FA CUP 4TH ROUND
Glenn still a Seagull
GLENN MURRAY has agreed a new 18-month deal at Brighton – and celebrated by hitting the equaliser in his side’s 3-3 draw at West Ham yesterday.
The Seagulls striker, now 36, was out of contract this summer and had attracted interest from Aston Villa, Newcastle, Nottingham Forest and Celtic.
But now Murray has committed himself to the Amex Stadium until the end of next season.
Before yesterday, Murray had scored just one goal in 16 appearances this season, but manager Graham Potter knows how vital his experience is to the club.
Potter said: “I’ve always said he is important on and off the pitch. He ’s a top professional.”
JOHN ALDRIDGE believes that Jurgen Klopp should think again over his controversial decision to ‘boycott’ the FA Cup replay against Shrewsbury Town.
And the former Kop goalscoring hero insists that first team players like Fabinho, Xherdan Shaqiri and Dejan Lovren, who have missed chunks of the season through injury, should be demanding to play at Anfield on Tuesday night.
Klopp has stated that none of his senior squad will be involved in the fourth round replay against the League One side because the game
ARRIVING home at 4am after a 2-0 midweek defeat at Gillingham’s Priestfield Stadium quickly brought FA Cup heroes Shrewsbury crashing back down to earth.
Assistant manager Graham Barrow, who helped mastermind Wigan Athletic’s Wembley triumph in 2013, knows better than most how the famous competition can play havoc with the emotions.
“Coming straight after the Liverpool game I’m not making excuses but it was a horrendous fixture,” he admitted.
“The players needed a bit of time to clear the heads after what happened on Sunday and they never had that. I could tell the mentality wasn’t right.
“We mentioned it afterwards that to be successful you need to turn up for every game. That’s what Liverpool do at a much higher level.
“It’s just human nature. It’s something we can’t control. We’re coaches not psychologists. Even the psychologists wouldn’t have all the answers.
“How many times do you see a side like Shrewsbury enjoy a great result and the next game, it’s after the Lord Mayor’s Show.
Flashbacks
“It’s a fact of football but there will be no worries about Tuesday’s replay – they will be fully up for it.”
And Barrow, No.2 to Sam Ricketts at the New Meadow, insists neither of them are bothered about what side Liverpool put out.
“We both agreed that Jurgen is not having a go at the FA Cup.
He is making a stand about preserving the mid-season break which the Premier League have brought in. He wanted the replay to be on another date outside that fortnight, ” explained Barrow.
“My first thought once the final whistle went on Sunday was: ‘Great, we’re off to Anfield’.
“I loved going there with Wigan in our Premier League days, although I then had flashbacks of not being able to get out of our own penalty area.
“There might be some disappointment with the players that they won’t be up against the big Liverpool players, but the chance of a trip to Chelsea in the fifth round is some consolation.
“Suddenly a different slant is placed on the game. It would be another great day financially for the club.
“Liverpool have adjusted the prices so we’re just hoping Anfield will be somewhere near full. It’s important, not just for the money aspect, but to reward the players who have worked so hard for what will be probably the biggest night so far of their careers.
“And in any case, as they proved against Aston Villa in the Carabao Cup, the young players will make it game-on.
“Harvey Elliott at 16 is a real talent and Curtis Jones, if he plays again, is exceptional. Although they lost 5-0 at Villa Park for large