Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers believes he has more strength in depth at his disposal than ever before.
Reds fans have lamented a lack of Plan B in recent years, never more so than after the home defeat to Chelsea last season which derailed their title charge.
Similar complaints reappeared earlier in the campaign, but now Rodgers believes he has the options to help alter things.
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That was underlined on Saturday, when he was able to bring on Mario Balotelli, Rickie Lambert and Dejan Lovren as Liverpool came from behind to beat Crystal Palace 2-1 and reach the FA Cup quarter-finals.
“For the first two years we didn’t have the possibility to change the momentum of a game – this year we plainly do,” Rodgers, whose bench also included Glen Johnson, Javi Manquillo and Fabio Borini, said.
“It’s so important in the modern game to have a bench that can come on and affect the game. That happened today (Saturday), which was great.”
The bookmakers believes such quality puts Liverpool amongst the favourites for this year’s FA Cup.
Their chances have been bolstered by the early exit of a host of Premier League clubs, although Rodgers believes winning it remains a “tough” ask.
“It is important for us,” he said. “I said at the beginning of the season that the objective is to win a trophy and be as strong as we can.
“The team is in good condition mentally and physically. We made a couple of changes but the team has been consistent.”
Liverpool will find out who they will face in the last-eight on Monday, while on Thursday they start a two-pronged charge on silverware.
The Reds dropped into the Europa League after failing to make it out of their Champions League group and they start their tilt for European glory against Besiktas.
“We want to play as many games as we can,” Rodgers said. “It will be tough but when you’re winning games it gives you energy.
“We had tough games this week but the players have been brilliant and come through it well.
“Now we’ll recover and really look forward to the Europa League because it’s a competition that, like the FA Cup, we want to do well in.”
As for Palace counterpart Alan Pardew, his goal is a lot more straightforward: Premier League survival.
The defeat to Liverpool was just their second in all competitions since he took over last month, but the recent managerial changes at other relegation-threatened sides has changed the dynamics somewhat.
“A new manager is going to have an impact at some stage,” Pardew said.
“Players have got a new challenge, a new start to a degree. Those managers will be using those factors.
“Of course now, it is going to be a real tough race. The prize is getting bigger and bigger each year and the pressure on the managers gets bigger and bigger - and you guys will keep reminding us at every game.”
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The specs
Engine: 2.7-litre 4-cylinder Turbomax
Power: 310hp
Torque: 583Nm
Transmission: 8-speed automatic
Price: From Dh192,500
On sale: Now
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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Favourite activity in Abu Dhabi: scuba diving in the Northern Emirates
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Creator: Jenna Lamia
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Our family matters legal consultant
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
Profile of MoneyFellows
Founder: Ahmed Wadi
Launched: 2016
Employees: 76
Financing stage: Series A ($4 million)
Investors: Partech, Sawari Ventures, 500 Startups, Dubai Angel Investors, Phoenician Fund
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KEY DEVELOPMENTS IN MARITIME DISPUTE
2000: Israel withdraws from Lebanon after nearly 30 years without an officially demarcated border. The UN establishes the Blue Line to act as the frontier.
2007: Lebanon and Cyprus define their respective exclusive economic zones to facilitate oil and gas exploration. Israel uses this to define its EEZ with Cyprus
2011: Lebanon disputes Israeli-proposed line and submits documents to UN showing different EEZ. Cyprus offers to mediate without much progress.
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Test squad: Rohit Sharma (captain), Priyank Panchal, Mayank Agarwal, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, Hanuma Vihari, Shubhman Gill, Rishabh Pant (wk), KS Bharath (wk), Ravindra Jadeja, Jayant Yadav, Ravichandran Ashwin, Kuldeep Yadav, Sourabh Kumar, Mohammed Siraj, Umesh Yadav, Mohammed Shami, Jasprit Bumrah.
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The specs
Engine: 1.5-litre turbo
Power: 181hp
Torque: 230Nm
Transmission: 6-speed automatic
Starting price: Dh79,000
On sale: Now
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ICC Awards for 2021
MEN
Cricketer of the Year – Shaheen Afridi (Pakistan)
T20 Cricketer of the Year – Mohammad Rizwan (Pakistan)
ODI Cricketer of the Year – Babar Azam (Pakistan)
Test Cricketer of the Year – Joe Root (England)
WOMEN
Cricketer of the Year – Smriti Mandhana (India)
ODI Cricketer of the Year – Lizelle Lee (South Africa)
T20 Cricketer of the Year – Tammy Beaumont (England)
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BULKWHIZ PROFILE
Date started: February 2017
Founders: Amira Rashad (CEO), Yusuf Saber (CTO), Mahmoud Sayedahmed (adviser), Reda Bouraoui (adviser)
Based: Dubai, UAE
Sector: E-commerce
Size: 50 employees
Funding: approximately $6m
Investors: Beco Capital, Enabling Future and Wain in the UAE; China's MSA Capital; 500 Startups; Faith Capital and Savour Ventures in Kuwait
The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo
Power: 178hp at 5,500rpm
Torque: 280Nm at 1,350-4,200rpm
Transmission: seven-speed dual-clutch auto
Price: from Dh209,000
On sale: now