Liverpool v Man City Carling Cup 2nd leg match review

Liverpool through to the final after thrilling cup tie.
By Paul Hampton

Spoiler:

Anfield

Score: 2-2 (Liverpool win 3-2 on aggregate)

Scorers

Liverpool: Gerrard, Bellamy

Manchester City: De Jong, Dzeko


Liverpool took a 1-0 first leg lead in to tonight's game, attempting to return to Wembley for the first time since the infamous white suit incident, and the big news coming from Anfield before the game was that Liverpool had decided to leave out the £35 million striker Andy Carroll, instead opting for a combination of Dirk Kuyt and Craig Bellamy. Manchester City included David Silva, who was absent for the first leg. A sold out Anfield welcomed the players with the fans singing You'll Never Walk Alone as loud as they could.

Manchester City got the came under way, playing five at the back to provide Savic with some extra cover. City, attempting to play a quick tempo from the start, played themselves in to trouble and if not for a superb save from Hart, one on one with Enrique, would have been further behind after just three minutes; Downing sliced the follow up wide when it was easier to score. Liverpool created the early pressure, but besides the Enrique chance opportunities were few, and Hart again kept things level when Bellamy got away from Savic only to strike it straight at the England number one. The deadlock was broken on the half hour, and completely against the run of play. David Silva cut inside, both Gerrard and Adam tried to close him down leaving De Jong open. Falling over as he struck the ball, it curled in to the top of corner of the Liverpool net rendering Reina helpless, and while the goal had an element of luck, it was what City were in need of.

For the 15 minutes that followed it was a sea of red flowing towards the City goal, attack after attack came for Liverpool with no real breakthrough, The Liverpool goal also had a degree of luck involved. The ball fell to Agger on the edge of the area to hit first time, Richards trying to get the block was unlucky to have the ball deflect off his boot and up on to his hand, Phil Dowd pointed straight to the spot and Gerrard did the rest. It was not an undeserved goal as Liverpool were certainly the better side in the first half. For some reason when Dowd was confronted by Manchester City players he indicated that Richards had his arms in the air; I believe that when he watches the incident again he'll realise that he made the wrong choice.

Mancini reacted to the poor first half from Savic, taking him off and replacing him with Aguero. The second half started the same as the first, fast and frantic; Skrtel and Kuyt both forcing superb savings from Hart in the first 10 minutes. In the first leg Liverpool sat back and defended doggedly in the second half, in this game there was no sign of this happening. Liverpool were controlling the game and it was City who were forced to try and hit on the break, Bellamy missed a glorious chance on the hour to put some distance between the two teams but missed his kick. As with the first goal, City's second was against the run of play, Kolorov put a cross in from the right and all the Liverpool defenders allowed it across the six yard area for Dzeko to tap in at the far post; it looked like Bellamy's miss would come back to haunt him.

Liverpool had to respond. Johnson, who had been caught out of position for City's second goal, continued to maraud forward looking for chances. He got that chance, Kuyt worked the ball in to Bellamy inside the box, Bellamy laid the ball to Johnson first time, but instead of pulling the trigger he pulled it back to Bellamy who slotted the ball underneath the keeper to restore Liverpool's advantage. It was quick, incisive passing, it was Liverpool at their very best and there was no answer from the defenders. This left City needing to push on, they needed to look for another goal, on came Adam Johnson and he was put through on goal by Dzeko's superb pass, however seemed to lose all momentum and his tame shot was straight at the Liverpool keeper. As time wound down Liverpool dug in, Bellamy came off to a standing ovation from a delighted Anfield crowd and on came Martin Kelly. Wave after wave of City attack came at Liverpool, Dzeko and Aguero, who had been quiet during his time on the pitch both had guilt edged chances as the clock wound down, but Liverpool wouldn't be denied.

Dalglish will undoubtedly be ecstatic after tonight's performance. After losing 3-1 to Bolton on Saturday in what was the worst performance from this Liverpool team since he took over 12 months ago, to come from behind, not once but twice against Manchester City underlines what this performance was all about, and showed that on their day this Liverpool team can match the best in the league. Liverpool were the better team in both games and deserve to be going to Wembley to face Cardiff. Bellamy was outstanding again tonight, could he be the man to lead the line while Suarez remains suspended, and if yes what does that mean for Andy Carroll?


Man of the Match: Craig Bellamy


Liverpool: Reina, Johnson, Skrtel, Agger, Jose Enrique, Henderson, Adam, Downing, Gerrard, Bellamy, Kuyt. Subs: Doni, Carroll, Maxi, Coates, Carragher, Shelvey, Kelly.

Man City: Hart, Richards, Savic, Lescott, Kolarov, De Jong, Barry, Zabaleta, Silva, Nasri, Dzeko. Subs: Pantilimon, Milner, Johnson, Aguero, Hargreaves, Clichy, Rekik.

Very surprised at the controversy over Richards' penalty.
Had the ball ricochetted off someone else, that might be a different matter, but he launched himself towards the ball with his arms in the air, certainly away from his body. Could have been a fantastic block, but came down risk raher than reward.
Penalty! Good decision.

A very good result, showing much more fight than we did for the Bolton game.

Although some are obviously going to say that the Carling Cup is a mediocre competition that no other teams cared about, I think the strength of City's side last night shows that it does matter, Mancini brought off Savic and brought on Aguero to try to get to the final rather than rest any of his players for the upcoming Premier League game.

To win the Carling Cup this year would be great, it might get a bit of belief back in the side as well as guaranteeing European football next year I believe.

Agreed invincible. It was so hard to write this article from a neutral stand point.

Reckon Cardiff will be too strong for the Merseyside minnows.

kwinigolfer wrote:Very surprised at the controversy over Richards' penalty.
Had the ball ricochetted off someone else, that might be a different matter, but he launched himself towards the ball with his arms in the air, certainly away from his body. Could have been a fantastic block, but came down risk raher than reward.
Penalty! Good decision.

Awful decision.

You cant slide with your arms by your side. It his his foot first. Sadly it looks as though the odious Kenny will get a trophy for the Steven Gerrard Brigade.

Bit lucky with the pen but we deserved to go through over the two leg's and we would have hammered city 3 time's this season if it was'nt for Joe Hart having 3 very good game's against us, we got a bit of luck with the pen but we deserved the luck.