A weakened Liverpool team end up on the wrong side of a 1-0 scoreline thanks to a freak deflected own goal off Martin Skrtel.
Raheem Sterling had another brief cameo but offered little
The reds paid the price for resting too many players ahead of this weekend's FA Cup Final as a first half own goal separated the two teams.
Alexander Doni, in goal ahead of the rested Pepe Reina, was wrong footed by the deflection off Martin Skrtel in what was an otherwise good display from Liverpool's backup keeper.
Despite Liverpool's first team putting in a decent 3-0 performance at the weekend, Dalglish made 9 changes to the starting XI - aware of the looming FA Cup Final in 4 days time.
But it wasn't just the team that were disappointing - the Anfield atmosphere was subdued and flat as the players and fans colluded in a poor performance.
It was in the fifth minute that John Arne Riise, applauded before kick off, sent in a cross that eventually deflected off Skrtel and past Doni.
It wasn't until half way through the first half that Dirk Kuyt fired the first vengeful shot from a player in red.
Hangeland cleared a Shelvey shot off the line and Schwarzer eventually dealt with a Carroll header in the other main chances of the half.
Liverpool proved wasteful in front of goal in the second half, putting chances wide and high, and failing to execute similar good positions from set pieces.
Dempsey could have sealed it for the visitors, but Doni picked the right corner and kept Liverpool in with a chance.
The reds dismal Premier League campaign continues, and we stay in 8th place. Liverpool supporters and followers will be hoping the return of the first teamers brings dividends in the cup final.
Jesus some of the negativity on here. If Chelsea don’t get in the top 4 (which it looks likely they won’t) and if they lose the CL final (and it is likely that they will) then they will have had a very similar season to us. No CL qualification, 2 cup finals and 1 trophy. So they’ll have played in a CL final and be higher in the league than us. Does this matter if cup finals are lost and league positions don’t provide you with anything? Really, if you’re not in contention for a CL place it doesn’t really matter where you finish?
The league campaign is dead and buried for us and has been since we lost at home to Arsenal. Granted this isn’t really good enough for Liverpool but you would have to be blind to think progress hasn’t been made from the last regime. The outlook under Hodgson was truly dire. Everything, the football, the signings, the constant negativity that he spouted. Roy Hodgson wrote his name into the history books at Liverpool as the only manager since Shankly to not win a trophy for us. Despite some ups and downs at least Kenny has at least got something to show for the season. It would be absurd and totally unlike Liverpool to sack a manager that has won a trophy. Kenny deserves at least next season to improve the league form. If things are still poor, then fine get rid of him.
Soemtimes league tables can lie and detract from progress that is being made. Between 1986 and 1990 Alex Ferguson bulit the costliest team in the country, spending more in 3 years than Kenny did in his entire first tenure at the club. Despite this Fergie managed only 1 top half of the table finish and only had the FA Cup to show for his efforts and immense spending. The year they won that FA Cup they scraped past Crystal Palace in the final after a replay and managed a 13th place finish in the league. Yes folks that’s right, 13th! Was progress being made? Course it was, it just wasn’t being manifest as league points and trophies. Are plight isn’t nearly as bad, yet some still call for the manager to be sacked! Let’s get a positive outlook going! Half the reason the players perform so poorly is due to the pressure that’s heaped on them by so called fans. We need to understand that we are not a top 4 club at the moment. We’re not even a top 6 club and the name above the door doesn’t work miracles.
Players never took in account kennys advice on selection of players for the FA cup.Just shows a lack of respect for Kenny.
Owners have supported Kenny but our manager has signed rubbish players. Despite having spent so much the bench again looks very weak as seen against Fulham.
I am getting tired of Kenny’s excuses after every game. I feel the owners will rightfully sack him at the end of the season and bring in someone like Van Gaal.
We hae won FIVE HOME GAMES ALL SEASON – DISGRACE – TERRIBLE – USELESS – PATHETIC – TRUTH HURTS
John Henry seems incapable of even the most obvious actions – WHAT ON EARTH ARE YOU DOING MAN.- OU SAID YOU WERE IN THE RESULTS BUSINESS ??????????????????????????????????????????
NewOwners have totaly lost the plot