2:45pm ET, live in the US on beIN Sports.
Last four head-to-head:
1-0 Liverpool (a; League Cup) 09.22.09
2-2 (a) 02.29.04
3-1 Liverpool (h) 10.25.03
3-1 Liverpool (h) 03.23.03
Last three matches:
Liverpool: 2-0 Sunderland (h); 0-0 Southampton (a); 6-1 Watford (h)
Leeds: 2-1 Rotherham (a); 0-2 Newcastle (h); 3-2 Norwich (a)
Previous rounds:
Liverpool: 2-1 Tottenham (h); 3-0 Derby (a); 5-0 Burton Albion (a)
Leeds: 2-2 Norwich aet [3-2 pens] (h); 1-0 Blackburn (h); 1-0 Luton (a); 2-2 Fleetwood aet [5-4 pens] (a)
Goalscorers (all):
Liverpool: Coutinho, Firmino, Mané 6; Milner 5; Sturridge 4; Lallana, Origi 3; Can, Lovren 2; Henderson, Klavan, Matip, Wijnaldum 1
Leeds: Wood 12; Antonsson 3; Bartley, Doukara, Hernandez 2; Denton, Jansson, Phillips, Sacko, Vieira 1
Referee: Andre Marriner
Guess at a line-up:
Mignolet
Alexander-Arnold Lucas Klavan Moreno
Grujic Stewart Wijnaldum
Mané Origi Ejaria
It's been a long time since Liverpool faced Leeds, a fixture that used to be a serious rivalry, whether in the 70s, 80s, 90s, or very early 2000s. Leeds, mismanaged to near oblivion, have been bad for far too long, and I'm surprisingly pleased to see them at least getting closer to where they should be.
Pity this meeting couldn't happen under more favorable circumstances.
Coutinho's gonna be out for a while. Ugh. And this match comes too soon for Sturridge, Lallana, or Firmino to recover from their minor injuries.
So tomorrow's XI will probably look a lot like that which faced Tottenham in the last round: a seriously young lineup with 11 changes from Liverpool's previous league outing. 10 of those 11 are available – only Sturridge will be missing from that side – and I wouldn't be surprised to see them all. None of those kids – Alexander-Arnold, Grujic, Stewart, Ejaria, or Woodburn – were involved in today's u-23 match.
Who replaces Sturridge? I think it'll be Mané, with Klopp willing to risk one more senior player, but that could be dangerous given Liverpool's casualty list. Maybe it'll be Woodburn, who made his first appearance on Saturday. Maybe Ojo, who's been in training for two weeks now but is yet to even see the bench for the first team. Maybe Wijnaldum moves into attack with Henderson or Can keeping their place in midfield.
Liverpool *could* pick a stronger XI, with Henderson or Can or Matip or Lovren featuring as well. Klopp has often picked stronger-than-expected sides in cup matches. But the Tottenham game seems a more likely precedent. Liverpool have much, much bigger fish to fry this season and the squad's starting to look a little thin, especially in attack.
Currently fifth in the Championship, Leeds have lost just once in the last eight matches, against league-leading Newcastle. They don't score much – almost wholly reliant on Chris Wood – but they don't concede much either, allowing more than two goals in just two matches this season, and not since the end of August. They've a more than competent manager in Garry Monk, who lost all five of his matches against Liverpool while managing Swansea but gave Liverpool serious problems in four of them. They'll play 4-2-3-1, and they'll come at Liverpool, and it'll be up to Liverpool to deal and respond.
Chris Wood is the clear threat. Just 24 and a New Zealand international, playing well for his country each time I've seen him, he's scored 12 goals in all competitions this season. He had 13 in 37 appearances last season. He's a prototypical Championship striker: incredibly strong but skillful enough and quick enough to cause Premier League defenses problems, and very good from open play.
Otherwise, there's little I'm capable of telling you about their side. Rob Green will be in goal; he's often good for a laugh. Kyle Bartley, formerly of Swansea, will anchor their defense. Two former Premier League players, Liam Bridgett and Pablo Hernandez, will miss the match through injury. They've twice needed penalties to advance in this competition, but both of those saw a fairly heavily changed XI. Maybe it's hubris, but I doubt they'll do that when facing Liverpool, and my best guess is an XI similar to that they've used in the last few fixtures: Green; Ayling, Bartley, Jansson, Taylor; Phillips, O'Kane; Sacko, Roofe, Doukara; Wood.
As with every domestic cup match, it's icing on the cake for most fans. A chance to progress further as long as it's not at the expense of more important matters. A chance to see players we haven't seen enough of, especially the kids we've got such high hopes for.
It's up to those players to take their chance.
