Reaction: Manchester City 0 Liverpool 1 - League Cup Semi Final 1st Leg

Which way to Wembley Steven?

STEVIE G SPOT ON AS REDS BLUNT CITY

Liverpool put in a fantastic workman like performance tonight to beat City 1-0 in the League Cup Semi Final 1st Leg.

The game started much the same as the premier league game a week ago with Liverpool dominating the ball and playing the game entirely in the Man City half. The Sky Blues hardly had a touch of the ball when they failed to clear a Liverpool corner, and after 12mins City defender Savic fouled Skrtel in the box and a penalty was awarded.

Savic in for suspended Kompany fouls Skrtel giving the ref no option Penalty!

Stevie G stepped up and drilled the ball into the bottom left hand corner giving Joe Hart no chance. 1-0 pool!

Johnny on the Spot, Stevie scores from 12 yards out, his 2nd in 2 games!

Once 1-0 up i thought that we continued to dominate the game, not giving City any time on the ball as they rarely threatened our goal. Spearing came off injured mid way through the 1st half and was replaced by Adam. Adams impact was almost immediate as he drilled a cross field ball about 70 yards finding Bellamy on the right wing. It was a site to be hold.

At half time you could say that Liverpool were the better team and we were good value for our lead. City hadn't really trouble us. Ballotelli in particular having a poor game, which was pleasing to see through these red eyes.

The second half was a more even affair, you could tell that Kenny had told the lads that they had a job to do. We offered very little threat going forward in the 1st 15mins of the second half, without City really troubling us at the back.

Evidence that Kenny was happy with the 1-0 when the very quiet Stuart Downing was subbed off for Enrique who slotted in at left back with Johnson sitting the the centre of defense with Skrtel and Agger. This wasn't kenny parking the bus by any stretch of the imagination but he was certainly pulling it in to the stadium. With 5 at the back now and Adam, Stevie and Henderson sitting in midfield we became even harder to break down and City didn't know how to respond other than long range efforts that rarely trouble our Pepe in goal.

If Kenny hadn't of parked the bus with bring Enrique on he sure did with his next change. Bellamy came on for Carragher with 10 or so minutes to go and that 5 turned into 6 at the back. For the remainder of the game we just sat back and let City shoot from range and pass the ball around out side out 18 yard box.

At full time Liverpool secured what was in the end a comfortable victory. It wasn't our prettiest game of football but it was a job well done and taking a 1 goal lead into the 2nd leg give us confidence to push on and finish City off at Anfield.

Carroll had another quiet game, and for me really needs to start adding more to his arsenal of attacking plays if he wants to be in the 1st team long term. I thought that with Stevie G being in the team Carroll would have more service that he needs to be effective but with the way Kenny set the team out i can't fault him for being as ineffective as he was tonight. By the same token i thought that Downing and Bellamy had quiet games too, once the goal went in, they faded out of the game.

City looked to really miss the Toure brothers, Kompany and Silva. They were flat and predictable. A sign that even teams like Man City can't steam roll every competition but Mancini has money and i am sure he will "strengthen" the squad before February 1.

FTK MoM: Glen Johnson

Being played out of position is never easy and i though Glen did a tremendous job for us tonight at left back, then in the center. He didn't bomb forward much tonight but show how versatile and how much quality he posses as a defender.






pics: liverpoolfc.tv