Arne Slot: FA Cup tie with Liverpool is Accrington’s Champions League final

  • Slot warns his players not to take League Two side lightly
  • Federico Chiesa could make rare appearance for hosts

Arne Slot has warned Liverpool’s players they cannot be complacent against Accrington Stanley given they will treat their FA Cup third-round tie at Anfield on Saturday as their “Champions League final”.

The League Two side’s visit to Liverpool will be Slot’s first experience of facing an English lower league side in a competitive game. Eighty-seven places separate Accrington and the Premier League leaders, and a win for John Doolan’s team would go down as one of the great upsets in the competition’s long history.

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MLS apologises for announcing wrong Japanese player had joined Atlanta

  • Website said Celtic’s Kyogo Furuhashi had joined
  • Signing was Cayman Togashi on free transfer

Major League Soccer has apologised after saying Celtic’s Japanese forward Kyogo Furuhashi had signed for Atlanta United when in fact it was his compatriot Cayman Togashi who had joined the club.

Atlanta had previously been linked with Furuhashi and on Wednesday MLS posted an article on its website saying the 29-year-old Japan international had completed a transfer.

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Butler plays Creighton, aims to stop home skid

Creighton Bluejays (9-6, 2-2 Big East) at Butler Bulldogs (7-9, 0-5 Big East) Indianapolis; Saturday, 12 p.m. EST BOTTOM LINE: Butler looks to end its four-game home losing streak with a win against Creighton. The Bulldogs are 5-4 in home games.

Rice hosts Temple following Mashburn’s 22-point game

Temple averages 79.3 points while outscoring opponents by 4.8 points per game. Rice is shooting 42.1% from the field this season, 0.4 percentage points higher than the 41.7% Temple allows to opponents. Temple scores 13.5 more points per game (79.3) than Rice gives up to opponents (65.8).

Xavier visits DePaul following Gunn’s 21-point outing

Xavier Musketeers (9-7, 1-4 Big East) at DePaul Blue Demons (9-7, 0-5 Big East) Chicago; Saturday, 4 p.m. EST BOTTOM LINE: DePaul hosts Xavier after CJ Gunn scored 21 points in DePaul's 85-80 overtime loss to the Seton Hall Pirates. The Blue Demons have gone 9-2 in home games.

Bailey and Davidson host Fordham

Fordham Rams (8-8, 0-3 A-10) at Davidson Wildcats (11-4, 1-1 A-10) Davidson, North Carolina; Saturday, 2 p.m. EST BOTTOM LINE: Davidson hosts Fordham after Reed Bailey scored 22 points in Davidson's 77-71 victory against the Duquesne Dukes. The Wildcats have gone 9-0 at home.