EFL Cup

First topic message reminder :

Very happy with the win tonight. Expected, especially with the team selected but good to see no messing about, just in and out.

Sturridge looked very sharp and I think he should start against Spurs and actually through the middle this time. I'm hoping Can is still available, having him deeper and Henderson further forward is much more effective. 

A bit concerned that so many key players played with Tottenham more rested, but hopefully that has given them more confidence and gives players like Mane a chance to gel.

Also Matip has to be first choice for me, looks a real prospect.

If Liverpool pick Lucas over Can they at the weekend they deserve to lose quite frankly

Good Golly I'm Olly wrote:If Liverpool pick Lucas over Can they at the weekend they deserve to lose quite frankly

Hoping for neither to be honest. Henderson, Wijnaldum and Lallana should make up the 3 fitness permitting.

Good Golly I'm Olly wrote:If Liverpool pick Lucas over Can they at the weekend they deserve to lose quite frankly

Except Can has shown repeatedly this season that he doesn't have the discipline to start as the deepest midfielder. It's a shame as he excelled there last season but he's been really poor for a while now. I'd trust Lucas to play that role over Can right now. Lucas definitely played better than Can against Southampton.

Crimey wrote:

Good Golly I'm Olly wrote:If Liverpool pick Lucas over Can they at the weekend they deserve to lose quite frankly

Except Can has shown repeatedly this season that he doesn't have the discipline to start as the deepest midfielder. It's a shame as he excelled there last season but he's been really poor for a while now. I'd trust Lucas to play that role over Can right now. Lucas definitely played better than Can against Southampton.

The one time Lucas was asked to do anything remotely strenuous he literally fell flat on his face

It's like playing with 10 men when he plays

Good Golly I'm Olly wrote:

Crimey wrote:

Good Golly I'm Olly wrote:If Liverpool pick Lucas over Can they at the weekend they deserve to lose quite frankly

Except Can has shown repeatedly this season that he doesn't have the discipline to start as the deepest midfielder. It's a shame as he excelled there last season but he's been really poor for a while now. I'd trust Lucas to play that role over Can right now. Lucas definitely played better than Can against Southampton.

The one time Lucas was asked to do anything remotely strenuous he literally fell flat on his face

It's like playing with 10 men when he plays

Total rubbish. 

He's not great but he's better than the alternatives and I'd feel more comfortable with him playing there than Can or Kevin Stewart.

FT Liverpool 0-1 Southampton (0-2 on Agg)

Claude Puel's record of never losing a semi continues on.

I'm sure Mrs Puel appreciates that record more

It wasn't a set up at all *shifty eyes*

Southampton reach the final without conceding a goal

Liverpool choking in a big game? Well I never

Fair play to the Saints Fully deserved.

Klopp looking like he's gonna cry in the post match interview.

Even Brendan held it together at full time. Embarrassing.

Disappointing result. Just really struggled to break down teams recently, so many sides just sit deep and pack behind the ball and just can't get past them. The speed of the build up has to improve, too often recently it's just been sloppy balls slowing down the side, passing between the same two players, go wide and then a poor cross into the middle.

Feel it's mainly a mental thing at this stage, just need to break down a side comprehensively and then the goals will come, the confidence will return and will get back to our best.

It's a real shame that such a poor period of form has come at such a crucial time. Fair play to Southampton they played both legs pretty much perfectly from their point of view. 

Not sure you can criticise for being emotional, he's an emotional manager. I'd take him showing exactly how he's feeling every day over Brendan Rodger's David Brent act.

There's emotional and there's prickly and he was the latter.

Big 4 months coming up now for Klopp.

Absolutely bossed over the 2 legs by Southampton! Could have had 6 or 7 over the 2 legs. Fully deserved on their part. Good luck in the final.(Especially if it is United...).

Liverpool really seem to be crashing ATM. Nothing like the pre-Christmas team. At first I thought it was tiredness coupled with a lack of squad depth. Now it seems that teams have realized the easiest thing to do is sit with 10 men behind the ball as we struggle to break compact teams down and then wait for our leaky defense to gift them a number of chances from set pieces or any sort of decent counter.

Old Kloppy aint so chirpy when he loses is he....

Ibra has been incredible today. Behemoth. Defended brilliantly at the back and from the front, a leader, an incredible goalscorer.

Feel for Southampton, must be gutting to lose that

Justice if you ask me.

Congrats to United and more importantly Jose. Delighted the bloke has won another trophy. Fully deserved.

Justice?

