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When Liverpool’s FA Cup sixth round match against Blackburn ended in a draw, a replay was always on the cards. The early assumption for many fans was that, with an international break at the end of the month, the replay would have to take place immediately before their match against Manchester United on March 22nd and following a trip to face Swansea on the 16th.
Instead, due to rules about domestic cup matches not being scheduled at the same time as European cup matches, the tie won’t take place until next month. With the next two weeks slated for European competition, and the two subsequent weeks an international break, that means waiting until April, with the most likely date for the game appearing to be April 7th or 8th, a Tuesday or Wednesday.
"I believe the replay is early April, the 7th or 8th," said Brendan Rodgers when asked about the replay situation following Sunday’s match, Liverpool’s second FA Cup home match this year and the second they’ve drawn 0-0. "The fixtures are tough and it certainly doesn’t help, but we just have to deal with it and now we have to go to Blackburn and win, but we’re more than capable of doing that."
Liverpool travel to face Arsenal on Saturday, April 4th before hosting Newcastle on Monday the 13th, meaning the extra match shouldn’t make things too difficult. The situation is worse for Reading and Bradford, who also face a replay and who due to the congested Championship fixture list and the European conflict rules will only get a day off between matches when they play it in early April.
