Marko vs Kifisia - Cup

The Cup returns to the home ground on September 2, 2026, where Marko and Kifisia will lock horns in a contest that could shape their respective campaigns. The left-back was taken off in the final minutes against Everton with cramp, and was not risked for the Champions League clash vs Sabah on Thursday.

A glance at the Cup table tells the story: Marko in 9th and Kifisia in 10th, with positions to defend and places to climb. The hosts will hope that the the home ground crowd can inspire a performance, whatever the numbers suggest. Kifisia's away form is hard to read, but they will arrive with the belief that they can trouble their hosts. Larson’s long-term plans have attracted renewed attention following teammate Alex Bowman’s recent announcement that he intends to retire from full-time Cup Series competition at the end of the 2027 season.

Stylistically, this is a compelling matchup. Marko favour a patient, possession-based approach, whereas Kifisia are at their most dangerous when allowed to hit quickly on the counter. It isn't clear yet that this will definitely be a winger, with Maresca and sporting director Hugo Viana flexible over their attack.

Game-changers are scattered across both line-ups, and the contest may well be decided by which side's match-winners deliver on the day. Set-piece specialists and aerial threats on both sides mean dead-ball situations could carry outsized importance. Aston Villa are facing a major decision over Ollie Watkins after Al Hilal officially stepped up their pursuit of the England striker.

Predicting an outright winner is no easy task given how little separates the two sides on paper. On balance, Marko look well-placed to claim all three points, and a 2-1 home win would not come as a surprise. The ramifications of this result could ripple through the Cup standings for weeks to come, regardless of who comes out on top. Joe Gomez is expected to miss the start of Liverpool's Premier League campaign through injury - but it is not likely to impact the Reds' transfer plans.