Showing posts with label Leeds. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Leeds. Show all posts
28 November 2016
22 September 2009
Liverpool 1-0 Leeds
Cavalieri
Degen Carragher Kyrgiakos Dossena
Mascherano
Babel Spearing Aurelio Riera
Ngog
Goals:
Ngog 66’
Much harder work than it should have been, plus Liverpool needed a little bit of luck. But it was never going to be easy in front of 30,000+ Leeds fans, and no matter how awful the first half was, Liverpool finally got going – and got the goal – in the second.
And make no mistake – the first half was sloppy as hell. Liverpool were overrun in midfield, Ngog was isolated up front, and the score was only level at halftime thanks to a questionable linesman’s flag.
Leeds don’t get many games like this in League One, and they were certainly up for it. Liverpool’s unfamiliar lineup found it hard to string passes together or create any opportunities, and were on the back foot for the majority of the first 45. Michael Doyle should have scored in the 11th when a cross found him for a free header, but the midfielder could only put it wide.
And the controversy came a minute later. From a corner (surprise, surprise!), Michalik headed goalwards, neither Beckford nor Cavalieri could get decent contact, and Beccio scooped it over the line. But he shouldn’t have. Beccio was ruled offside, and Michalik’s header would have gone in anyway after Cavalieri couldn’t claim. Phew. Lucky, lucky Liverpool yet again.
Leeds never got a chance as good as that one, but still bossed the half. Liverpool’s first shot on target was a tame Babel effort after a nice run that the keeper easily smothered on the half-hour mark. Riera should have opened the scoring in the 44th, but headed straight at Higgs from a wonderful Aurelio free kick. I mean – and no offense meant – but when Phillip Degen (Degen!) is your best player in the half, you’re not firing on all cylinders.
Benitez’s response was to switch Babel and Riera for the second half, meaning both players were on their weaker foot, and Leeds kept up the pressure. Carragher and Mascherano combined to cut out Crowe’s dangerous center after a one-two with the excellent Snodgrass in the 49th, while Cavalieri was lucky to block Beckford’s stabbed effort after the striker outpaced Carragher and Kyrgiakos to a ball over the top five minutes later.
But Liverpool finally settled, and finally saw more of the ball. Mascherano, who had been casual and frustrated all game long, was lucky to stay on the field after a petulant, needless elbow before a throw-in in the 59th. Unsurprisingly, it was the Argentinean who provided the assist seven minutes later. An Aurelio corner was cleared out to Mascherano, who put the ball back into a dangerous area. Ngog collected, turned beautifully, and beat Higgs. 1-0. Finally.
Despite the defensive frailties, Liverpool was never going to let the lead slip after that. I’m struggling to think of any chances for the home side to equalize, and Liverpool brought on Johnson, Gerrard, and Skrtel to see the match out. Aurelio had a free kick deflected over in the 86th, while Gerrard forced a good save in the final minute, but that was about it for goalmouth action on either end.
Obviously, Liverpool’s play was disappointing for long stretches. But that’s understandable with an unusual side against a determined opposition. Benitez is damned if you do and damned if you don’t in the Carling Cup. If the reserves get beat, he should have played the big guns. If a key player gets injured, he should have been rested. Regardless, the team still got the win.
But the midfield performance was still unforgivable. Most of the play bypassed Spearing, Mascherano, and Aurelio in the first half. Both Spearing and Mascherano gave the ball away constantly. Outside of Aurelio’s free kicks and corners (which are almost always dangerous, and he should be first choice to take them when he’s fit), I would have forgotten he was playing. Ngog got literally zero support in the first half; he’d win the ball from a long punt out of defense, have no one to pass it to, and Leeds would reclaim. Otherwise, I thought Ngog impressed, and deserves to be man of the match.
And, of course, luck had something to do with it. Liverpool were very fortunate they didn’t go behind in the 12th minute. Beccio had no need to touch the ball from an offside position – it was going in anyway thanks to Michalik’s header and Beckford’s pressure – and it’s still questionable whether the striker was offside (depends on whether Beckford got contact, and I don’t think he did). Leeds should have taken advantage when they had Liverpool on the back foot. When you don’t, teams like Liverpool will make you pay, even if it’s the second string.
No matter how it happened, Liverpool’s now in the draw for the 4th round, which will be played at the end of October. Good enough for me. Hull at Anfield on Saturday.
Degen Carragher Kyrgiakos Dossena
Mascherano
Babel Spearing Aurelio Riera
Ngog
Goals:
Ngog 66’
Much harder work than it should have been, plus Liverpool needed a little bit of luck. But it was never going to be easy in front of 30,000+ Leeds fans, and no matter how awful the first half was, Liverpool finally got going – and got the goal – in the second.
And make no mistake – the first half was sloppy as hell. Liverpool were overrun in midfield, Ngog was isolated up front, and the score was only level at halftime thanks to a questionable linesman’s flag.
