Liverpool’s poor second string were dumped out of the League Cup by the holders after an abysmal 6 minutes in the first half in which the reds conceded 3 times.
One of the reds two routes to Wembley has been blocked after Benitez sent out a side too weak to compete with a strong Spurs side littered with a couple of fringe players.
The warning signs should have been heeded over a month ago, when the reds were lucky to creep past Crewe at home. To select the same side away at a decent Spurs side was suicidal.
Liverpool failed to control the first half, and the lack of first team action for Degen and Cavalieri shown through. Andrea Dossena, a man who cost £7 million also cut a particularly pathetic figure. It seems the reds have gone and bought a left back devoid of any pace, any tackling ability, any marking ability and apparent colour-blindness when it comes to passing to a fellow player.
Philip Degen meanwhile appeared lacksidasical and was constantly beaten again and again, as he meandered round like he was playing some charity five a side game.
Diego Cavalieri made a good attempt at coming out to stop Dossena going in to the goal – regrettably it may have been a wiser move to attempt to get rid of the ball instead.
But let’s not pick on these three individuals – the entire team was poor. Torres started up front and got 55 minutes of football under his belt but hardly had a kick of the ball. Ironically the reds best spell came when a proper player was introduced – Xabi Alonso. How different the result may have been if Alonso and Torres had been on the field together.
After trudging in at half time 3-0 down the reds scored straight away from a corner – Damien Plessis getting the easy header past Spurs hilariously inept keeper Gomes. Plessis was caught napping on the ball a minute later and as Spurs skipped past Degen yet again they put themselves back ahead to 4-1.
An exact replica corner saw Liverpool open the door slightly, when Hyypia headed home to make it 4-2.
But Gomes, who suffered in a collision with Degen, was stretchered off – and with it was Liverpool’s best chance of getting a result here.
Liverpool were much better in the second half but couldn’t find any way back in to the game. Degen had a decent penalty shout, but there would be no comeback today. Spurs first half performance saw them through.
Make no mistake though – Benitez, despite what he may say, picked the wrong side tonight. I mean, come on, does Pepe Reina for instance really need to have a ‘rest’? At £7 million Andreas Dossena looks like one of Liverpool’s biggest ever mistakes.
Poor Poor Poor.
Goals
Forum Discussion
http://www.lfcreds.com/reds/index.php/topic,10549.0.html
Post Match Reaction
Tottenham boss Harry Redknapp:
“It was a good win and a good performance – even if we could have done better on corners!
“That’s 18 goals we’ve scored in my five matches in charge – we’re bringing in Les Ferdinand as a striking coach and I’ve told him if we stop scoring it’s his fault!
“In all seriousness, though, I’ve been so pleased with the players. They have tremendous quality and want to win every game – the desire is brilliant.
“Winning’s a great habit and we have three strikers who are firing on all cylinders. I’m happy.”
Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez:
“We did not play well, we did not defend well, and we did not deserve anything from the game.
“In the second half we were a little better, in commitment and in our quality, but after the first half it was impossible.
“I’m happy with my selection – the side was good, we just didn’t perform. The only bonus from the match is that Fernando Torres played some minutes, which is good.”
Teams
Tottenham: Gomes (Cesar 74), Hutton, Dawson, Corluka, Bale, Lennon, Zokora, Huddlestone, O’Hara, Pavlyuchenko (Boateng 90), Campbell (Bent 90).
Subs Not Used: Bentley, Modric, Gunter, Rocha.
Booked: Pavlyuchenko, Campbell.
Goals: Pavlyuchenko 38, Campbell 42, 45, Pavlyuchenko 52.
Liverpool: Cavalieri, Dossena, Hyypia, Agger, Degen (Darby 84), Babel, Leiva Lucas, Ngog, Plessis (Alonso 66), Torres (Insua 56), El Zhar.
Subs Not Used: Gulacsi, Riera, Benayoun, Carragher.
Booked: Plessis, Torres, Babel, Leiva Lucas.
Goals: Plessis 49, Hyypia 63.
Att: 33,242
Ref: Mike Riley (Yorkshire).
