Liverpool flopped for the second time in 4 days as they were knocked out of the League Cup, embarrassed at Anfield by a side fighting for their Football League survival with only 1 win in their previous 8.
Northampton Town may only be a few points away from the Conference, near the trapdoor of League 2, but they left Anfield – not having been fortunate – but having been unfortunate that they required penalties.
This wasn’t a plucky tale of a lucky lower division side – this was a determined gritty display that had you wondering which side was in the Premier League.
Roy Hodgson’ will now find himself under greater scrutiny after many supporters feel that he failed to bolster the bench to any significant degree.
There was a mass of changes before kick off – with Brad Jones in goal and Danny Wilson both being handed Liverpool debuts. Strangely Kyrgiakos was handed the captaincy, which appeared to be a kick in the teeth for the reds most senior outfield player – Daniel Agger. A player who had criticised Roy’s tactics at the weekend.
The reds made a good start, Agger and Jovanovic combining neatly in the first 10 minutes – Jovanovic firing a left footed strike in to the Northampton goal.
But slowly, as the first half ticked away, the reds failed to apply the pressure.
Jovanovic and Babel ironically were amongst the reds worst suspects – arguably the two players who have seen the most first team action this season.
The reds were failing to even get chances on goal, and early in the second half Northampton got a deserved equaliser – Thornton outjumping Kyrgiakos across to McKay who blasted home.
In extra time, Northampton got first blood.
Danny Wilson, playing in the unusual left back slot, was beaten for pace by Herbert who crossed in. The reds failed to deal with the cross and Jacobs grabbed the Cobblers second goal.
With Kyrgiakos now a centre-forward for Liverpool, Shelvey arrived on the pitch. His cross teeing up beautifully and with 5 minutes to go N’gog put a glancing header in to the net.
And so on to penalties. Although Northampton missed their first penalty, David N’gog and Nathan Eccleston both failed from the spot where Agger and Shelvey succeeded. But it was too little and the reds lost 4-2 on spot kicks.
Liverpool head on to the weekends game against Sunderland. Failure to pick up three points should not even be contemplated.
There have been loads of posts demanding that Roy ‘Play the kids more’ and ‘Give Pacheco and the others a chance’ particularly in the Carling Cup. So he does and…
But look at the team he fielded: Jones, Kelly, Wilson, Agger, Kyrgiakos (c); Pacheco, Lucas, Spearing, Jovanovic; Babel, Ngog. That’s a sensible mix of youth and experience. 6 of them are first team players and 4 are full Internationals FFS! As manager RH is responsible, but its the players who are really to blame.
Can’t blame the owners for this one when it was just a bunch of rubbish players playing without any passion or hunger.We don’t have the second team of Arsenal or Man Utd so should mostly play our first teamers especially Torres who needs match practise.
We’re heading the same way as Leeds and Nottingham Forest,petitions and email chains to oust the owners won’t make any difference.Pity Martin O Neill was unavailable when Hodgson tookover at the helm who is just a yes man.
well this was the only chance to win silverware and to get into europe as we want do it through the league as we will be lucky to finish in the top 10.
time for the players to stand up and do there job and no more excuses, they have been rubbish in all the league games so far and this is not what i want to see from my team that i have followed for nearly 40 years.
that’s not a good match at all lfc just try to come back to us normal self please just forget about ownership stuff u will leave that aside for now please u can still go for the epl title
Well, given who we are the once “great” Liverpool FC, we are at rock bottom now, the only way is up.
What a load of s**t yet again, Roy changed the team and what happens we lose to a team that should not even get a shot in yet alone score two past us. Lets be honest this was our only realistic chance of a trophy this year yet he decides to field a weakened team.
I seem to recall when he came to Anfield he stated that “no matter what the oposition was like he would field his strongest team” looks that way AGAIN doesnt it. This guy is a waste of space he has already made us the laughing stock
had bad goy feelings on this game from the start,knew northampton would play the hearts out comething liverpool seem to be unable to do this season once it gt to extra time it seemed ominous that they would lose on penalties. well i think our only chance of silverware is the europa cup.
Bye bye Roy. Your just not up to it.
Well done Northampton.