Leeds don’t get many games like this in League One, and they were certainly up for it. Liverpool’s unfamiliar lineup found it hard to string passes together or create any opportunities, and were on the back foot for the majority of the first 45. Michael Doyle should have scored in the 11th when a cross found him for a free header, but the midfielder could only put it wide.
And the controversy came a minute later. From a corner (surprise, surprise!), Michalik headed goalwards, neither Beckford nor Cavalieri could get decent contact, and Beccio scooped it over the line. But he shouldn’t have. Beccio was ruled offside, and Michalik’s header would have gone in anyway after Cavalieri couldn’t claim. Phew. Lucky, lucky Liverpool yet again.
Leeds never got a chance as good as that one, but still bossed the half. Liverpool’s first shot on target was a tame Babel effort after a nice run that the keeper easily smothered on the half-hour mark. Riera should have opened the scoring in the 44th, but headed straight at Higgs from a wonderful Aurelio free kick. I mean – and no offense meant – but when Phillip Degen (Degen!) is your best player in the half, you’re not firing on all cylinders.
Benitez’s response was to switch Babel and Riera for the second half, meaning both players were on their weaker foot, and Leeds kept up the pressure. Carragher and Mascherano combined to cut out Crowe’s dangerous center after a one-two with the excellent Snodgrass in the 49th, while Cavalieri was lucky to block Beckford’s stabbed effort after the striker outpaced Carragher and Kyrgiakos to a ball over the top five minutes later.
But Liverpool finally settled, and finally saw more of the ball. Mascherano, who had been casual and frustrated all game long, was lucky to stay on the field after a petulant, needless elbow before a throw-in in the 59th. Unsurprisingly, it was the Argentinean who provided the assist seven minutes later. An Aurelio corner was cleared out to Mascherano, who put the ball back into a dangerous area. Ngog collected, turned beautifully, and beat Higgs. 1-0. Finally.
Despite the defensive frailties, Liverpool was never going to let the lead slip after that. I’m struggling to think of any chances for the home side to equalize, and Liverpool brought on Johnson, Gerrard, and Skrtel to see the match out. Aurelio had a free kick deflected over in the 86th, while Gerrard forced a good save in the final minute, but that was about it for goalmouth action on either end.
Obviously, Liverpool’s play was disappointing for long stretches. But that’s understandable with an unusual side against a determined opposition. Benitez is damned if you do and damned if you don’t in the Carling Cup. If the reserves get beat, he should have played the big guns. If a key player gets injured, he should have been rested. Regardless, the team still got the win.
But the midfield performance was still unforgivable. Most of the play bypassed Spearing, Mascherano, and Aurelio in the first half. Both Spearing and Mascherano gave the ball away constantly. Outside of Aurelio’s free kicks and corners (which are almost always dangerous, and he should be first choice to take them when he’s fit), I would have forgotten he was playing. Ngog got literally zero support in the first half; he’d win the ball from a long punt out of defense, have no one to pass it to, and Leeds would reclaim. Otherwise, I thought Ngog impressed, and deserves to be man of the match.
And, of course, luck had something to do with it. Liverpool were very fortunate they didn’t go behind in the 12th minute. Beccio had no need to touch the ball from an offside position – it was going in anyway thanks to Michalik’s header and Beckford’s pressure – and it’s still questionable whether the striker was offside (depends on whether Beckford got contact, and I don’t think he did). Leeds should have taken advantage when they had Liverpool on the back foot. When you don’t, teams like Liverpool will make you pay, even if it’s the second string.
No matter how it happened, Liverpool’s now in the draw for the 4th round, which will be played at the end of October. Good enough for me. Hull at Anfield on Saturday.
21 September 2009
Liverpool at Leeds 09.22.09
2:45pm, live in the US on espn360.com. Supposedly, ESPN360 is the only US outlet. My internet provider doesn’t get it. Most people I know don’t get it. Super.
Setanta has US rights for Carling Cup too, but they’re not showing a Tuesday game. Hopefully they’ll be a stream somewhere.
Last 3 matches:
Liverpool: 3-2 West Ham (a); 1-0 Debrecen (h); 4-0 Burnley (h)
Leeds: 4-1 Gillingham (h); 0-0 Southend (a); 2-0 Stockport (h)
Referee: Alan Wiley
Guess at a squad:
Cavalieri
Degen Skrtel Kyrgiakos Aurelio
Spearing Mascherano
Babel Voronin Riera
Ngog
Good luck guessing the right mix of reserves, youngsters, and senior players. The only player I’m certain about is Cavalieri, who gets all the cup games. But I’ve a few educated guesses.
First and foremost, I do not want to see Gerrard, Torres, Kuyt, Benayoun, Johnson, or Carragher start under any circumstances. All are too vital to the team, and all could do with the rest. I do want to see both Babel and Riera, though. Babel’s had two decent appearances off the bench and merits a longer test (even though I still think he’s better as a sub), while Riera didn’t start against the Hammers.
