Kenny Dalglish Has 6 Key Reasons in His Favor That Are Pointing at FA Cup Glory

The FA Cup goes into its latter stages this weekend, and Liverpool are one of the teams trying to win it. Having already won the Carling Cup this season in a dramatic final against Cardiff City, Kenny Dalglish's men are looking to do a cup double this season.

Liverpool have had plenty of success in the world's oldest cup competition, winning it seven times (the same number as Aston Villa) in thirteen finals. The only teams that have won it on more occasions are Manchester United, Arsenal and Tottenham. 

Anfield welcomes the visit of Stoke City this Sunday as Liverpool prepare for the quarterfinal showdown against the Potters. Let us look at six compelling reasons why Liverpool are one of the favorites to repeat the feat they last achieved in 2006, in yet another humdinger of a final that season against West Ham United.

History at Wembley

Liverpool Football Club has had a bond with Wembley since 1950. Though Liverpool played in an FA Cup final as early as 1914, they got a chance to play at the magnificent stadium of Wembley only in 1950. 

Liverpool had lost on both these occasions. The 1950 final, though, gave a hint of things to come in subsequent decades. Maybe it was the stadium, or simply the atmosphere players love to be at the center of, but this club surely craves a regular presence at Wembley.

While the bond is a very decisive reason why Liverpool would want to make and win the final again, it may at times serve as a distraction, too. It is only the quarterfinal on Sunday, and the players should not already be thinking about Wembley.

The Reds have already lost a few games this season because they were distracted by big cup games. Kenny Dalglish and the players will know all too well the importance of the cliche "one game at a time."

Wembley was once termed as South Anfield for the number of visits that Liverpool made there. I am sure Steven Gerrard and company will be gunning for glory and Wembley again to relive the club's success there.

Conversion Rate

Though Liverpool may be failing in front of goal this season, they do have a more-than-decent conversion rates for tournament finals. This is just not a coincidence, though. Just as the relationship with Wembley will always inspire Liverpool players to play and win there, their association with trophies has a similar impact.

Since 1980, Liverpool have won 26 trophies (including the European Cup, FA Charity Shield, UEFA Cup, UEFA Super Cup, League Cup and FA Cup) out of 38 finals played. That is an impressive success rate of 68% in finals. Liverpool were dominant in the '80s and swept away most trophies—big deal, you might say. 

That is very true, and no use arguing about. So we look at the more recent past. Since 2000, Liverpool have won 11 trophies and made 14 finals out of the competitions mentioned above. That gives us an even better rate of conversion of 79%.

Thus, whichever way you look at it, Liverpool entering a final means a lower chance of their opposition winning—although, of course, they have to reach the final first.

Good Cup Team and Great Cup Record This Season

Liverpool are a team expected to challenge for honors on all fronts. In spite of this, it has been quite a while since they have challenged for the league realistically.

Having said that, the Reds have shown they are more than capable of turning up any day and beating any team. That has made them into a very good cup team.

A few years ago they were the most feared team to be drawn against, not because of flair and firepower but technicality and tactical awareness. This season, Kenny has skillfully set up his team to suit the type of opposition, even though most might disagree with that.

Kenny Dalglish knows how important it is to win trophies and thus he is trying to emulate what he did during his playing days. Beating Stoke, Chelsea and Manchester City away is no small achievement. In the process, Liverpool reached the League Cup final and won it.

In the FA Cup, the Reds have had some easy games, but they did knock out Manchester United in the fourth round.

Liverpool's record in this season's domestic cups has been impeccable. They are unbeaten and have not had to play any replays in the FA Cup yet. Their only draw was in the second leg of their League Cup semifinal against the mighty Manchester City.  

Thus, it is hard to see how Liverpool will not be able to win the FA Cup without throwing it away.

Absence of Many Teams That Could Knock Liverpool out

Out of Liverpool's seven rivals that remain in the cup so far, I think only Tottenham could end the Reds' hope of achieving a cup double. Even Chelsea are an outside bet, and that would not have been said had Andre Villas-Boas remained as boss.

Liverpool will probably meet one if not both of those teams in their quest to win more silverware this season. Still, the reason I fancy the Reds is that they have beaten Chelsea, Manchester United, Arsenal and Manchester City at least once this season even away from home on occasions.

After the quarterfinals, no one will have home advantage. This is one more reason why I fancy the Reds as a match at Goodison Park or White Hart Lane would have been very difficult to bank upon indeed.   

Incentive for Kenny Dalglish to Save His Job

John Henry made it clear at the start of the season that Liverpool's main aim was to qualify for the Champions League. At the moment, however, Liverpool are pretty far away from realizing that goal and may have to settle for UEFA Cup football once again. 

This situation will no doubt bring about uncertainty over Kenny Dalglish's tenure as Liverpool manager in his second stint at the helm. To better his position and buy some more time from owner John W. Henry, Kenny will try to get his players all charged up for each FA Cup fixture.

Kenny will want to win the FA Cup and return Liverpool to the glory days. This may not be seen as enough, though, as the team will still miss out on the lucrative assets of the cash-cow Champions League. Liverpool spent more than 100 million pounds last year, and Henry would have preferred to get it back in Champions League money.

Even so, winning the FA Cup will mean that Kenny has been able to deliver two trophies in his first full season—a major achievement.

Will it be enough to save Kenny's job? Only time will tell.  

Maybe the Only Thing Left to Play for

Even though I believe that Liverpool still have an outside chance of getting fourth place, the season is practically almost over barring an FA Cup run. This is what Liverpool will be concentrating on, with high hopes of filling some more silver in their cabinet. 

Thus, with all focus on the FA Cup and with a good probability that Liverpool's strongest teams will be played in these fixtures with ample rest, I expect the Reds to be favorites to land their eighth FA Cup crown and go level with Spurs. 

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