Carling Cup
Arsenal v Liverpool
Alberto Aquilani is on the bench for tonight’s Carling Cup tie against Arsenal at the Emirates and could make his first-team debut at some point in the proceedings.
Although the match is officially a first-team fixture, the starting line-up has nine changes to the one that beat Manchester United on Sunday and more closely resembles a reserve side.
Diego Cavalieri gets a rare start in place of Pepe Reina who drops to the bench. The back four only features Emiliano Insua from Sunday’s game, with Philip Degen hoping to last the full 90 minutes as the other full-back. Martin Skrtel partners Sotirios Kyrgiakos at centre-back.
In midfield are Plessis and Spearing; we’ll see after kick-off how Rafa intends to use Babel, Kuyt (captain for the night), Voronin and scorer on Sunday David Ngog.
Arsenal: 21 Fabianski, 6 Senderos, 18 Silvestre, 28 Gibbs, 37 Eastmond, 42 Gilbert, 8 Nasri, 16 Ramsey, 32 Merida, 9 Eduardo, 52 Bendtner
Subs: 53 Szczesny, 34 Bartley, 35 Coquelin, 41 Frimpong, 48 Randall, 51 Sunu, 54 Watt
Liverpool: 1 Cavalieri, 16 Kyrgiakos, 22 Insua, 27 Degen, 37 Skrtel, 26 Spearing, 28 Plessis, 10 Voronin, 18 Kuyt, 19 Babel, 24 Ngog
Subs: 25 Reina, 32 Darby, 38 Dossena, 40 Ayala, 04 Aquilani, 15 Benayoun, 39 Eccleston
Referee: Mike Riley
Kick-off: 7.45pm
Voronin responsible for Arsenals first goal. He really is a waste of space. How many times did he give the ball away tonight?? Garbage. A really poor poor player.
Should have won that tonight. The Arse were there for the taking.
Degen, Insua, Kuyt and Aqualani all looked good. Benitez’s substitutions baffled me again, i just dont know what he sees in some players. Plessis was quiet tonight. I do rate him but he didnt seem to get invovled enough for me.
All in all i dont think the team showed enough passion or fight to win this game.
I know our squad cant compete on all fronts, but i cant help feeling this was a trophy we could have won this season. The league is still on, but the importance of the champions league game next week at Lyon is huge, massive.
We need a centre forward in January, there is no two ways about it. Voronin couldnt finish a happy meal.
Arsenals youngsters do look the business. They play with huge confidence all over the park, but they did look beatable in the last 15mins.
It was great to see Aquilani on the pitch at long last. I do get a good feeling about him. I would have left Ngog on the field as well as he is more likely to score than Voronin.
Shame were out but onwards and upwards. Looks like Gerrard will play on Saturday along with Torres. Important to keep winning now and put a run together. Its a good chance to end our run of away loses.
Fulham will come at us, which should work in our favour. Never thought id here myself say this but we could have done with Lucas in the middle of the park tonight.
go cantos thats the way hehe
Hey, more good points than usual, im spoiling you, haha
Not fussed to be honest! Essentially we need to play our way back into contention in the league by getting a few wins under our belt. The fixture list for November looks like this (I think!):
Saturday, 31 October 2009
Arsenal v Tottenham, 12:45
Fulham v Liverpool, 15:00
Sunday, 8 November 2009
Chelsea v Man Utd, 16:00
Monday, 9 November 2009
Liverpool v Birmingham, 20:00
Saturday, 21 November 2009
Liverpool v Man City, 12:45
Man Utd v Everton, 17:30
Sunday, 29 November 2009
Arsenal v Chelsea, 16:00
Everton v Liverpool, 13:30
I’m not making any comments bar if we have a good November then we’re back in the league. It’s not going to be easy though, so here’s hoping we get a result against Fulham to start with!
Personally i think we played really well last nite. I was proud of the lads. Before the game i was worried about Spearing and Plessis in the heart of midfield but they did well. Ngog now looks a different player after gaining confidence of the wkend. If he keeps improving in a couple of years he”ll be a very good player. Even Deggan show glimpses of being a good player although he was sloppy on a couple of occaissions. And Aquilani, well i can safely say now that we have a quality player on our hands. He hasnt played hardly any football in the last six months, but he looked sheer class. Cant wait to the new year when we’ll see the best of him. And not forgetting Insua’s great strike. In a couple of years he’ll be the worlds best left back.
On to the negatives. Babel was awful. I’d be very surprised if he’s still at the club nxt year. We all know he’s got all the attributes to be a top player, but we cant keep saying it. He needs to realise his potential soon or he’s got to go. On a pitch full of youngsters, for a full international not to show his worth just isnt good enough. Voronin put a shift in, made a couple of good passes, but just isnt good enough. If he was a youngster i’d give him the benefit of doubt but again he’s an international and failed to shine.
Lets stop trying to be nicey, nicey with our players.
Voronin is garbage. Its that simple. Babel was awful. And Plessis needs alot more football. Im sure he will improve but a loan spell and a decent run of games in the Championship would do him no harm. He pulled out of several tackles last night that would have taken the sting out of Arsenal. Not saying he had an awful game but he needs to be alot stronger with more bravery to play in the centre of the park.
Degen is just short of games. Loved his runs up field.
Ngog did well and should not have been subbed. What confidence he had gained can only be lessened by the fact that the boss thinks there’s more chance of a goal with Voronin on the pitch.
Aquilani looks the business. Lets hope Rafa doesnt do one of his old tricks and stick him at right back though.