Ian Ladyman believes Arsenal and Liverpool both name strong sides and go all out for victory in their FA Cup third round clash to avoid the potential of a damaging replay.

Arsenal will welcome Jurgen Klopp’s side on Sunday in the highest profile match of the third round weekend.

Liverpool head into the tie as Premier League leaders, while Arsenal remain firmly in the title race despite consecutive defeats seeing the Gunners fall five points off the pace.

Ladyman, Mail Sport’s Football Editor, believes both managers must go strong to win the tie on the day and avoid the threat of adding a ‘damaging’ replay to their respective schedules. 

Premier League leaders Liverpool travel to Arsenal in a headline FA Cup third round match

Arsenal host the tie amid a blip in form with the Gunners having suffered successive defeats   

Ian Ladyman told It’s All Kicking Off that both sides must go all out to avoid a damaging replay  

‘A replay damages both teams. Arsenal are going into what’s supposed to be a two week winter break. I know that’s a bit of a joke, but they’re going into a two week winter break,’ Ladyman said.

‘A replay ruins that, because that gets situated in the middle of it. Liverpool don’t need a replay. They’re already looking at a January that contains seven games, that’ll be eight if they get a replay. 

‘Man City have only got three games scheduled for January. Liverpool have got a two-legged Carabao Cup semi-final to play against Fulham, first one’s middle of next week. 

‘Nobody wants a replay from this game. I think, therefore, the only way is to go and try and win it. The way to try and win it is to pick a strong team, surely. Pick a strong team and then give them two weeks off.’

Sutton agreed with Ladyman’s logic and suggested Arsenal’s team selection will be interesting given the Gunners recent dip in form.

Arsenal have won just one match in their last six games in all competitions, with the run including three defeats.

Sutton claimed Arsenal supporters would not view the run as a significant problem yet, but would go ‘berserk’ if manager Mikel Arteta makes wholesale changes and his side exit the competition. 

‘It’s not that I think it’s all going to unravel because I think that they are too good for that,’ Sutton said. ‘But the Premier League form was excellent last season until they fell away at the end, and they’ve tried to do it in a different way this season. 

Chris Sutton said Mikel Arteta’s team selection will be interesting after Arsenal’s dip in form

Sutton believes Arsenal fans will go ‘berserk’ if they name a weakened side and lose the tie

‘You spoke about Arsenal’s recent record, that hasn’t become a problem yet, because they are still in a title race. But I think there’ll be Arsenal fans, if they get knocked out of the FA Cup, who would feel really down and disappointed with that.

‘Arsenal, as far as I’m concerned, and Liverpool should both be going full hit and trying to win a trophy.

‘I think Arteta has tinkered a little bit in the past and made changes, but I think it’s one where at this moment of the season where Arsenal were, if they were top of the league by a few points as Liverpool are, then maybe Arteta can change. 

‘But if you’re an Arsenal fan and you see Arteta make wholesale changes, I think you’ll go berserk.’

The record FA Cup winners went out in the fourth round to Man City last season, with Arteta leaving out regulars Martin Odegaard, Oleksandr Zinchenko, William Saliba and Gabriel Martinelli from his starting line-up. 

Arsenal have also been beaten by Nottingham Forest and Southampton in the competition since lifting the trophy in Arteta’s first season at the club.

Liverpool, who lifted the trophy in 2022, were beaten at the fourth round stage by Brighton last year.

Ladyman highlighted that Klopp had named a strong side for the fixture and would likely do so again this weekend, with the likes of Virgil van Dijk, Darwin Nunez and Cody Gakpo having featured in their Carabao Cup run this season.