Bogdon Saves the Day

The Capital One Cup often seems like the proverbial red-headed step-child when it comes to footballing tournaments in England.  It is fraught with landmines and is a no-win scenario for many teams.  Most fans don't care enough about it, unless you reach the semifinals.  However, if you lose or underperform, then there is hell to pay.  It's a scenario for larger teams that is hard to deal with.  It's hard to get up to play the lesser sides, not only due to prestige but also due to the lack of preparation.  There is less time and less film available for study.

That said, it was a bad day with a good result for the men in red.  Liverpool came out with a strong side on the field and looked to smash this game to pieces in the early going.  The Reds seemed to create a quality scoring opportunity just about every minute for the opening five and about every two minutes thereafter.  Danny Ings was a man possessed as he seems determined to make his case for a starting spot on the weekends in league matches (He may get his opportunity anyway due to an apparent Benteke injury earlier this week).

Ings was flying around the field with reckless abandon, going after headballs, launching shots from distance and creating havoc in the box.  He was rewarded with a solid headball goal in the 23rd minute.  It seemed that he was willing Liverpool to what could have been an easy win.  Instead, things took a turn for the worse.

Liverpool conceded only 11 minutes later.  Derek Asamoah connected and stuck the ball in the back of the net to even the score at one and that was all that Carlisle United would need.  Liverpool created chances late on in the first half, but the second half was nothing but frustration.  The Reds were forced, by a combination of stout defense and pure frustration, to settle for long shots or driving the ball down to the endline and looking for crosses with a sea of blue in the area.  Liverpool dominated the possession but could not crack the wall.

Going back to the earlier point of these matches being a no-win scenario, the offensive frustration can be looked at in two ways.  One:  it was extremely disappointing to fail to score a second goal again.  Liverpool have failed to score more than one in every match this year.  Two:  it is extremely difficult, no matter the level of opposition, to score when the opponent is literally placing all 10 field players within five yards of the penalty area.  Liverpool did all they could really, but Carlisle did everything they could, short of just placing everyone on the goal line, to keep the ball out.

Extra energy had to be wasted as Coutinho came in as a sub and the game went to extra time.  More bad luck for Liverpool as Dejan Lovren went up for a header late in the second extra period and came down awkwardly on his right ankle.  The defender had to be stretchered off with what appears to have been a broken ankle.  Many fans may not miss his presence (myself not among them), but it is never good to see someone on the team you support taken off in such a manner.

So, the contest went to penalties and hearts sank among the Anfield faithful and those watching around the world.  The pendulum of momentum seemed to be on David's side and you could sense it would not favor the Goliath in red.  But, things never turn out quite as expected whether good or bad.  Adam Bogdan, who got his first start for Liverpool and was rarely tested throughout the match, came up huge for his club.

The young goalkeeper seemed to have foresight when it came to each shot.  Bogdan stopped the first shot, guessed correctly on the second and fourth and stopped the third and final shot from Carlisle.  Liverpool, much to the worry of fans, looked a bit shaky.  The first two shots were taken coolly.  Then Lallana was stopped and Coutinho as well.  However, the team ultimately scored enough and Bogdan was up to his task and Liverpool will carry on to the round of 16 in the Capital One Cup.

Things are still not all well at Anfield.  Injuries are playing a part, but there is still not enough solidity in terms of a formation.  The attack seems to have found a purpose, but still cannot find its way in terms of finishing.  Brendan Rodgers' seat is red hot at this point, despite FSG claiming they still back the Irishman.  A win on the weekend could go a long way to help matters, but fans will not be soothed so easily.  Liverpool, regardless of where you choose to put any blame, still have a lot of work to do.

Random Thoughts:
- I was tuned into the social media feeds during the game.  For the love of all that is holy, people need to come up with better arguments to fire the manager.  If you don't like his team selection or formation or transfer signings then fine.  But every time a goal is conceded everyone screams "Sack the manager!"  We've all played the game at some level and I don't remember a time at any point in my career where anything a manger said really made a huge difference in my performance for good or ill.  Maybe I just didn't have great coaches.  I readily concede that Rodgers' time at Liverpool may be short, but there are so many other things to pick from rather than a goal conceded.  Last time I checked, managers aren't allowed on the pitch.

- Today's game was more evidence that Liverpool have to go with a two striker setup.  Fine, they did not have Sturridge or Benteke available.  But you have to start picking a formation and setting the players up in it.  That is my biggest frustration with Rodgers at this point.  He is more than willing to play players out of position, but he doesn't seem to want to stick to a formation and force the players into said formation.

Walk On