderson, Fabinho, Gini Wijnaldum, Naby Keita, James Milner and Thiago.
Curtis Jones is a massive asset too, and Neco Williams is now experienced despite his age thanks to his exploits for Wales.
Takumi Minamino should start in the front three while Diogo Jota and Divock Origi could complement him. Liverpool (-2) on the handicap feels like a must at those odds.
Penalty Scored: Yes
When you’re a half-yard quicker with your feet than the opposition, you usually find yourself getting a penalty or two. Particularly in games where you’ll probably spend the majority of time in the opposition penalty area.
When you’re about six yards faster than the opposition, they’re in severe trouble.
Fatigue will also come into play and legs will dangle. Liverpool’s secondary side still maintain levels of trickery and clever ball-rolls, and it should be too much for Lincoln to handle. We’re backing a penalty to be scored, here.
Divock Origi to Score Anytime
This is quite generous, given the calibre of goal on much bigger occasions that Divock has scored in.
I know he’s not everyone’s cup of tea and he’ll ultimately be sold for a bargain chip price in the modern market, but just because he’s clumsy does not mean he’s ineffective.
This smacks of a night where he leads the line and if he does – Origi will score. He may even score two, but the price is big enough to go in on this stance instead.
Best Bets for Lincoln v Liverpool on Thursday at 19:45
Liverpool (-2)
Penalty Scored: Yes
Divock Origi to Score Anytime
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