Liverpool manager Kenny Dalglish has sprung another minor surprise tonight by leaving Jose Enrique on the bench for the Carling Cup semi-final first leg against Manchester City.
Starting line-up:
Reina, Kelly, Skrtel, Agger, Johnson, Gerrard, Spearing, Downing, Henderson, Bellamy, Carroll
Subs : Jose Enrique, Coates, Kuyt, Carragher, Shelvey, Adam, Doni
It seems likely that Johnson will play at left-back, with Kelly on the right, but quite why Dalglish would want to play Johnson out of position in such an important game like this is beyond me, but maybe there's some method to his madness.
Of course, the same principle applies if it's Kelly who plays on the left.
Maxi doesn't even make the squad, and he's definitely not injured because both Steve Clarke and Kenny Dalglish have confirmed that there are no new injury worries.
Jaimie Kanwar
Starting line-up:
Reina, Kelly, Skrtel, Agger, Johnson, Gerrard, Spearing, Downing, Henderson, Bellamy, Carroll
Subs : Jose Enrique, Coates, Kuyt, Carragher, Shelvey, Adam, Doni
It seems likely that Johnson will play at left-back, with Kelly on the right, but quite why Dalglish would want to play Johnson out of position in such an important game like this is beyond me, but maybe there's some method to his madness.
Of course, the same principle applies if it's Kelly who plays on the left.
Maxi doesn't even make the squad, and he's definitely not injured because both Steve Clarke and Kenny Dalglish have confirmed that there are no new injury worries.
Jaimie Kanwar
Where's Maxi??? :S
ReplyDeleteeffing Downing again??? i'm starting to question Dalglish now.
ReplyDeleteHe scored last game. He's our best bet to provide decent service to Carroll too, despite recent form.
ReplyDeleteEnrique's defensive work has been brilliant hardly put a foot wrong, the last few games he hasn't been effective enough going forward and his crossing has been a let down also been going for glory a bit to often.
ReplyDeleteJohnson filled in well at left back last season Kelly had a real good game against Oldham it freshens up the back 4 for a game who looked to flat against City in the last game no over lapping runs to get round the back of City.
Leaving Maxi out of the squad completely, if he's not injured, is stupid. They should drop one of Coates or Carra from the bench to make room.
ReplyDeleteEnrique deserves a rest and Kelly is an able deputy. I'm guessing it'll be Johnson on the left like last season, which will let Downing start on the left and not have him and Enrique making the same runs. Johnson can cut in and Downing go wide.
it was Oldham for goodness sake! Best thing for us is if Downing gets injured and sidelined for months. You can provide pinpoint crosses to Carroll and he wont score. He doesn't want to be a LFC, why can't people see that?
ReplyDeletebiggest load of toss ive read in ages
ReplyDeleteDidn't Downing provide that pin point cross for Carroll?
ReplyDeleteDowning needs to find more space to start is runs from, when he gets going he can threaten but hasn't done as much as we hoped .
Really interesting info
ReplyDeleteI appreciate what Maxi has done this season, and at the tail end of last season, but I think Man City is one of those teams that everyone has to be running that little bit extra to close down the opposition, and concentration has to be high. I prefer Downing going head on against Richards than Rodriguez. You have to admit, that even though Maxi has scored goals, he does seem aloof at times during a game.
ReplyDeleteNow its henderson going down the left wing...where the f*** is downing AGAIN!! Hiding as usual shows more heart when taking on women!! Thank god we are playing well...
ReplyDeleteHe's hard of hearing, Dalglish told him "Hit the goal!" and he heard "Hit the girl!"
ReplyDeleteI don't understand why my comment was deleted.
ReplyDeleteI just said it was interesting to see the line-up info for this big game
Andy Carroll has been his usual self this evening - largely ineffective. His ball control and dribbling skills are very poor. He did do some impressive falling over though but was otherwise totally dominated by Micah Richards. The switch to having Carroll alone upfront was doomed to miserable failure. Henderson didn't impress either. Shelvey should have come on when Spearing was injured early on. Damn, we miss Suarez. Still at least we won.
ReplyDeleteWhat a mess Dalglish made of the tactics in the second half.
ReplyDeleteI bet you would have made the exact same comment if we lost?
ReplyDeleteWe have just beaten City in their own back yard, how many teams have managed to do that lately and we are on step away from a cup final. Get over yourself.
I don't know if we stopped City playing or they stopped themselves playing they were poor, they were there for the taking in the first half should of got more then 1.
ReplyDeleteYep, wasn't thrilled with a number of Kenny's choices today and think we got let off by a poor City performance but when all is said and done, we won at City which is rare and excellent achievement.