Normally, this would be a perfect game for Lucas. Honestly, I’d like to see him captain the side. It’d be a great, and deserved, confidence boost for the lad. But with Aquilani yet to feature, Lucas is crucial, and probably won’t be risked here as he’s started every game so far. But Mascherano, recently back from injury, didn’t start against either Burnley or Debrecen and should be fresher. Otherwise, the alternative is Spearing/Plessis, which is probably too defensive for this game. However, Plessis might be suspended after picking up a red card for the reserves on Thursday.
Skrtel could probably use a game off after Saturday’s performance as well. But with Agger just back to training after another injury, it’s probably too soon. Which would leave Ayala and Kyrgiakos as the centerbacks. Ayala did fine against Stoke, and would probably do fine here, but I’d rather see Skrtel get time with Kyrgiakos to see if there’s something to the pairing.
We should, however, hopefully see the return of Aurelio. He’s come off the bench in the last two games, and seems to be back to full fitness. This is the perfect game to see just how fit he is, and whether he can give Insua competition for the regular left back berth.
Other youngsters who could feature are Pacheco (who did well in preseason), Darby (Degen seems more likely in case he’s needed in a real game, while Kelly’s away with the U20s), or Amoo (who’s been in sparkling form for the reserves), but Benitez has always been reluctant to throw too many youth players into the Carling Cup.
Leeds finally look like they’ll be back in the Championship next season, although it’s admittedly very early. But they’re unbeaten to start the season, with seven wins and one draw to start the League One campaign. They’ve held onto Jermaine Beckford, who’ll be the dangerman, and is top scorer with six goals.
The Carling Cup is still the Carling Cup. It’s still last on the list of priorities. But after three years, a trophy is a trophy is a trophy, and Liverpool could do with continuing to rack up wins.
Setanta has US rights for Carling Cup too, but they’re not showing a Tuesday game. Hopefully they’ll be a stream somewhere.
Last 3 matches:
Liverpool: 3-2 West Ham (a); 1-0 Debrecen (h); 4-0 Burnley (h)
Leeds: 4-1 Gillingham (h); 0-0 Southend (a); 2-0 Stockport (h)
Referee: Alan Wiley
Guess at a squad:
Cavalieri
Degen Skrtel Kyrgiakos Aurelio
Spearing Mascherano
Babel Voronin Riera
Ngog
Good luck guessing the right mix of reserves, youngsters, and senior players. The only player I’m certain about is Cavalieri, who gets all the cup games. But I’ve a few educated guesses.
First and foremost, I do not want to see Gerrard, Torres, Kuyt, Benayoun, Johnson, or Carragher start under any circumstances. All are too vital to the team, and all could do with the rest. I do want to see both Babel and Riera, though. Babel’s had two decent appearances off the bench and merits a longer test (even though I still think he’s better as a sub), while Riera didn’t start against the Hammers.
Normally, this would be a perfect game for Lucas. Honestly, I’d like to see him captain the side. It’d be a great, and deserved, confidence boost for the lad. But with Aquilani yet to feature, Lucas is crucial, and probably won’t be risked here as he’s started every game so far. But Mascherano, recently back from injury, didn’t start against either Burnley or Debrecen and should be fresher. Otherwise, the alternative is Spearing/Plessis, which is probably too defensive for this game. However, Plessis might be suspended after picking up a red card for the reserves on Thursday.
Skrtel could probably use a game off after Saturday’s performance as well. But with Agger just back to training after another injury, it’s probably too soon. Which would leave Ayala and Kyrgiakos as the centerbacks. Ayala did fine against Stoke, and would probably do fine here, but I’d rather see Skrtel get time with Kyrgiakos to see if there’s something to the pairing.
We should, however, hopefully see the return of Aurelio. He’s come off the bench in the last two games, and seems to be back to full fitness. This is the perfect game to see just how fit he is, and whether he can give Insua competition for the regular left back berth.
Other youngsters who could feature are Pacheco (who did well in preseason), Darby (Degen seems more likely in case he’s needed in a real game, while Kelly’s away with the U20s), or Amoo (who’s been in sparkling form for the reserves), but Benitez has always been reluctant to throw too many youth players into the Carling Cup.
Leeds finally look like they’ll be back in the Championship next season, although it’s admittedly very early. But they’re unbeaten to start the season, with seven wins and one draw to start the League One campaign. They’ve held onto Jermaine Beckford, who’ll be the dangerman, and is top scorer with six goals.
The Carling Cup is still the Carling Cup. It’s still last on the list of priorities. But after three years, a trophy is a trophy is a trophy, and Liverpool could do with continuing to rack up wins.
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