Not sure Nick understands the meaning of justice

I bet United wish they had got Ibrahimovic a few years ago, as soon as Van Persie's form dropped off of a cliff and it was clear Rooney wasn't cutting it any more, he'd have been perfect. Him and United are perfectly suited.

The beeb have gone slightly into overdrive in hyping up a glorified reserve cup. Nice to have but United's season will be judged on CL qualification

Dolphin Ziggler wrote:Ibra has been incredible today. Behemoth. Defended brilliantly at the back and from the front, a leader, an incredible goalscorer.

Dolph - agreed. His character also particularly impressed me - clear that a fairly minor domestic final still meant a lot to him. Possibly a concern for United though that they should be so reliant on a 35 year old.

As for the Saints - early days but I do like the look of Gabbiadini. An instinct for goal and seeming to have a real buzz about him. Assuming he wasn't injured, I thought it was a mistake to take him off. Even if tiring, he was probably capable of springing back to life if a further opportunity came. Never been sold on Forster - can put his frame in the way but lacks agility and safe handling; yesterday didn't change that view.

Carabao Cup

Bristol City 2-1 Man Utd FT

Semi-Final Draw

Chelsea v Arsenal
Manchester City v Bristol City

Man City 3-0 Arsenal - Aguero, Silva & Kompany

Arsenal have been shocking, and City have barely got out of second gear.

Typical guardiola refs getting paid off so he can pretend to be a semi decent manager. Fernandinho should've been sent off. Second goal clear interference yet even with VRS the spineless FA gift slap head a trophy.

Gary Neville's commentary is starting to grate on me. Ever tried management, Gary?

All the running in the world aint gonna change anything here.

Manchester City close to £2bn investment for 7 trophies. Soon as the oil runs dry in the emirates they'll be defunct

Arsenal utterly embarrassing yet again

FreekShow wrote:Gary Neville's commentary is starting to grate on me. Ever tried management, Gary?

All the running in the world aint gonna change anything here.

He was spot on with every word though. Felt like he reflected the general apathy any neutral fan has when watching Arsenal year on year now

Doesn't matter who's setting the bar, Arsene is consistently several levels below it. Time for a change

This is embarrassing. Sarri wants Wily subbed on for pens, and Kepa refuses. Unbelievable scenes, such lack of authority from Sarri.

Crap final, barely a chance in the whole two hours. Then such a non drama over the non substitution, blown out of proportion- it wasn’t a tactical change, it was one made because of an injury, except Kepa said he wasn’t injured, so no change in the end.

Man City win the Carabao Cup

Some awful penalties struck during that lot, though Hazard's was class. Glad Sterling nailed the winning one.

Likely the end for Sarri but Kepa can't be allowed to get off lightly for that. Complete disrespect.

Kepa has surely played his last game for the club...

wisden wrote:Kepa has surely played his last game for the club...

Complete disrespect for his manager, but this will blow over. Sarri will be gone relatively soon anyway. Doubtful Chelsea lose faith in a £70m+ investment after half a season. Just looks like De Gea when he first arrived, physically not ready for the PL, and just needs time.

De Gea never showed blatant disrespect for his manager and team mates though...

Duty281 wrote:Then such a non drama over the non substitution, blown out of proportion-  it wasn’t a tactical change, it was one made because of an injury, except Kepa said he wasn’t injured, so no change in the end.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/47352319

Which is exactly what happened. Embarrassing level of 'journalism' from the usual suspects in the sporting media.

Sarri might have tried to put a lid on things  post game but I don't think he saw it as a misunderstanding when he almost left the stadium

Raheem hitting that penalty to piss off the Chelsea fans who racially abused him is a sweet kind of karma

Just John wrote:

wisden wrote:Kepa has surely played his last game for the club...

Complete disrespect for his manager, but this will blow over. Sarri will be gone relatively soon anyway.

Agreed, we're well past the point of anyone even pretending to think there's a chance Sarri will still be there in a few months, so this doesn't matter unless he does it again with a new manager.

QF Draw

Oxford United v Manchester City
Manchester United v Colchester United
Aston Villa v Liverpool
Everton v Leicester City

We’re a game away from when I care about this competition

Was hoping for an easier tie, Liverpool may put out a weak team. Talk of them wanting the tie moved, which surely can’t happen or them not playing it because of their fixture pile up. They have super club games I think.

Crazy to play those mid season.
We’ll take a bye

SF draw

Tottenham v Brentford
Man City v Man Utd

Nice draw for, Jose

EFL Cup Final

Tottenham v Man City

Pep’s men have their mojo back

C’mon Spurs