ReplyDeleteI reckon Kenny would have had Sundays game on his mind when City came alive in the second half,but
ReplyDeletenot tonight played into their hands abit but we stopped them scoring and except for
Kellys back pass intercepted by Aguero we held out pretty comfortably.
What negative nonsense does Kanwar have to say next?
ReplyDeleteIf you know the game so well, perhaps you should apply for the Manager's role? I'm sure they'd love to get your resume. What is it like to be a professional football manager?
ReplyDeleteWhere was Downing today? Do you have your eyes open when you watch a LFC game?
ReplyDeleteMy comment keeps getting deleted... I just said how interesting it was to read the team news for such a big game.
ReplyDeleteJaimie, at least give me a reason why you keep deleting it when there is NOTHING abusive or anything.
I'm saying it's GREAT that you put up the teams for us to see... what's wrong with that??
Downing needs space, Downing needs confidence, Downing needs to settle in...blah blah blah. Accept it mate Downing and Carroll are simply not good enough.
ReplyDeleteThere are over 20 strikers in the league who can play Carroll's role better than him. I'd go as far as saying they are playing in teams below us.
Downing needs shooting! Got the space and then passed backwards!
ReplyDeleteCarroll has the look of a man who has spent to much time in the gym he has lost all his strength in his legs and upper body his legs look like jelly.
Why, why, why is Jaimie deleting my comments?
ReplyDeleteThere is absolutely no reason for it... unless he is trying to hide something.
I thought the Lads played brilliant in attack in the first half and then brilliant in defence in the second. We did exactly what we needed to get the result. No LFC fan should be having a cry about that effort we are the only team all season to keep Man City goalless on their turf and to set ourselves up for Anfield next week the way we did was Awesome. Gerrard back is the biggest "IN" for any side in the premiership all season and now we are raring to go for the second half of the season. We are perfectly placed for a SERIOUS crack fourth.
ReplyDeleteI worry abit for Saturday's game against Stoke. Our boys will be quite fatigued and won't be able to play at their best. Johnson looks like he needs a rest, so does Adam who had to play when Spearing cramped. You can also be sure all of Gerrard, Downing, Henderson and Bellamy will be losing a yard or so of pace come the Stoke game.
ReplyDeleteInteresting starting lineup though, aside from Reina, Skrtel and Agger, we pretty much fielded a British team.
Yes, I would have.
ReplyDeleteCredit to the lads for holding out for the win, even though City weren't at the races.
Yes, we won, but doesn't mean we were perfect and we were nowhere near it. Got away with it because of City non-existent attacking penetration, which we defended comfortably. We showed nothing on the counter attack either, inviting non-stop (but non-existent penetrative attacking play) pressure from City.
It was a strange comfortable win, considering both sides didn't play well. But a win is a win.
I think you should get over yourself, if you think we should celebrate this win like it was a small club beating a full-strength City in peak form.
I don't know about you but I expect higher standards of my club.
The amateur-like tactical changes Dalglish made during the second half involving G Johnson was comical and embarrassing. What a cock up that was, luckily for us it wasn't costly.
We should make the final, as we have a solid record at Anfield.
Your right its a rarity for a top level club to have so many british players in such a big game these days. Man U play a few but besides them Arsenal, Chelsea, Man City and Tottenham all have alot less british top liners than us. Its great to see really and i'm an Aussie!!!
ReplyDeleteglad we agree on Downing and Carroll!
ReplyDeleteHaving analysed Downing and Carroll all season, I'll stick my neck out and say neither player will be successful at LFC.
Downing's attitude stinks, he's lazy and just doesn't posses the ability at this level.
Without a doubt Downing will have a good period this season where he scores a few goals and assists but that's not good enough.
As for Carroll? we're stuck with him, personally I'd loan him out rather than sell him at 15m which for this club is an enormous loss financially.
On last night performance! Downing won't be effective until Carroll is back to where he was at. We need to get Carroll's strength back, god knows what they have been doing to him he his a weakling compared to the player at Newcastle.
ReplyDeleteI agree with u mate, we should have high expectations all the time and a winning mentality...it separates the men from the Boyz. We as a club have become too much of a soft touch and make too many excuses for our performances theses days. Blaming the crossbar, good goalkeeping, referee, poor finishing, owners,new playersbad luck. Yeah u can use this once or twice but not for a half a season. Just look at newcastle, they have not had a alot of money to spend and the owners are not great but do u see the fans or people around the place using that as an excuse. We always look to blame someone else. Too many farmers and not enough hunters round the club.
ReplyDelete