Updated Player Stats
http://www.anfield-online.co.uk/stats/2009/lfc-stats.html
I`ve always thought you should put out your best team (thats what people pay their hard earned money for) Get the game going and settle into your stride and then start resting the players that need it. Perhaps with a few more of the bigger name players on the pitch, Dossena and crew might have felt like putting in a bit more effort, They might have felt like the belonged to the mighty reds and not just thrown out into a mickey mouse competition. Raffa picked a very poor side to face a team that is full of confidence and thinks it can`t be beaten. Harry is doing well at the moment, but lets see where they finish at the end of the season
Shannon,
Our first team is more than capable of winning the League, and as you can clearly tell, that wasn’t our first team. Our first team beat Chelsea at Stamford Bridge (without Torres) and Manchester United (Without Torres or Gerrard for the most part), so the 2 most successful clubs in the Premier League recently.
So If we can beat the two best, we can beat anyone. Liverpool can win the league, Tottenham can enjoy a mid-table finish after the fuss about Redknapp has gone.
YNWA
It was a bad performance by liverpool and thats it, we can now concentrate on the premiership and the champions league.Good luck to spurs.Liverpools first team will prove this season that we r contenders for the title.REDS 4EVA
I was at the game last nite and have to agree with most of the comments. Dossena needs to go!!! If spurs used the ball better Lennon wouldve been putting crosses in all nite long and we couldve been 6 down at half time. Very poor showing, NOT IMPRESSED AT ALL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I am lost for words! Awful is too mild a word to describe this performance. Congratulations to Spurs hope they go all the way
Spurs are simply better than Liverpool are they Shannon? Keep taking your medication mate. The carling cup is a big deal to small clubs like Spurs. Liverpool have bigger fish to fry. Enjoy the championship next year you muppet!
Spurs for Europe? Don’t make ME laugh.
Spurs were without 1st team regulars Bent, Bentley, Modric, King, Woodgate, Assou-Ekotto and Jenas, so though it was not Liverpool’s strongest side, neither was it ours. The only conclusion is that Spurs are simply better than Liverpool. Liverpool to win the title? Don’t make me laugh!
Fair enough, the Carling Cup is not regarded as a major competition and its not the worst thing in the world for the Reds to be free of this distraction with the Premier League at the forefront of all Red minds but the manner of the exit is a cause for concern. I would agree with an earlier poster that our second string are worringly poor. I have been less than impressed with Lucas and Insua….the would appear to be short of top level prepemiership athletic ability. I would be prepared to give Plessis and Ngog some development time…there appears to be something there in both cases. Its too early really to assess Degen….needs more games before we can judge him properly. As for Dossena, the game is up fella….he looks totally lost; no pace, no reading of the game, cant tackle. I cringe when he goes forward becasue the ball back to the centre back is the best possible outcome.
To be fair to Rafa, the first team has some fine footballers/competitors and there is certainly a steely streak in the side but with 50+ professionals on the books, you’d have thought there would be a bit more quality waiting in the wings………all this as Arsenal continue to parade a pipeline of sumptous talent…..a bit depressing
Dan, only one player (Agger) in the reds side made regular first team appearances for the past month or so. Your comments are hopelessly unjustified.
Our second string squad is so very poor when compared to that of our rivals especially the Arsenal kids who are an exceptional bunch.
Where as our first team has impressed me this season it has to be said that i am very concerned that Rafa when compared to Wenger and Alex Ferguson has a very poor eye for new talent.
He has wasted millions on Babel,Degan,Dossena,Lucas and Plessis hasn’t done anything to impress me either,these boys are not fit enough to wear the famous red shirt.This is not a kneejerk reaction but i’ve seen our second string play many times and all they do is huff and puff without any result,workmanlike yes but minus any real talent.I do believe that Rafa should sign a extention to his contract but certain things need proper attention.
Congratulations to Spurs who not only were stronger but wanted it more and that showed.They were first to the ball putting great pressure on our poor midfield and always looked like a threat going forward.The good news is that our elimination from this tournament means we’ll not have to face the Arsenal kids who would absolutely decimate our cheap reserves!!.
it seems to me high priced proffessionals are not passionate enough. on a day when burnley beat chelsea it seems the lower divisons clubs are better value than premier league clubs
With respect, this was nothing like a “strong Spurs side littered with a couple of fringe players.” All this result proved is that Spurs have a better squad than Liverpool and that without Gerrard and Carragher, you are a poor side. Fair enough though, you fairly battered us in the league with your first team, but still lost. Win some, lose some, but we deserve a bit of luck after our worst start ever. Good luck for the rest of the season!