Livermore well up for the cup
Jake Livermore believes the prospect of a home quarter-final can see Hull over the line in their FA Cup fifth-round replay against Brighton.
The Tigers looked to be heading out of the competition when they visited the Amex Stadium last week, but Ivorian striker Yannick Sagbo forced the return fixture when he made it 1-1 in the closing minutes.
The timing of the match has brought plenty of puzzled looks, with both sides asked to play again little more than 48 hours after their last league encounters.
Any weariness in the Hull ranks will have been mitigated by the importance of their 4-0 win at Cardiff, and now all eyes are on the cup and a potential Wembley visit.
The winners will meet Sunderland on home turf in the last eight and Livermore sees that as a prize well worth fighting for.
"Every game is massive but we've been dangled a great carrot with another home tie after this one," Livermore told Tigers Player.
"It's a massive thing for the club to keep striving for. We want to be a big club and we want to win things.
"We had an amazing amount of fans at Cardiff and we owe them something to look forward to as well as ourselves."
Livermore, on a season-long loan from Tottenham, has been a key figure for Hull in their first term back in the top flight.
He was among a number of first-choice players rested in the early rounds of both knockout competitions but his impressive fitness levels mean he could be one of those asked to play for the second time in three days.
If that is the case, he would relish the challenge.
"Of course I want to play. I'm 24 years of age and this is the first run of games I've had for a long time," he added.
"It's a massive thing to look forward to."
Changes can be expected elsewhere, though, with manager Steve Bruce wary of incurring further injuries to a thin squad that may already be missing Paul McShane and Robbie Brady for the rest of the campaign.
Central defender Alex Bruce and Livermore's one-time Tottenham team-mate Tom Huddlestone both suffered knocks at Cardiff and are at the head of the queue for a break.
Abdoulaye Faye is next in line at the back, while Stephen Quinn, Robert Koren and George Boyd are all hoping for recalls in the middle.
Bruce's arm has been twisted in attack, with on-form strike pairing Nikica Jelavic and Shane Long cup-tied with Everton and West Brom respectively.
"It'll be a case of those who are fit are in," said Bruce.
"Jelavic and Long can't play so the likes of Yannick Sagbo, Sone Aluko and Koren come in. They're all part of the squad and I expect to get through."
Brighton will check on teenage winger Solly March, who missed Saturday's 2-1 home defeat by Wigan with a minor hamstring problem but could yet make the trip to the KC Stadium.
Boss Oscar Garcia will have to make at least one enforced change to his starting line-up as midfielder Dale Stephens is cup-tied.
Leonardo Ulloa, who scored his fourth goal in four games against Wigan, is expected to play on despite an ankle problem.
Garcia said: "Leo is trying his best and I will see how the players are ahead of Monday.
"Some of them are really tired and we have some knocks, but I can't complain. We are flying there and will do our best. We will have a go."
Source: PA
